2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 vs VinFast VF 9 Comparison Test + Video

Editor’s note: AutoTrader also has in-depth expert reviews of both the Ioniq 9 and VF 9.

Family-sized crossovers make up a hugely important part of the automotive market, yet a surprising few of them are powered by nothing but electrons.

Looking at the segment as pragmatically as possible, it makes all sorts of sense for brands to build electric vehicles (EVs) this size. After all, their footprints mean they can accommodate bigger batteries, which should deliver more range, plus they can make better use of the space inside than similarly sized conventional crossovers since their powertrains are more compact.

While the fairly excellent Kia EV9 enjoyed an extended run as the only entry of its kind on the mainstream market, the closely related 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 is here to kickstart a little corporate rivalry. It also isn’t alone, with the 2025 VinFast VF 9 arriving a little more quietly last year as the latest model from one of the newest brands in the business. Both are uniquely styled and offer all sorts of amenities, but when it comes to those EV essentials — range and packaging — one of them nails the assignment, while the other comes up at least a little short.

Styling

There will be no mistaking either of these EVs for anything else, with distinct styling that sets them apart. The VF 9 has an almost wagon-like profile, at least in comparison to most other crossovers, with a low roofline that accentuates its length and width. In fact, at 1,697 mm (66.8 in), it’s closer to the sleek and stylish Toyota Crown Signia’s overall height of 1,625 mm (64.0 in) than the three-row Grand Highlander’s 1,781 mm (70.1 in). And that’s to make no mention of the Ioniq 9, which is arch-shaped and measures 1,790 mm (70.5 in) at its tallest point.

Beyond its overall shape, the VF 9 features unique exterior styling cues including an almost hourglass look along the sides and grille-like openings that allow air to flow up and onto the hood. Compare that to the Ioniq 9’s bulbous nose and pixelated motif, and VinFast has made a crossover that’s objectively more stylish, even if it isn’t necessarily conventionally so.

This particular tester was finished with an optional — and expensive — brown upholstery ($2,000) that added some life to what’s a rather ordinary space otherwise. Sure, the gear selector buttons are uniquely shaped, but the VF 9’s cabin could just as easily exist in a crossover from a brand like Volkswagen. Meanwhile, the Ioniq 9’s interior has some distinctive shapes and styling cues, while its twin digital displays that span most of the dash don’t dominate the design the way the VF 9’s single central 15.6-inch touchscreen does.

Practicality

The VF 9 is slightly wider and longer, as is its wheelbase, and yet it’s the Ioniq 9’s cabin that has been optimized to offer more space for people and stuff. In fairness, the front and second-row seats in either crossover are roomy enough for a family of four, but it’s the bench in the back — as well as the area behind it — that sets Hyundai’s newest EV apart. Not only can a pair of oversized adults fit in the third row with ease, but the cargo area is significantly more generous. That’s both on paper and practice, while the cabin is filled with cubbies and shelves for stuff.

User-Friendliness

Climbing aboard either of these EVs is easy, with big doors that open wide. However, the VF 9’s enormous sill skirts are all but impossible to avoid when entering or exiting, and its exterior door handles are more awkward to use since the flush-mounted mechanisms don’t pop out automatically like most others (including the Ioniq 9’s). And it lacks another fundamental feature: proximity locks that provide access when approaching the vehicle with the key fob in a purse or pocket. That sort of hands-free functionality will be sorely missed in a family vehicle like this.

Inside, most functions and features are integrated within the massive touchscreen on the dash that doubles for infotainment and instrument duty. Yes, there’s a head-up display that projects pertinent information onto the windshield, but in an approach similar to Tesla’s, there’s no dedicated screen nestled just beyond the steering wheel for monitoring drive-related data.

Further complicating the user experience is the way the door mirrors and steering column are adjusted using a combination of the touchscreen and steering wheel controls, while the different drive modes and regenerative braking settings are manipulated through the screen, too. But it’s big, bright, and reasonably responsive, plus there’s wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. But then the Ioniq 9 has those, too, not to mention separate 12.3-inch screens and dedicated drive- and climate controls that don’t require any searching to find.

Features

The Ioniq 9 is offered a few different ways, plus there are a couple of packages that bring with them a whole bunch of niceties. In the Preferred AWD+ version tested here, which was further upgraded with Ultimate Calligraphy kit, the front and second-row seats were heated and ventilated, plus the driver’s side had pseudo-massage functionality. All four of those chairs were also of the specially reclining “relaxation” variety — ideal for time spent charging — plus there was a 14-speaker stereo, power-sliding centre console, and panoramic sunroof, among others.

The VinFast VF 9 Plus lined up against it was outfitted with an impressive array of features of its own, including heated, ventilated, and massaging front and second-row seats, the latter of which were optionally swapped for captain’s chairs ($1,550). But then the massage actuators were loud and awkward, providing little enjoyment during this week-long test, plus the synthetic upholstery didn’t breathe as well as the Ioniq 9’s similarly simulated stuff. And while Hyundai includes a whole host of USB-C ports, VinFast opted for just one on the back of the console.

