Why The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Is America’s New Road Trip Darling

A missile in a straight line and a comfy cruiser everywhere else, the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 makes long distances feel really short.

America’s love affair with big three-row SUVs is nothing new. What’s less appreciated is how well electrification fits that formula. Ditch the traditional engine, transmission tunnel, or driveshaft, and space can be used for what you really want—for your family, your pet and every piece of luggage they might insist on bringing.

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 leans hard into that advantage. Built on Hyundai’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), its flat floor and six- or seven-seat layouts make it a proper lounge on wheels. The numbers back it up, too: Its 123.2-inch wheelbase is longer than the current-gen gas Palisade (114.2 inches) and even longer than the Cadillac Escalade (121.0 inches).