There is something unique and exciting about getting to drive a brand-new electric vehicle and immediately pointing it toward the open highway for a real-world road trip. That is exactly what we had the chance to do with the all-new 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Calligraphy, finished in an eye-catching Cosmic Blue Pearl, as we picked it up from Driveshop in Morrison, Colorado, the night before heading to the Denver Auto Show.
From the first glance, it was obvious Hyundai had created something different. The Ioniq 9 is the brand’s newest flagship EV SUV, and in the top-tier Calligraphy trim, it brought a premium experience that rivaled luxury brands costing far more. With three rows of seating, futuristic styling, impressive range and now access to the Tesla Supercharger network, it quickly proved itself to be one of the most practical long-distance electric vehicles we have driven.
What followed was a weekend in Colorado Springs, a mountain crossing through the Rockies, and a full return trip home to Utah — all in all giving us the chance to truly test the Ioniq 9 in the way most buyers eventually would in a full-size SUV.
First impressions in Colorado
Picking up the Ioniq 9 in Morrison gave us a perfect introduction to Hyundai’s newest electric SUV. Sitting large and confidently on the road, it felt and looked like a premium family hauler from every angle. The Cosmic Blue Pearl paint gave it a deep richness in the sunlight, while the sleek LED lighting and unique aerodynamic lines made it stand out from the sea of traditional SUVs.
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The driver-centric layout of the Ioniq 9 is dominated by a stunning panoramic digital display that seamlessly integrates the instrument cluster and infotainment system. In the Calligraphy trim, this futuristic tech is balanced by physical buttons for essential climate and audio controls — a thoughtful design choice we appreciated while navigating the mountain roads of Colorado.
Inside, the Calligraphy trim delivered immediate luxury. Soft-touch materials, quilted leather seating, ambient lighting and Hyundai’s beautifully integrated panoramic digital display created an upscale cabin that felt both modern and relaxing. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, and the second-row captain’s chairs gave the interior an almost lounge-like atmosphere.
The Ioniq 9 is a large vehicle; however, it never felt cumbersome. Visibility was excellent, and Hyundai’s suite of cameras and driver-assist systems made maneuvering around Denver traffic surprisingly easy.
After attending the Denver Auto Show, we headed south to Colorado Springs for the weekend, enjoying the smooth and quiet ride that only a well-engineered EV can provide.
Long-range EV travel gets better
The real test began when it was time to head home.
Craig Conover, Daily Herald
Reaching the Continental Divide at Tennessee Pass, elevation 10,424 feet, we had to snap a photo for just being there. The Ioniq 9 handled the steep mountain grades with ease, using its instant electric torque for the climb and its regenerative braking to recoup energy on the long descent toward the Western Slope.
We have taken long EV road trips before, even done the Denver to Springville route a few times in the past, and while they have always been enjoyable, planning around charging stops was always the biggest challenge. This time, however, the Ioniq 9 had a major advantage: access to the Tesla charging network.
That changed everything.
Before leaving Colorado Springs, we charged the Ioniq 9 to prepare for the climb into the mountains east of town. With its estimated range hovering around 330 miles depending on conditions, we felt confident starting the journey.
Still, mountain driving, elevation changes, and interstate speeds always affect efficiency, especially in a large three-row SUV.
Our next charging stop came in Buena Vista, Colorado, where we took the SUV to 80% before continuing westward through some of the most beautiful mountain driving in the country, including crossing the continental divide at Tennessee Pass. The Ioniq 9 handled elevation changes beautifully, with strong regenerative braking helping recover some energy on descents and excellent torque making uphill climbs effortless.
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The Calligraphy trim interior defines electric luxury with its quilted leather seating and integrated panoramic digital display. The cabin remained whisper-quiet throughout our journey, making the long stretches of I-70 and I-15 feel much shorter.
Overnight in Parachute
From Buena Vista, we continued on to Parachute, Colorado, where we stopped for the night.
