Page published October 28, 2026
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Page published October 28, 2026
Base trims, priced today (sticker price including destination, plus 7% sales tax as a site example, plus $900 in title and dealer fees, plus 5 years of home charging at 12,000 miles a year): Ioniq 9 S $69,690 against EV9 Light $65,507, a gap of $4,183. Mid trims on the same basis: Ioniq 9 SEL $77,678 against EV9 Wind $75,353, a gap of $2,325. Range: Ioniq 9 S 335 miles against EV9 Light 230 miles, and Ioniq 9 SEL 320 miles against EV9 Wind 283 miles. No federal tax credit is included, because for a car bought in late 2026 there is none, as explained below.
The two cars, side by side
Both are 2026 models. Both base trims drive the rear wheels with a single motor rated 215 horsepower. Prices below show the sticker price both ways: before destination, and including destination, since sources publish both and mixing them up is the easiest way to get a false gap. The comparison tables use the including destination price, because that is the price closer to what is actually paid before tax and fees.
| Trim | Drive | Sticker before destination | Sticker with destination | Battery | EPA efficiency | EPA range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 S (base) | Rear wheel drive | $58,955 | $60,555 | 110.3 kWh | 37 kWh per 100 miles | 335 miles |
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 SEL (mid) | All wheel drive | $66,320 | $67,920 | 110.3 kWh | 38 kWh per 100 miles | 320 miles |
| Kia EV9 Light (base) | Rear wheel drive | $54,900 | $56,545 | 76.1 kWh | 38 kWh per 100 miles | 230 miles |
| Kia EV9 Wind (mid) | All wheel drive | $63,900 | $65,545 | 99.8 kWh | 40 kWh per 100 miles | 283 miles |
Battery figures are the manufacturers stated capacity. Hyundai states 110.3 kWh on every Ioniq 9 trim and does not state a usable figure. Kia states 76.1 kWh for the base Light and 99.8 kWh for every other EV9 trim. Efficiency and range are EPA figures. The Ioniq 9 base uses the least electricity per mile of the four, 37 kWh per 100 miles, and the EV9 Wind the most, 40 kWh per 100 miles. The base EV9 smaller battery is the reason its range trails by 105 miles despite nearly matching the Ioniq 9 on efficiency: 76.1 kWh simply holds less energy than 110.3 kWh.
Priced today: sticker, tax, fees, and 5 years of charging
Charging is priced at home electricity of 18 cents per kWh, the average home electricity price in the AAA 2026 driving costs study, which is also the basis used on our plug-in hybrid page. Driving is 12,000 miles a year, or 60,000 miles over 5 years. Public fast charging costs more than home charging, so a household that mostly charges on the road will pay more than the figures below.
| Trim | Sticker with destination | Sales tax at 7% example | Title and dealer fees | 5-year home charging | Priced today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 S | $60,555 | $4,239 | $900 | $3,996 | $69,690 |
| Kia EV9 Light | $56,545 | $3,958 | $900 | $4,104 | $65,507 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 SEL | $67,920 | $4,754 | $900 | $4,104 | $77,678 |
| Kia EV9 Wind | $65,545 | $4,588 | $900 | $4,320 | $75,353 |
Each priced today figure is the rounded sum of its own row: sticker plus tax plus fees plus charging. The base gap of $4,183 is mostly the sticker gap of $4,010, plus $281 more tax on the dearer car, partly offset by $108 less charging for the Ioniq 9, since it uses 37 kWh per 100 miles against 38. The mid trim gap narrows to $2,325, because the Wind sticker is only $2,375 below the SEL, and the charging gap between 38 and 40 kWh per 100 miles is $216 over 5 years. Charging, in other words, barely moves this comparison. The sticker does.
Formula
Each priced today figure is the sum of four parts: the sticker price including destination, 7% sales tax on that sticker, $900 in title and dealer fees, and five years of home charging at 12,000 miles a year and 18 cents per kWh. The Ioniq 9 S is $60,555 plus $4,239 tax plus $900 fees plus $3,996 charging, which is $69,690. The EV9 Light is $56,545 plus $3,958 tax plus $900 fees plus $4,104 charging, which is $65,507, a gap of $4,183.
The mid trims work the same way: the Ioniq 9 SEL is $67,920 plus $4,754 tax plus $900 fees plus $4,104 charging, which is $77,678, against the EV9 Wind at $65,545 plus $4,588 tax plus $900 fees plus $4,320 charging, which is $75,353, a gap of $2,325. Charging is 12,000 miles a year divided by the EPA efficiency, times 18 cents per kWh, times five years: the Ioniq 9 S uses 37 kWh per 100 miles, so about $3,996, and the EV9 Wind uses 40 kWh per 100 miles, so about $4,320. These are not full five-year totals: insurance and upkeep are not included, because no published figures for those inputs were found for these models, and value loss has a published figure for the EV9 Light only, $36,882 over five years.
