Chevrolet Blazer EV vs Hyundai Ioniq 9

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV was a standout in the electric crossover SUV market, offering a sportier and sharper design reminiscent of the Camaro muscle car. Its sleek profile, characterized by a narrow bar of lights and exaggerated flared fenders, gave it an athletic stance that set it apart from more conventionally styled electric SUVs. The interior echoed the Camaro theme with sporty round air vents and faceted screens dominating the dashboard, complemented by contrast stitching for a racy personality. However, the presence of hard plastic elements, despite their textured finish, detracted slightly from the overall luxury feel.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 presented a distinctive design that divided opinions. Inspired by smooth pebbles and midcentury modern sofas, its aerodynamic shape comfortably housed seven passengers. The Ioniq 9's dimensions, with a length of 5,060 millimetres and a wheelbase of 3,130 mm, provided excellent interior volume. Despite its size, it achieved a 0.27 drag coefficient, making it more aerodynamic than larger SUVs. The design featured a swooping roofline and a dramatically stubby rear end, with LED taillights wrapping around the tail's circumference. The Ioniq 9 was available in seven paint colours, with trim-specific options, and offered wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches.

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV offered a range of powertrain choices, making it a versatile option for different driving preferences. The LT and RS trims came standard with dual electric motors for all-wheel-drive, producing 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque, with an 85-kWh battery pack providing an estimated range of 455 kilometres. The front-wheel drive option extended the range to 502 kilometres, while the rear-wheel drive RS trim offered 340 hp and a 538-kilometre range. The high-performance SS trim boasted 615 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 96 km/h in 3.4 seconds, though its range dropped to 488 kilometres. The Blazer EV featured one-pedal driving with two levels of brake regeneration, and its suspension provided a firm yet compliant ride.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9, equipped with a 110.3-kWh battery pack on the e-GMP platform, offered impressive energy efficiency. The base Essential trim featured a single rear-mounted motor with 215 horsepower, while the dual-motor AWD system in other trims produced 303 hp or 422 hp, depending on the configuration. The Ioniq 9's chassis was softly sprung, providing a smooth and quiet ride, though it lacked agility in corners. It offered a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds for AWD models, and its charging capabilities included both NACS superchargers and CCS-port Level 3 chargers, with a 24-minute charge time from 10 to 80% on a 350-kW charger.

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV provided good support and cushioning in the front seats, with a massive touchscreen placed high on the dash for easy access. The rear seats offered ample legroom, though headroom was more limited. The Blazer EV's cargo space was 722 litres, with a flat floor and standard hands-free power liftgate. However, the sloping rear hatch made it challenging to fit bulky objects. The climate control system, while efficient, took time to heat the cabin, and the placement of the brake regeneration paddle was inconveniently close to the audio controls.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 focused on family-SUV practicality, seating seven with a middle-row bench or six with captain's chairs in the Ultimate Calligraphy Package. The sliding centre console improved access for middle-row passengers, and the Ioniq 9 offered 1,086 millimetres of legroom in the middle row. Dual-zone climate control and a heat pump were standard, with heated front seats and additional features available in higher trims. The Ioniq 9's cargo space ranged from 620 litres behind the third row to 2,462 litres with seats folded, though the front trunk was best used for storing the charging cable.

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV featured a 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen, digital instrument panel, and Google Built-in platform for seamless integration with Google apps. However, it lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which could be inconvenient for smartphone users. The standard six-speaker audio system was underwhelming, with an eight-speaker Bose upgrade available only on the SS trim.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 came with dual curved 12.3-inch displays, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a wireless charging pad. The charging pad struggled to keep up with high-demand devices, but the Ioniq 9 offered six USB-C ports for ample charging options. The 14-speaker Bose audio system provided a crisp soundstage, impressing with its balanced tones.

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV received five stars in NHTSA crash tests for the RWD model, with four stars for AWD rollover protection. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and more. GM's Super Cruise system offered hands-free driving, though it struggled on sharper curves.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9's crash-test ratings were not yet available, but it included a comprehensive suite of ADAS features. Highway Driving Assist 2 provided supervised hands-free driving, and higher trims offered a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor for enhanced safety.