2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 presented a polarizing design that some found appealing while others did not. Its aerodynamic shape, inspired by smooth pebbles and midcentury modern sofas, was crafted to house seven passengers comfortably. Measuring 199.2 inches in length with a 123.2-inch wheelbase, the Ioniq 9 offered impressive interior volume, comparable to larger SUVs like the Chevy Tahoe. Despite its size, it achieved a remarkable 0.27 drag coefficient, enhancing its aerodynamic efficiency. However, its design was not universally praised, with a swooping roofline and a stubby rear end that some found dissonant. The rear view, with LED taillights wrapping around the tail's circumference, was particularly distinctive.

The Ioniq 9 was available in various trims and paint colors, with the Calligraphy Design trim featuring unique options like Sage Silver Matte paint and 21-inch jet-turbine-inspired wheels. Inside, the Ioniq 9 boasted a spacious and airy interior, thanks to its EV platform's flat floors and minimalist design. The dashboard offered multiple storage options, and higher trims included a panoramic sunroof and sliding center console. Upholstery options ranged from cloth to premium H-Tex synthetic leather, with a two-tone dark teal option for the Calligraphy trim. While the interior featured high-quality plastic, some elements, like the dashboard insert, felt underwhelming. The seats, though soft, lacked thigh support, impacting overall comfort.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer retained its upright stance and large windows, but a refreshed illuminated grille and welcome-lighting sequence gave it a modern vibe. The new Upland trim added front recovery hooks for increased utility without compromising elegance. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer featured a clean design with strong horizontal lines. While the 12-inch infotainment screen seemed small for such a large vehicle, it was complemented by redundant HVAC and audio controls. The seats, though plain in appearance, were comfortable and highly adjustable, making long drives enjoyable.

The Grand Wagoneer's interior boasted premium materials, with solid metal gearshift dials and available Nappa and Palermo leather upholstery. The cabin's fit and finish were impressive, with doors that closed with a solid thwap and a sturdy armrest closure. The Grand Wagoneer offered a range of trims, with the Upland model featuring Quadra-Lift air suspension, front recovery hooks, skid plates, and all-terrain tires for light off-roading. Overall, the Grand Wagoneer combined modern design with practicality and comfort.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 was equipped with a 110.3-kWh battery pack on Hyundai's e-GMP platform, offering a larger capacity than similar models like the Kia EV9 and Tesla Model X. The base S trim featured a rear-wheel-drive setup with a 160-kW electric motor, producing 215 horsepower. Other trims came with dual-motor all-wheel-drive systems, with power outputs ranging from 303 hp in the SE and SEL trims to 422 hp in the Limited and Calligraphy trims. The Ioniq 9 demonstrated impressive energy efficiency, achieving between 3 and 3.2 miles per kilowatt-hour, aligning with Hyundai's range estimates of 335 miles for the S trim and 311 miles for the Calligraphy Design.

Despite its futuristic appearance, the Ioniq 9's soft suspension and weight made it less agile in corners, resembling a minivan in handling. However, it offered a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to active noise cancellation and sound-absorbing features. The Ioniq 9 had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds for the RWD S trim and 5,000 pounds for AWD models, though towing reduced driving range. Charging options included Tesla-style NACS superchargers and CCS-port Level 2 chargers, with fast charging times of 40 minutes on a NACS V3 Supercharger and 24 minutes on a 350-kW CCS-port DC Fast Charger.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine, delivering 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided smooth and effortless power, even in the 6,000-pound vehicle, surpassing the performance of the previous 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The Grand Wagoneer also offered a range-extended electric powertrain with a 92-kWh battery pack and a 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine, generating an estimated 647 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque, with a total range of over 500 miles.

Despite its large size, the Grand Wagoneer was surprisingly agile and easy to drive, with excellent visibility and the ability to absorb road imperfections. While there was some tire and wind noise, the cabin remained relatively quiet. The seats were comfortable for long drives, accommodating a wide range of passenger sizes. Overall, the Grand Wagoneer combined power and comfort, making it a versatile choice for various driving conditions.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 was designed with a strong family-SUV focus, offering practical interior dimensions. The S, SE, and SEL trims seated seven with a middle-row bench seat, while the Limited and Calligraphy trims featured ventilated captain's chairs for six passengers. The Universal Island 2.0, available on higher trims, provided versatile storage and improved access for middle-row passengers. The Ioniq 9 offered 42.8 inches of legroom in the middle row, though the 32 inches in the third row felt tight for adults. The rear doors swung out wide, facilitating easy access for loading and unloading children.

