Head-to-head
Polestar 3 vs Hyundai Ioniq 9
Two suvs priced within $1,330 of each other. Here's where each pulls ahead on range, charging, safety and warranty.
Option A · SUV
Polestar 3
Polestar's large electric SUV is the brand's flagship Australian offering — a 106 kWh battery, 350 kW DC charging in 2026 spec, and a cabin pitched directly at the Porsche Macan Electric and BMW iX.
- From
- $118,420
- Range
- 635 km
- Battery
- 106 kWh
Option B · SUV
Hyundai Ioniq 9
Hyundai's three-row electric flagship — sister car to the Kia EV9 with shared E-GMP 800V architecture. 110.3 kWh battery, 600 km WLTP range, and 233 kW DC charging put it head-to-head with the EV9 and Volvo EX90.
- From
- $119,750
- Range
- 600 km
- Battery
- 110.3 kWh
Key differences at a glance
The biggest material gaps between the Polestar 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, ranked by how much they're likely to matter day-to-day.
- 1
DC charging · advantage Polestar 3
The Polestar 3 accepts 117 kW more DC peak charging (350 vs 233 kW), meaning shorter road-trip stops.
- 2
Range · advantage Polestar 3
The Polestar 3 goes 35 km further on a charge (635 vs 600 km WLTP).
- 3
Power · advantage Polestar 3
The Polestar 3 puts down 66 kW more (380 vs 314 kW).
- 4
Boot · advantage Polestar 3
The Polestar 3 swallows 67 L more cargo with the rear seats up (405 vs 338 L).
- 5
0–100 km/h · advantage Polestar 3
The Polestar 3 is 0.5 s quicker to 100 km/h (4.7 s vs 5.2 s).
Spec for spec
Highlighted cells show the better number in each row.
Where the Polestar 3 wins
- ▸ Cheaper by $1,330
- ▸ 35 km longer WLTP range
- ▸ Quicker 0–100 km/h (4.7s vs 5.2s)
- ▸ Faster DC charging peak (350 kW vs 233 kW)
Where the Hyundai Ioniq 9 wins
Trails the Polestar 3 on the core specs we measure.
Polestar 3
What we like
- ✓ Class-leading 350 kW DC charging on 2026 spec
- ✓ Spacious cabin with Volvo-derived safety credentials
- ✓ Genuine 635 km WLTP range
What we don't
- ✕ Premium pricing limits cross-shop pool
- ✕ Boot smaller than rivals at this price
- ✕ Polestar service network thinner than Volvo's
Hyundai Ioniq 9
What we like
- ✓ True 7-seat layout with 800V E-GMP architecture
- ✓ Strong 600 km WLTP range from large battery
- ✓ Fresh 5-star ANCAP rating from 2025
What we don't
- ✕ 5-year vehicle warranty trails Kia EV9's 7-year
- ✕ Heavy kerb weight blunts efficiency
- ✕ Pricing creeps above mid-spec Kia EV9
Frequently asked: Polestar 3 vs Hyundai Ioniq 9
Quick answers to the questions cross-shoppers most often ask about this pair.
- Which is cheaper, the Polestar 3 or the Hyundai Ioniq 9?
- The Polestar 3 is the cheaper of the two — it starts at $118,420 versus $119,750 for the Hyundai Ioniq 9, a $1,330 difference. Prices shown are manufacturer recommended retail excluding on-road costs.
- Which has the longer driving range?
- The Polestar 3 has the longer WLTP-claimed range at 635 km, 35 km further than the Hyundai Ioniq 9's 600 km. Real-world range typically lands 10–20% below the WLTP figure depending on speed, terrain, climate and load.
- Which one charges faster on a DC fast charger?
- The Polestar 3 accepts a peak DC charging rate of 350 kW versus 233 kW for the Hyundai Ioniq 9. Peak rate only holds for a short window during the charging curve, so real-world 10–80% times often diverge less than the peak numbers suggest. Compatibility with 350 kW chargers depends on the vehicle's onboard architecture, not just the published peak.
- Which is quicker off the line?
- The Polestar 3 does 0–100 km/h in 4.7 seconds — 0.5 s quicker than the Hyundai Ioniq 9's 5.2 s. EV acceleration figures hold up at speed better than equivalent petrol cars because electric motors deliver peak torque instantly.
Which one should you buy?
The short version, based on where each car pulls ahead.
Choose the
Polestar 3
if…
- ✓ you regularly do long road trips (faster DC peak)
- ✓ you match the profile: premium suv buyers
Verdict reasoning is derived from published specs; brand preference, dealer experience and how a car drives are personal — always take a test drive before deciding.