What this page does not price, and why that is stated instead of filled in
A full 5-year true cost also needs insurance, upkeep, and value loss. For these two models, no published figures for insurance or upkeep were found, and value loss has a published figure for the EV9 Light only, so no 5-year total is claimed on this page. That is a deliberate gap, not an oversight, and filling it with another car numbers would be guessing.
On value loss specifically: Kelley Blue Book notes it is too early to predict the resale value of the Hyundai Ioniq 9, so there is still no published figure for it. For the Kia EV9 Light, Kelley Blue Book now publishes a five-year depreciation figure of $36,882, leaving a residual value of $19,663 on the $56,545 Light. That is a value-loss figure, not a cash cost, so it does not change the priced today comparison, which prices what you pay at the dealer and at the charger. When published insurance and upkeep figures exist for these models, this page can grow into a full 5-year total, and the priced today figures above will still be the same starting point.
For how a full 5-year total is built on models where every input is published, see any of our model cost pages, such as the Kia Telluride or Toyota Grand Highlander pages, and for electric against gas on a full basis, see electric vs gas.
No federal tax credit for a late 2026 purchase
The federal new clean vehicle credit of up to $7,500, and the used and commercial credits alongside it, ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, under Public Law 119-21. A car bought in late 2026 therefore gets no federal credit, and none is included in the figures above. Some dealer pages still describe these models as eligible for the full $7,500 credit. For any purchase after September 30, 2025, that description is outdated and should not be counted in the price. The narrow exception covers a buyer who signed a binding written contract and made a payment on or before September 30, 2025, which does not apply to a fresh late 2026 purchase. Our electric vehicle tax credits page explains the cutoff in full.
Which one fits which household
Buy the range if road trips and long commutes are the normal week: the Ioniq 9 base goes 335 miles against 230, a 105 mile difference that decides whether a trip needs a charging stop, and the mid trims keep a 37 mile Ioniq 9 edge. Buy the price if most driving is local and home charging is the norm: the EV9 base saves $4,183 on the priced today basis and charges at home for only $108 more over 5 years, which is about $22 a year. The mid trims are the close call: $2,325 apart on price, 37 miles apart on range, and the choice there is genuinely about the cars themselves, their interiors, their warranties, and their feel on a test drive, rather than about the money alone.
For home charging costs and setup, see what a home electric vehicle charger costs to install, and to check any dealer quote for either car against its own numbers, use the quote check tool.
Figures: sticker prices from Hyundai USA, Kia reporting via Edmunds and Autoblog, and Kelley Blue Book, October 2026, including destination as noted. EPA efficiency and range from fueleconomy.gov. Home electricity at 18 cents per kWh from the AAA 2026 driving costs study. Tax at 7% is a site example, not any state actual rate. Fees of $900 are the site standard allowance. Insurance and upkeep are not included, because no published figures for those inputs were found; value loss is published for the EV9 Light only, Kelley Blue Book five-year depreciation $36,882, residual $19,663.
Keep looking
If this page answered one question and raised the next, these follow naturally from it:
- Electric vs gas: the full five-year comparison on models where every input is published.
- Is a plug-in hybrid the middle step: fuel-only math for the car that splits the difference, and the source of the 18 cents per kWh home charging basis used here.
- EV tax credits in plain words: what ended, what remains, and why no credit is counted on this page.
- What a home charger costs to install: the other half of the charging bill.
- Check your quote: run a dealer quote for either car against its own numbers.
Educational estimates only, not financial, tax, legal or insurance advice. Every figure on this page is a typical example worked from the inputs stated on the page, not a quote for a specific car, loan, or driver. Your rate, insurance, fuel use, and resale value will move your total. See Terms.
Calculation transparency
Jurisdiction. United States. Sales tax, titling, registration and insurance rules are set by your state, so your exact numbers depend on where you buy and register the car. The 7% sales tax and $900 in fees in this comparison are planning figures, not any one state's actual rates. No federal tax credit is included, because for a car bought in late 2026 there is none, under Public Law 119-21.
Rules and time period. 2026 models, priced today in October 2026. Driving is 12,000 miles a year, or 60,000 miles over 5 years. Home electricity is 18 cents per kWh, the average home electricity price in the AAA 2026 driving costs study. Public fast charging costs more than home charging, so a household that mostly charges on the road will pay more.
Scope and limitations. Partial comparison by design. Insurance and upkeep are not priced on this page, because no published figures for those inputs were found for these models, and value loss is published for the EV9 Light only, so no full 5-year total is claimed; filling the gap with another car's numbers would be guessing. When published insurance and upkeep figures exist for these models, this page can grow into a full five-year total, and the priced today figures above will still be the same starting point.
