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Hyundai IONIQ 9 vs Polestar 3
Selected trimLong-Range RWDChange trim385 mi · 110.3 kWh · £64,995
Selected trimRear motorChange trim375 mi · 92 kWh · £76,540
At a glance
In this comparison, Hyundai IONIQ 9 leads on motorway range and family practicality, while the Polestar 3 leads on charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Hyundai IONIQ 9 if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you have a family - it has the best combination of boot space, safety, and rear legroom
Choose the Polestar 3 if...
- you need the fastest charging of these options
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Hyundai IONIQ 9 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
Value
Hyundai
5.5
Polestar
5.4
Too close to call
Motorway RangeHyundai
Hyundai
7.1
Polestar
5
FamilyHyundai
Hyundai
9.5
Polestar
6.8
ChargingPolestar
Hyundai
7.1
Polestar
8.2
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Polestar 3
Rear motor
- 146 litres more boot space
- 77 kW faster rapid charging
- 85 kW more power
- 1.9s quicker 0-62 mph
- 0.7 m tighter turning circle
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Hyundai IONIQ 9Long-Range RWD | Polestar 3Rear motor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £64,995 (better) | £76,540 |
| Official range | 385 miles (better) | 375 miles |
| Boot space | 338 L | 484 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 24 min | 22 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 9.4 sec | 7.5 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
View:
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Hyundai IONIQ 9
Polestar 3
Length
Hyundai IONIQ 95,060mm
Polestar 34,900mm-160mm
Width
Hyundai IONIQ 91,980mm
Polestar 31,968mm-12mm
Height
Hyundai IONIQ 91,790mm
Polestar 31,622mm-168mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Hyundai IONIQ 9Long-Range RWD | Polestar 3Rear motor |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5,060 mm | 4,900 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,980 mm | 1,968 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,239 mm | 2,120 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,790 mm | 1,622 mm |
| Turning circle | 12.5 m | 11.8 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 420 mm spare | 432 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Hyundai IONIQ 9Long-Range RWD | Polestar 3Rear motor |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 7 (better) | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 338 L | 484 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1990 L (better) | 1411 L |
| Frunk | 88 L | Not available |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 1,500 kg | 1,500 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Hyundai IONIQ 9
- At 5,060 mm, longer than 95% of SUVs we track.
- A 88 L frunk, one of 12 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with a front boot of 88 L or more.
- 385 mile WLTP range, longer than 90% of SUVs we track.
Polestar 3
- 375 mile WLTP range, longer than 90% of SUVs we track.
- Peak DC charging of 310 kW, faster than 90% of SUVs in our catalogue.
- At 4,900 mm, longer than 85% of SUVs we track.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Hyundai IONIQ 9 Long-Range RWD |  Polestar 3 Rear motor |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5.06m | 4.90m-160mm |
| Width | 1.98m | 1.97m-12mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.24m | 2.12m-119mm |
| Height | 1.79m | 1.62m-168mm |
| Wheelbase | 3.13m | 2.98m-145mm |
| Ground Clearance | Not available | 208mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 338L | 484L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1990L (better) | 1411L |
| Frunk | 88L | Not available |
| Seats | 7 (better) | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.5m | 11.8m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 2,541kg | 2,357kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | 1,500kg | 1,500kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 110.3kWh (better) | 92kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 385 mi (better) | 375 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 233kW | 310kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £64,995 (better) | £76,540 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2025+ | 2026+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Hyundai IONIQ 9Long-Range RWD | Polestar 3Rear motor |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 385 miles (better) | 375 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 321 miles (better) | 257 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 24 min | 22 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 233 kW | 310 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 10.5 kW | 11 kW (better) |
| Energy consumption | Not available | 176 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 110.3 kWh (better) | 92 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NCMA | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 800V | 800V |
| Heat pump | Standard | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Hyundai IONIQ 9Long-Range RWD | Polestar 3Rear motor |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 9.4 sec | 7.5 sec (better) |
| Power | 160 kW | 245 kW (better) |
| Torque | 350 Nm | 480 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Hyundai IONIQ 9
Long-Range RWD
Polestar 3
Rear motor
7.1/10
average across 6 reviews
- Autocar4/5
- Electrifying.com8/10
- DrivingElectric4/5
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
New and used prices
Current pricing and recent used-market behaviour.
| Measure | Hyundai IONIQ 9Long-Range RWD | Polestar 3Rear motor |
|---|---|---|
| Used market price from | £54,999 | £46,990 |
| Average used price | £54,999 | £48,545 |
| Active used listings trackedIndependent UK dealer listings seen in the last 90 days. | 4 listings (better) | 3 listings |
| Saving vs RRP | £9,996 below new | £27,995 below new |
| Recent used-price trend | Down 1.2% over ~6 months | Broadly flat |
Used prices are indicative figures gathered from independent UK dealer listings and change frequently.
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Hyundai IONIQ 9 Long-Range RWD
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant84%
Child Occupant87%
Vulnerable Road Users77%
Safety Assist83%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Polestar 3 Rear motor
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant90%
Child Occupant93%
Vulnerable Road Users79%
Safety Assist83%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Hyundai IONIQ 9Long-Range RWD | Polestar 3Rear motor |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | Not available | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | Not available | 160,934 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
Hyundai IONIQ 9
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Polestar 3
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Hyundai IONIQ 9
- £54,9992026Car360View
Polestar 3
- £9,4902023Anchor CarsView
Frequently asked questions
Is the Polestar 3 worth the extra £11,545 over the Hyundai IONIQ 9?
The Polestar 3 costs £11,545 more than the Hyundai IONIQ 9. For that premium it adds 77 kW faster peak rapid charging, 146 litres more boot space and 85 kW more power. The Hyundai IONIQ 9 is not just cheaper - it also offers 2 more seats (7 versus 5). On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 or the Polestar 3?
The Hyundai IONIQ 9 is £11,545 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £192 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Hyundai IONIQ 9 comes out roughly £11,545 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Polestar 3 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 321 miles for the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and 257 miles for the Polestar 3 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Hyundai IONIQ 9 goes roughly 64 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 22-24 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 or the Polestar 3?
The two are within 12 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 432 mm of total clearance for the Polestar 3 and about 420 mm of total clearance for the Hyundai IONIQ 9. The Polestar 3 also turns in a 0.7 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 or the Polestar 3?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 89% battery health for the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and 84% for the Polestar 3. That gives the Hyundai IONIQ 9 a modest edge in retained real-world range. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Hyundai IONIQ 9 comparisons
More Polestar 3 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Polestar 3 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Polestar 3 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Polestar 3 rank among long-range EVsWhere the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Polestar 3 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Polestar 3 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Polestar 3 rank among the cheapest EVs to run
If neither is quite right
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Further reading
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Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .