Forget rising gas prices — I drove the Kia EV9 and Hyundai IONIQ 9 for a week and this is the electric SUV I’d recommend to family and friends

Kia EV9 vs Hyundai IONIQ 9.

So, you have a big family to haul around and you want to go electric to avoid rising gas prices? Well, you can have your cake and eat it too. Three-row electric SUVs are a thing, and have been for a while now. Today, you have several options, including the Cadillac Vistiq and Escalade IQ, Volvo EX90, Rivian R1S, Kia EV9, and Hyundai IONIQ 9. Even Tesla’s Model Y is available with a third row, though it’s tiny and best suited for small kids.

In this comparison, I'm taking a look at the Kia EV9 ($54,900+) and Hyundai IONIQ 9 ($58,955+), two three-row electric SUVs built on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform). This EV platform, which is also used in popular EVs like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai IONIQ 5, uses a fast-charging 800V architecture and typically offers a range of 250 to 300 miles. E-GMP vehicles also share ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) and infotainment tech.