Just when you thought Hyundai couldn’t squeeze more money out of its flagship SUV, it found a way. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 Blackline starts at €89,950 in Germany. But the new top of the lineup isn’t just an expensive “black” special edition — an equally equipped Ioniq 9 UNIQ Performance actually costs even more. And that’s the whole trick.
The all-wheel-drive UNIQ with the same 428 hp costs €88,100. The panoramic roof adds €1,350, the Abyss Black paint another €1,050. That comes to €90,500. The Blackline with the same elements included as standard is €550 cheaper. There’s savings there. But the buyer loses freedom of choice: only black bodywork and a black interior are offered for the new version.
The hardware hasn’t changed one bit. Two electric motors produce 428 hp and 700 Nm, and the 110-kWh battery delivers up to 600 km of WLTP range. 0–100 km/h takes 5.2 seconds, top speed is capped at 200 km/h, and claimed energy consumption is 20.6 kWh per 100 km. The Blackline is distinguished by black badges, roof rails, 21-inch wheels and an Ioniq 9 script.
Inside, there’s a dark headliner, black door trim and black chrome-look accents. The panoramic roof is included in the price. Digital exterior mirrors cost another €1,400. For €1,000, the seven-seat cabin can be swapped for a six-seat layout: the Swivel package brings swivelling second-row seats, while Relax adds powered seats with headrests and leg rests.
So who actually needs the Blackline? It makes the most sense for a buyer who was already planning to order the most powerful Ioniq 9 in black with the panoramic roof. For everyone else, the top trim mostly narrows your styling choices rather than meaningfully expanding what you get — a peculiar price for exclusivity, when there’s technically nothing extra to pay for.