Safety

Their advanced safety and driver-assistance suites are almost equally robust — collision detection and avoidance, lane departure warning and keeping help, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control — but some of VinFast’s stuff feels a generation or two older than most others. For example, the lane-keeping system tugs violently at the wheel when approaching markings on the road; and for how impressive the VF 9’s dash-mounted display is, the refresh rate of its various surround-view cameras is deplorable, leading to serious lag when in use.

Power

VinFast has kept it simple when it comes to the VF 9’s powertrain, with the same dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup bookending a 123-kWh battery pack regardless of trim. The combination makes 402 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque, impressive numbers, although they don’t tell the entire story. Acceleration is brisk but not especially so, with the zero-to-100 km/h sprint taking a little less than seven seconds. But in an industry full of unnecessarily quick EVs, this one is more than adequate. And, of course, it’s exceptionally smooth and quiet when accelerating.

The Ioniq 9 is offered with the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, the latter of which has two outputs to pick from. The single-motor model makes a moderate 215 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, while adding extra traction means a minimum of 303 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, this tester put out 422 hp and 516 lb-ft, providing a noticeably peppier on-road experience. (Fun fact: the less hearty all-wheel-drive Ioniq 9 hits 100 km/h in the same claimed 6.7 as the VF 9.)

Fuel Economy

Despite its bigger battery — at 123-kWh, it’s the same size as the one that underpins the more luxurious Lucid Gravity — the VF 9 doesn’t have as much range as the Ioniq 9. It offers 518 km in Eco trim and 462 km in Plus trim tested here compared to the Hyundai’s ratings of 500 to 539 km, depending on trim. It also isn’t as efficient. That’s both according to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), which pegs this version’s combined consumption rate at an awful 30.9 kWh/100 km compared to 24.7 for the range-topping Ioniq 9, as well as in real-world testing.

Granted, it was easy to overachieve in both; but the VF 9 still came up short at an indicated average of 22.2 kWh/100 km compared to 20.2 for the Ioniq 9. And while charging speeds are capped at 160 kW, meaning it should take about 40 minutes to make the 10-to-80 per cent benchmark charge, the Ioniq 9 can hit speeds as fast as 350 kW — in ideal conditions, of course — and needs just 24 minutes for the same boost. Hyundai has also equipped the Ioniq 9 with a Tesla-style charge port versus VinFast’s Combined Charging System (CCS) hookup.

Driving Feel

Smoothness and serenity are the hallmarks of electrification, and both of these crossovers score well in both regards. VinFast has fitted its biggest crossover with a non-adjustable air suspension, although the Ioniq 9’s setup of conventional springs and dampers might manage road imperfections with just a little more poise. However, this particular tester was prone to some lateral sway when driven over uneven surfaces — something an earlier test that criss-crossed Vancouver Island didn’t uncover, although it wasn’t done in the same vehicle.

Both EVs offer reasonably responsive steering systems, although the VF 9’s turning circle feels like it’s a metre or more wider. And while they both offer adjustable regenerative braking, the Ioniq 9’s proved more predictable, bringing it to a halt with the same force every time (assuming the setting wasn’t changed, of course). By comparison, the VF 9’s braking force varied wildly. And while it’s capable of one-pedal driving, failure to apply the mechanical brakes can lead to the vehicle rolling away even when stopping on the slightest of grades.

Comfort

Getting back to the suspension, it’s the VF 9’s inability to offset the stiffness of the big and bulky battery beneath the floor that’s most noticeable, although it’s more problematic at city speeds than it is on the highway. Likewise, the enormous 21-inch wheels wrapped in low-profile tires it rides on can mean rough surfaces will make themselves known, whereas the same-sized alloys underneath the Ioniq 9 aren’t nearly as troublesome. The Hyundai’s seats also score higher marks for the comfort and support they provide, even during long drives.

Value

While Hyundai’s combination of trims and packages is a little more complicated, it provides more choice — and better value. It starts at $62,049 before tax but including freight ($2,050), while adding all-wheel drive is a $5,000 upgrade. From there, the less powerful Ioniq 9 Preferred AWD can be had with an optional Luxury package for $78,549, while the Preferred AWD+ is offered with the even more expensive Ultimate Calligraphy kit for $83,549.

The VinFast VF 9 Eco starts at $77,190 with freight ($2,300), while the Plus version tested here is a $4,000 upgrade. But then options like premium paint and upholstery, plus the captain’s chairs in the back, mean this particular version rang in at $86,115 before the government’s share, putting it at odds with the experience it delivers — especially next to the Ioniq 9.

The Verdict

The 2025 VinFast VF 9 might not be on the same level as the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9, but it’s certainly not a bad EV; it just needs some improvements that are made more apparent by how good its rival is in this comparison — even if they both happen to be rather expensive, especially at the tops of their respective lineups. But then there are cheaper versions of the Ioniq 9 that make it even more appealing, with reasonable range to go with outstanding interior packaging. And that’s the sort of stuff that sets a new benchmark for this burgeoning segment.