Hyundai’s three-row EV is a hit in Korea
The Hyundai IONIQ 9 outsold Kia’s three-row electric SUV by more than five times in Korea, but in the US, sales have been harder to come by.
Hyundai IONIQ 9 leads in Korea, not so much in the US
Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV proved a hit in its home market in its first year on the market. According to new data from the Korea Automobile Mobility Industry Association (KAMA), the IONIQ 9 ranked 29th among domestic vehicles.
Hyundai sold 8,227 IONIQ 9s in Korea last year, more than five times the 1,549 EV9s sold by sister company Kia.
The EV9 even outsold Kia’s more affordable electric vehicles, including the EV4 (8,110), and midsize EV5 SUV (2,193).
Hyundai’s three-row EV is winning over buyers in Korea with a spacious interior, long range capabilities (up to 532 km), and a competitive price tag starting at 60 million won ($41,500).
The IONIQ 9’s vehicle-to-load (V2L) function has also been a hit among fathers, according to Korean media outlet Newsis. The function enables it to serve as a mobile power source for a campsite, workspace, or external electronics.
Looking ahead, Hyundai’s three-row EV is expected to compete with larger internal combustion engine (ICE) SUVs in Korea, with sales exceeding 10,000 in 2026.
In the US, Hyundai sold 5,189 IONIQ 9s last year after launching it in May. Kia, on the other hand, sold 15,051 EV9s in the US in 2025, 32% fewer than it did in 2024. Hyundai sold another 580 units in the US last month, which was still less than the 674 EV9s Kia sold.
In the US, the 2026 IONIQ 9 starts at $60,655 with up to 335 miles of driving range. With the second- and third-row seats folded, the electric SUV offers 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than the Kia EV9’s 81.9 cubic feet.
Like the updated IONIQ 5, the IONIQ 9 has a built-in NACS port to charge at Tesla Superchargers. Using a 350 kW DC fast charger, it can charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 24 minutes.
Electrek’s Take
While the IONIQ 9 and EV9 are essentially the only three-row electric SUVs available in Korea (for now), it’s no surprise they are seeing strong demand.
In the US, Hyundai and Kia are competing with the Volvo EX90, Lucid Gravity, Rivian R1S, Cadillac Vistiq, and other three-row EVs for market share. With the Toyota Highlander EV and Subaru’s three-row electric SUV arriving later this year, it will only get tougher.
It also helps that Korea ramped up electric vehicle subsidies earlier this year to promote domestic sales. The US went in the opposite direction, killing off the $7,500 federal tax credit at the end of September.
Despite this, Hyundai North American CEO Randy Parker previously said he is confident the EV market will “reset” following a temporary disruption due to the Trump Administration’s policy changes.
Hyundai is doubling down on local production with aggressive pricing promotions to maintain momentum in 2026. On EVs, including the IONIQ 9 and IONIQ 5, Hyundai is offering up to $10,000 in savings or 0% APR financing plus an additional $3,000 off.
If you’d like to see one in person or take it for a drive, you can use the links below to see what’s available near you.
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