Volkswagen Taos vs Hyundai Ioniq 9

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was a compact SUV designed to appeal to a broad audience with its stylish and sporty appearance. Despite its small size, it offered a premium look with features like bold 19-inch alloy wheels and a bright Cornflower Blue paint job. Inside, the Taos Highline trim resembled a more affordable Audi, with light grey accents, gloss black trim, and leather seats. It was nearly as roomy as the larger Tiguan, making it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs available.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9, on the other hand, was an electric crossover with a distinctive design that divided opinions. Its aerodynamic shape was inspired by various sources, including smooth pebbles and midcentury modern sofas. The Ioniq 9 was a large vehicle, comparable in length to a Honda Pilot, with a longer wheelbase than a Chevy Tahoe. This resulted in excellent interior volume, although its styling was not universally praised. The rear view was particularly recognizable, with LED taillights wrapping around most of the tail's circumference.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. It offered both front-wheel drive with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Taos had up to five driving modes, but its powertrain response was unpredictable, leading to challenges in smooth driving. Despite its sporty character, the Taos lacked power compared to rivals like the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona N. It averaged 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres during testing, slightly above the official rating.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 featured a 110.3-kWh battery pack on Hyundai's e-GMP platform. The base trim had a single rear-mounted motor with 215 horsepower, while other trims offered dual-motor AWD systems with up to 422 horsepower. The Ioniq 9 impressed with its energy efficiency, often exceeding the estimated 500-kilometre range. It provided a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to its soft suspension and active noise cancellation. However, its handling was more akin to a minivan than a sporty SUV. The Ioniq 9 had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds and offered fast charging options.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered a comfortable interior with various upholstery options, including real leather in the Highline trim. It came with standard cold-weather features in Canada, such as heated seats and a heated steering wheel. The Taos provided ample rear-seat space and cargo capacity, with up to 1,866 litres of storage with the rear seats folded. However, the interior had some hard plastic elements, and the centre armrest lacked adjustability.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 focused on family-friendly practicality, seating up to seven passengers. The Preferred AWD+ with the Ultimate Calligraphy Package offered ventilated captain's chairs and a sliding centre console. The Ioniq 9 provided excellent middle-row legroom and easy access to the rear seats. It featured dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and optional heated second-row seats. Cargo space was generous, with up to 2,462 litres available, although the front trunk was limited in size.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came with standard digital instrumentation, with a larger display in the Highline trim. Infotainment options ranged from basic to fully featured, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available in higher trims. However, the user experience was marred by hidden controls, a complicated radio tuning process, and ineffective voice recognition. The Highline trim included a native navigation system and a premium Beats Audio sound system.

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

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its safety features with standard Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist performed well, providing smooth and accurate adaptive cruise control. However, crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were decent but not perfect.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 had not yet been rated by NHTSA or IIHS, but it offered a comprehensive suite of ADAS features. Standard equipment included collision avoidance, lane-guidance technologies, driver attention warning, and safe-exit assist. The Highway Driving Assist 2 system provided supervised hands-free driving. The Luxury package and Preferred AWD+ trims added a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor.