Compare the2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9VS 2025 Subaru Ascent

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Ascent doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Ioniq 9 and Ascent have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Ioniq 9 has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Ascent’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Ioniq 9 and the Ascent have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Ioniq 9 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Ascent’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Ioniq 9 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Ascent. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Ascent ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Ioniq 9’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Ascent’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ioniq 9 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for tire rotations, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Ascent.

There are over 31 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Ioniq 9’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 12th.

The Ioniq 9’s optional electric motors produces 43 more horsepower (303 vs. 260) and 169 lbs.-ft. more torque (446 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The Ioniq 9’s optional electric motors produces 162 more horsepower (422 vs. 260) and 239 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Ioniq 9 gets better mileage than the Ascent:

The Ioniq 9 can travel with zero emissions for 311 to 335 miles (dependent on model). The Ascent can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Ioniq 9’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Ascent doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Ioniq 9, as a pure battery electric vehicle, has no need to “idle” its motors in traffic: they only burn power when moving. The Ioniq 9’s climate control systems still work completely when the vehicle is stopped. The Ascent still runs its internal combustion engine whenever it’s stopped, burning excess fuel.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Ioniq 9 higher (10 out of 10) than the Subaru Ascent (4). This means the Ioniq 9 produces up to 25 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Ascent every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Ioniq 9’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Ascent:

For better traction, the Ioniq 9 has larger standard tires than the Ascent (255/60R19 vs. 245/60R18). The Ioniq 9 Limited/Calligraphy’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Ascent (285/45R21 vs. 245/60R18).

The Ioniq 9 Limited/Calligraphy’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring/Bronze’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ioniq 9 S/SE has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Ascent Premium. The Ioniq 9 Limited/Calligraphy’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring/Bronze.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ioniq 9’s wheelbase is 9.4 inches longer than on the Ascent (123.2 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ioniq 9 is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Ascent.

The front grille of the Ioniq 9 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Ascent doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Ioniq 9 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Ascent doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Ioniq 9 has 10.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Ascent (163.5 vs. 153.2).

The Ioniq 9 has .3 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 4.2 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more rear hip room, .7 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.5 inches more third row headroom and .3 inches more third row legroom than the Ascent.

The Ioniq 9’s cargo area provides more volume than the Ascent.

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers or raises the Ioniq 9 Limited/Calligraphy’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Ascent doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Ioniq 9’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Ascent’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The power windows standard on both the Ioniq 9 and the Ascent have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Ioniq 9 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Ascent prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Ioniq 9 Calligraphy’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Ascent’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Ioniq 9’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Ascent’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Ioniq 9 SEL/Limited/Calligraphy has standard front air conditioned seats and the Ioniq 9 Limited/Calligraphy also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Ascent doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Ioniq 9 offers optional massaging front and second row seats, which keep the driver and middle row passengers. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Ascent.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. Wireless charging costs extra on the Ascent.

The Ioniq 9 Calligraphy’s Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Ascent doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Ioniq 9 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Ascent doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.