One of the reasons for stopping in Parachute was access to a Tesla charger across the street from our hotel. This allowed us to charge Ioniq 9 all the way to 100% while watching TV in the room, a process that did take about an hour and 15 minutes.
Having access to that network made planning much easier and added peace of mind, especially in smaller towns where charging options can sometimes be limited, normally we would have continued on to Grand Junction to access one of the other charging networks.
That full charge gave us confidence heading into Sunday.
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Charging at a Tesla Supercharger in Green River, also allowing us to charge our devices as we waited. One of the biggest game-changers for this trip was the Ioniq 9’s native access to the Tesla network, which provided peace of mind when heavy crosswinds across the desert began to impact our projected range.
Our original thought was that we might be able to make it all the way to Price — or perhaps even push all the way home.
Mother Nature, however, had other plans.
Wind changes everything
As we came through Grand Junction, Colorado, we encountered a strong crosswind that dramatically affected efficiency.
Anyone who drives electric vehicles regularly knows that wind can be one of the biggest enemies of range. A stiff headwind or crosswind can reduce efficiency faster than many drivers expect, and in the Ioniq 9, we saw that firsthand.
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Back home in Utah Valley, the Ioniq 9 settled seamlessly into daily life. After a week that included mountain passes, highway crosswinds and overnight charging stops, it proved itself to be a highly practical and refined flagship for the modern family.
Instead of reaching Price comfortably, we realized Green River would need to be our next stop.
Fortunately, the charging infrastructure has continued to improve, and we were able to stop there and charge on the Tesla chargers again. Charging to about 80% gave us enough range to comfortably make it home, and we pulled into our driveway with approximately 22% battery remaining.
That is exactly where you want to be — enough reserve to feel secure without unnecessary overcharging.
Altogether, it cost us about $111 in electricity to spend a couple of days in Colorado and drive the Ioniq 9 home to Utah.
Considering the size of the vehicle, the distance traveled and the comfort level we enjoyed, that was right about where we would have placed it before leaving.
Fast charging makes a difference
One thing Hyundai continues to do exceptionally well is charging speed.
On Level 3 fast chargers, most of our charging stops took only about 25 to 30 minutes to get the Ioniq 9 from roughly 20% up to 80%.
This makes road-tripping in an EV more realistic than many people still assume; however, one still needs to plan for the extra time that charging can take.
Once home, we spent the next two days using the Ioniq 9 as our daily driver, and charging became much easier thanks to our Level 2 home charger. Plugging in overnight makes owning an EV easier — you simply wake up every morning with a “full tank.” On a side note, it took about seven and a half hours to charge from 22% to 100% on our home charger.
Performance and practicality
Despite its size, the Ioniq 9 never felt sluggish. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup in the Calligraphy trim provided strong acceleration, smooth power delivery and confidence in all driving conditions.
Passing on mountain highways was effortless, and merging onto busy interstates happened with instant electric torque.
Ride quality was another standout. Hyundai has clearly tuned this SUV for comfort, and it shows. Long hours behind the wheel never became tiring, and road noise was kept impressively low.
Cargo space was generous even with all three rows available, and folding seats added even more flexibility for larger loads. Families looking for a true electric road-trip vehicle will appreciate just how usable this SUV really is.
Technology was equally impressive, from the large infotainment system to the excellent surround-view monitor and Hyundai’s intuitive controls.
Thankfully, Hyundai still includes physical buttons where they matter most.
Final thoughts
The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Calligraphy proved to us that long-range electric travel continues to get better — and easier.
It handled Denver traffic, Colorado mountain passes, overnight charging in Parachute, Utah crosswinds and daily commuting at home without ever feeling like a compromise.
That may be the Ioniq 9’s greatest strength — it simply feels normal in the best possible way.
Base price: $74,990
Destination charge: $1,800
Price as driven: $77,040
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