Hyundai’s electric car push is in full swing. With the Ioniq 5 recently refreshed, the Korean brand is expanding its lineup with a rugged-looking XRT trim. The model has been spotted in the United States where the larger Ioniq 9 is also undergoing final testing. The latter is a three-row SUV, which apparently won’t be called the Ioniq 7 as originally intended.
The Ioniq 5 isn’t the first Hyundai model to get the XRT treatment, but the trim level will debut on the EV. Already available for the Santa Cruz, Tucson, Santa Fe, and Palisade, the XRT is essentially a cosmetic package. Don’t expect any real off-road upgrades, as they’ll mostly consist of black accents, new wheels, and maybe chunky tires. We wouldn’t expect a taller suspension or other mechanical upgrades.
The Ioniq 5 will arrive for the 2025 model year alongside the already available high-performance N model. Logically, the US-spec variant will inherit the updates we see on the global model, which also gave birth to the all-rounder N Line without any extras. Hyundai tweaked the bumpers and grille, and added a rear wiper and a few more buttons inside.
The Ioniq 9 will essentially be Hyundai’s equivalent of the Kia EV9, with a six-passenger capacity. Speaking of how many people it can seat, the Concept Seven unveiled in November 2021 was a preview of the brand’s largest electric vehicle to date. The name change will make room for a smaller Ioniq 7 that could arrive at a later date.
Although the concept (image below) The B-pillar was removed, but the next production model will add it back. Also, the sliding rear doors will make way for a conventional arrangement. The most striking angle of the Concept Seven is its rear with its large glass rear doors, but it looks like those too will be gone. A cutout in the license plate camouflage shows that the glass will no longer extend all the way down.
How big is it? Well, the Kia EV9 is 197.2 inches long. Hyundai didn’t reveal the overall length of the Concept Seven, but it did mention that it has a massive wheelbase of 126 inches. That’s four inches longer than the distance between the EV9’s axles. That should result in a roomier cabin, especially for third-row passengers. Looking at the prototype’s profile, we see that the roofline slopes back toward the rear, whereas the Kia’s roofline is fairly flat. The curved rear silhouette could reduce headroom and cargo volume.
Both the Ioniq 5 XRT and Ioniq 9 are expected to launch later this year. Automotive News reports that sales of the three-row SUV in the US won't begin until mid-2025.