Standard dual-zone climate control and air vents in all three rows ensured passenger comfort, with a heat pump to mitigate energy loss in colder months. The SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy trims included a heated steering wheel. However, the driver's seat lacked adjustability, and the glove compartment's low placement posed a potential inconvenience. The Ioniq 9 provided 21.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 46.7 and 86.9 cubic feet with the third and second rows folded, respectively. The small front trunk was best suited for storing the charging cable and CCS adapter.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer excelled as a people mover, offering ample leg and hip room across its three rows. Our test vehicle featured an optional bench seat in the second row, accommodating up to eight passengers comfortably. The third row, often reserved for emergencies, could fit three people of small to average stature without feeling cramped. While using the third row reduced cargo space, the Grand Wagoneer still provided 27.9 cubic feet, sufficient for strollers or athletic gear. The long-wheelbase version increased cargo capacity to 42.6 cubic feet, and the Grand Wagoneer could tow up to 10,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The Grand Wagoneer featured three-zone automatic climate controls, heated-and-ventilated front seats, and power-operated driver and front passenger seats in the Upland trim. The Upland model also included Quadra-Lift air suspension, front recovery hooks, skid plates, and all-terrain tires for light off-roading. Overall, the Grand Wagoneer offered a spacious and well-equipped interior, making it a practical choice for families and adventurers alike.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 featured a familiar infotainment interface with dual, curved 12.3-inch displays, similar to those in higher-level Hyundai models. While the screens looked good and functioned well, they were prone to fingerprints and glare. Standard features included SiriusXM Satellite Radio, over-the-air updates, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay. A wireless charging pad was also standard, though it struggled to keep up with high-demand devices and lacked ventilation, causing phones to overheat.

The Ioniq 9 came with six USB-C ports capable of delivering 100 watts of power, sufficient for charging laptops. Our test car featured a 14-speaker Bose audio system, standard on the Limited and Calligraphy trims, which provided a crisp soundstage with balanced tones. While Bose stereos often receive less acclaim than high-end systems, the optional system in the Ioniq 9 impressed with its audio quality.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came equipped with a range of tech features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-inch touchscreen display, a 10.25-inch digital cluster, a wireless phone charger, and a hands-free power liftgate. Additional features included three-zone automatic climate controls, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, connected travel and vehicle services, and numerous USB ports. Higher trims offered a front console cooler, digital rearview mirror, a 23-speaker McIntosh premium sound system, a 12-inch digital cluster, a front passenger interactive display, and four-zone climate controls.

While most tech features worked well, the wireless phone charger struggled to charge an iPhone 16 and eventually overheated it. The 12-inch infotainment screen, though generous in size, felt small for the vehicle's size, and a larger screen would have been preferable. The 2026 model year saw the removal of adjustable pedals, a feature previously standard on earlier models. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Grand Wagoneer offered a comprehensive suite of tech features to enhance the driving experience.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 had not yet received crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, it came equipped with an impressive array of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard. These included collision avoidance, lane-guidance technologies, driver attention warning, safe-exit assist, and Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2). HDA 2 combined lane-keeping assist with adaptive cruise control for supervised hands-free driving, though it was less sophisticated than Ford's BlueCruise or GM's SuperCruise.

The SEL trim and above featured a surround-view monitor, parking aids, and a blind-spot view monitor that displayed a camera feed of blind spots when signaling. This feature, previously reserved for top trims, was now available on the mid-level SEL, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection-collision assist, front and rear parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring, rear-seat reminders, and a driver-attention monitor. Available features included automated parallel and perpendicular park assist, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system. Our Upland test vehicle also had blind-spot monitors with trailer detection, a trailer-brake control, and a trailer-hitch zoom.

The surround-view camera system, though not standard on all trims, was highly recommended for navigating tight spaces. The cameras provided high-definition visuals with dynamic guidelines and proximity cues. The 2026 Grand Wagoneer received fair ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, with a mix of Good and Marginal scores in crash tests. The NHTSA awarded it a four-out-of-five-star safety rating, highlighting areas for improvement in crash protection.