Kia Telluride vs Hyundai Ioniq 9

The 2025 Kia Telluride was available in Canada in five trim levels, ranging from the EX to the X-Pro, with base prices between $53,840 and $66,540, including a $2,100 destination charge. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup. The X-Line trim offered increased ground clearance and a self-levelling rear suspension, while the X-Pro trim featured 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires and a towing capacity of 2,500 kilograms. Our test vehicle, an X-Pro, came with Midnight Lake Blue paint, raising the MSRP to $66,916. The Telluride was praised for its distinctive design and upscale details, although the blacked-out X-Line and X-Pro trims diminished some of its personality. Inside, the black-over-Terracotta interior contrasted with the blue exterior, featuring luxurious materials like chevron-pattern Nappa leather and an artificial suede headliner. However, the lower cabin plastics revealed cost-cutting measures. The dual-screen display on the dashboard looked advanced, but some markings were hard to see in daylight.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 presented a polarizing design, with its aerodynamic shape inspired by smooth pebbles and midcentury modern sofas. Measuring 5,060 millimetres in length with a 3,130 mm wheelbase, it offered impressive interior volume while maintaining a 0.27 drag coefficient. The design, though effective in space efficiency, was not universally considered beautiful, with a swooping roofline and a stubby rear end. The rear view was distinctive, with LED taillights wrapping around the tail. Available in seven paint colours, the Ioniq 9's trims determined colour options. Our test car, equivalent to Canada's Preferred AWD+ Ultimate Calligraphy, featured matte paint and 21-inch wheels. Inside, the Ioniq 9 was spacious, with flat floors and a sliding centre console. The Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy packages added a panoramic sunroof. While the interior had high-quality plastic, the seats lacked thigh support. The Ioniq 9's interior was practical, with a focus on family-friendly features.

The 2025 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. It offered Eco, Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode adapting to driver behaviour. Despite some competitors switching to turbocharged four-cylinders, the Telluride's V6 was smooth and refined, providing ample power for road trips. It achieved a fuel economy of 11.6 litres per 100 kilometres over nearly 2,000 kilometres, aligning with the Natural Resources Canada rating. The X-Pro trim's all-terrain tires excelled off-road but sacrificed some on-pavement grip. The Telluride's ground clearance was 20.3 centimetres, with the X-Line and X-Pro versions offering 21.3 cm. The X-Pro provided a pleasurable driving experience, though brake pedal behaviour in traffic was occasionally sticky.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 featured a 110.3-kWh battery pack on the e-GMP platform. The base Essential trim had a single rear-mounted 160-kW motor producing 215 horsepower, while other trims had dual-motor AWD systems. The Preferred AWD generated 303 hp, and the Preferred AWD+ produced 422 hp. Despite its power, the Ioniq 9 demonstrated impressive energy efficiency, often exceeding the 500-kilometre range estimate. The Ioniq 9's chassis was softly sprung, providing a smooth ride but lacking cornering sophistication. It was exceptionally quiet, with active noise cancellation and sound-absorbing tires. The RWD Ioniq 9 Essential could tow 1,587 kilograms, while AWD models could tow 2,268 kilograms. Charging options included Tesla-style NACS superchargers and CCS-port Level 3 chargers, with fast charging times. An AC Level 2 home charger could fully charge the battery in 9 hours 40 minutes.

The 2025 Kia Telluride's interior was thoughtfully designed, with features like heated and ventilated second-row seats, USB-C ports, and smartphone storage sleeves. The second-row captain's chairs provided comfort, with ample legroom and a rear climate control zone. The third-row seat, when folded, offered 601 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,304 litres with the third row down and 2,455 litres with the second row folded. The Telluride's cargo space was not class-leading but sufficient for most needs.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 focused on family-friendly 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. The Ioniq 9 offered 1,086 millimetres of legroom in the middle row and 813 mm in the third row. The rear doors provided easy access, and dual-zone climate control with air vents in all rows was standard. Cargo space was 620 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,323 and 2,462 litres with the third and second rows folded. The small front trunk was best for storing the charging cable.

The 2025 Kia Telluride featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, complemented by a 10-inch head-up display on higher trims. The head-up display provided blind-spot alerts, and the Blind Spot View Monitor showed live video feeds. However, the Telluride lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the data port was USB-A. The voice recognition system was basic, but the SiriusXM satellite radio and Harman Kardon audio system offered good sound quality.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 had dual curved 12.3-inch displays, similar to other Hyundai models. It included SiriusXM Satellite Radio, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The wireless charging pad struggled to keep up with phone demands and lacked ventilation. The Ioniq 9 had six USB-C ports, and the 14-speaker Bose audio system provided impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Kia Telluride came with standard safety features like forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Highway Driving Assist was standard, offering semi-autonomous highway driving. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 included advanced driver assistance systems, such as collision avoidance and lane-guidance technologies. Highway Driving Assist 2 provided supervised hands-free driving. The Preferred AWD's Luxury package and Preferred AWD+ had a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Crash-test ratings were not yet available.