Kelley Blue Book now publishes a five-year cost-to-own depreciation figure for the EV9 Light, $36,882, with a $19,663 residual value, and that figure is folded into the value-loss section above; it is not folded into the priced today comparison, because depreciation is a value-loss figure rather than a cash cost, and the Ioniq 9 still has no published figure.
Source links checked November 6, 2026. Figures: Kelley Blue Book 2026 Ioniq 9 S price, $60,555 including destination, and 2026 EV9 Light price, $56,545 including destination; EPA efficiency and range from fueleconomy.gov; home electricity at 18 cents per kWh from the AAA 2026 driving costs study.
Primary sources: Kelley Blue Book, 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9; Edmunds, 2026 Kia EV9; Kelley Blue Book, 2026 Kia EV9 specs; fueleconomy.gov, EPA fuel economy ratings. How the numbers are calculated is written down on the methodology page, and every source is listed on the sources page.
Definitions
kWh. A kilowatt-hour, the unit electricity is sold in. The Ioniq 9 carries a 110.3 kWh battery on every trim; the EV9 Light carries 76.1 kWh and every other EV9 trim carries 99.8 kWh.
EPA range. How far the car goes on a charge under the EPA test. The Ioniq 9 S is rated 335 miles and the SEL 320 miles, against the EV9 Light at 230 miles and the Wind at 283 miles.
Destination charge. The fee to ship the car to the dealer. The sticker prices on this page include destination: $1,600 on the Ioniq 9 and $1,645 on the EV9.
Sales tax. The tax charged on the purchase price. This page uses 7% as a site example, not any one state's actual rate: $4,239 on the Ioniq 9 S and $3,958 on the EV9 Light.
Home charging. Charging the car at home, priced here at 18 cents per kWh, the average home electricity price in the AAA 2026 driving costs study. Public fast charging costs more.
Federal tax credit. The federal new clean vehicle credit of up to $7,500. It ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, under Public Law 119-21, so no credit is counted on this page.
Battery capacity. How much energy the battery holds, as stated by the manufacturer. Hyundai states 110.3 kWh on every Ioniq 9 trim and does not state a usable figure; Kia states 76.1 kWh for the base EV9 Light and 99.8 kWh for every other EV9 trim.
Efficiency. How much electricity the car uses per mile, in kWh per 100 miles under the EPA test. The Ioniq 9 S uses 37, the SEL 38, the EV9 Light 38, and the EV9 Wind 40.
Questions people actually ask
Which costs less, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 or the Kia EV9?
The Kia EV9, on the inputs that can be verified today. Base trims on a priced today basis (sticker including destination, plus 7% sales tax as a site example, plus $900 in fees, plus 5 years of home charging): Ioniq 9 S $69,690 against EV9 Light $65,507, a gap of $4,183. Mid trims on the same basis: Ioniq 9 SEL $77,678 against EV9 Wind $75,353, a gap of $2,325. These are not full 5-year totals, because insurance and upkeep have no published figures for these models yet, and value loss has a published figure for the EV9 Light only.
Why does this page not give a full 5-year total?
Because a full total needs insurance, upkeep, and value loss, and no published figures for insurance or upkeep were found for the Ioniq 9 or the EV9. Kelley Blue Book notes it is too early to predict the resale value of the Ioniq 9, and now publishes a five-year depreciation figure of $36,882 for the EV9 Light. Publishing a total built on another car numbers would be guessing, so this page prices what can be verified (sticker, tax, fees, charging) and labels the rest as not yet published.
Is there a federal tax credit for buying an Ioniq 9 or EV9 in late 2026?
No. The federal new clean vehicle credit of up to $7,500 ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, under Public Law 119-21, and no replacement credit exists. Some dealer pages still describe these models as eligible, but for a purchase after September 30, 2025 that description is outdated. The narrow exception covers a binding written contract signed and paid on or before September 30, 2025, which does not apply to a fresh late 2026 purchase.
How far can each car go on a charge?
EPA range: Ioniq 9 S 335 miles and Ioniq 9 SEL 320 miles, against EV9 Light 230 miles and EV9 Wind 283 miles. The base gap is 105 miles, because the Ioniq 9 carries a 110.3 kWh battery against the base EV9 76.1 kWh, even though their efficiency is nearly the same at 37 and 38 kWh per 100 miles. The mid trim gap is 37 miles.
What does 5 years of charging cost for each car?
At home electricity of 18 cents per kWh and 12,000 miles a year: Ioniq 9 S $3,996, Ioniq 9 SEL $4,104, EV9 Light $4,104, and EV9 Wind $4,320. Charging barely moves this comparison: the largest charging gap, between the Ioniq 9 S and the EV9 Wind, is $324 over 5 years, while the sticker gaps run into the thousands. Public fast charging costs more than home charging, so road trip heavy drivers will pay more.
Related: See the Tesla Model Y, the electric SUV most three row EV shoppers also price