Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vs Hyundai Ioniq 9

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid comes equipped with a hybrid four-cylinder powertrain and plenty of cargo space. Although the Santa Fe hybrid may not look as modern as some of its primary competitors—namely the Kia Sorento Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, or Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe—it remains a sensible choice, priced competitively against those other options.

Verdict: We recommend the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid to shoppers who value cargo space and fuel efficiency over the latest tech features or the newest styling trends.

Although the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 isn’t the first three-row electric SUV through the door, it may be the best choice for most shoppers. With a starting price of $59,999 before fees and qualifying for EV rebates where they still exist, it’s much more affordable than a Tesla Model X or a Rivian R1S. And its standard 110.3-kWh battery pack provides a long range compared to a base-model Kia EV9.

Verdict: The Hyundai Ioniq 9 isn’t a perfect vehicle, but it offers terrific passenger space, good tech, and family-friendly features. Shoppers may find its design polarizing — you could easily say the same about the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or the Ioniq 6 — but families interested in electric vehicles will do well to test drive this new option.