Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vs Hyundai Ioniq 9

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid was reminiscent of a pair of "dad jeans"—practical and offering great value, yet lacking modern flair. Despite a refresh in 2021, its design appeared outdated compared to newer crossovers like the Hyundai Palisade or Kia Sorento. The Santa Fe's exterior featured a squared grille and flush-mounted headlights, but its silhouette seemed too soft for a contemporary SUV. With a length of 4,785 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,765 millimetres, it was too large for compact crossover proportions and too short for a three-row SUV. Inside, the Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized function over style, with a centre console filled with physical buttons, making it easy to use but not particularly stylish.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 boasted a distinctive design that divided opinions. Its aerodynamic shape, inspired by smooth pebbles and midcentury modern sofas, aimed to house seven passengers comfortably. Measuring 5,060 millimetres in length with a 3,130-millimetre wheelbase, it offered impressive interior volume. However, its swooping roofline and stubby rear end made it challenging to classify as beautiful. The Ioniq 9's rear view was its most recognizable angle, with LED taillights wrapping around the tail's circumference. Inside, it featured a spacious and airy cabin with flat floors and a sliding centre console, enhancing practicality.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid delivered a balanced performance with its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 44.2-kW electric motor, producing a combined 226 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It offered impressive fuel economy, with estimates of 7.1 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 7.9 on the highway, and 7.4 combined. The hybrid's power was managed through a six-speed automatic transmission, and its HTRAC AWD system could distribute power between the front and rear wheels as needed. While not the quickest, the Santa Fe Hybrid excelled in noise insulation and ride quality, providing a quiet and comfortable driving experience.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 featured a 110.3-kWh battery pack on Hyundai's e-GMP platform. The base Essential trim offered rear-wheel drive with a 160-kW motor producing 215 horsepower, while other trims had dual-motor AWD systems with varying power outputs. The Preferred AWD generated 303 hp, and the Preferred AWD+ delivered 422 hp. Despite its weight, the Ioniq 9 impressed with energy efficiency, often exceeding its estimated 500-kilometre range. It provided a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to its soft suspension and active noise cancellation. The Ioniq 9's towing capacity ranged from 1,587 kilograms for RWD to 2,268 kilograms for AWD models.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid featured a shift-by-wire, push-button transmission, freeing up space below the centre stack. However, the stack itself was massive, with limited storage space. Rear passengers enjoyed a panoramic sunroof, manual sunshades, and 1,035 millimetres of legroom. The Santa Fe Hybrid offered 1,032 litres of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 2,041 litres with the seats folded. Up front, it came with heated and ventilated front seats and an eight-way power driver's seat.

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 Preferred AWD+ Ultimate Calligraphy Package. It offered 1,086 millimetres of legroom in the middle row and 813 millimetres in the third row. Dual-zone climate control and air vents in all rows were standard, along with a heat pump. The Ioniq 9 provided 620 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,323 and 2,462 litres with the seats folded. The small front trunk was best used for storing the charging cable and adapter.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid came with a 10.25-inch touchscreen featuring onboard navigation, Bluetooth, OTA map updates, and dynamic voice recognition. It supported wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard. However, the 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was not available in Canada.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 featured dual curved 12.3-inch displays, offering a familiar infotainment interface. It included SiriusXM Satellite Radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a wireless charging pad. The Ioniq 9 had six USB-C ports capable of charging laptops. The 14-speaker Bose audio system, standard with the Luxury package and Preferred AWD+ configurations, provided impressive sound quality.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized safety with features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance, lane keep assist, and more. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS in the gas model category.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 included advanced driver assistance systems as standard, such as collision avoidance, lane-guidance technologies, and Highway Driving Assist 2. The Preferred AWD's Luxury package and Preferred AWD+ versions offered a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor.