Hyundai IONIQ 9 Named Vehicle of the Year by Auto Focus

Auto Focus, led by Marques Brownlee, names the Hyundai IONIQ 9 its Vehicle of the Year, highlighting design, technology, range, and everyday usability.

Hyundai’s flagship electric SUV, the three-row IONIQ 9, has been named Vehicle of the Year by Auto Focus, the automotive YouTube channel hosted by Marques Brownlee and Miles Somerville. The announcement was made in the channel’s annual Auto Focus Awards episode, which looks back at the vehicles the hosts personally evaluated throughout 2025.

Within the Auto Focus format, the Vehicle of the Year title is not tied to a single specification or benchmark result. Instead, Brownlee and Somerville focus on the overall impression a vehicle leaves over time, weighing how well it blends technology, design, and real-world usability. In their view, the IONIQ 9 stood out by delivering that balance more convincingly than any other car they tested during the year.

Announcing the award, Brownlee highlighted the SUV’s spacious interior, solid drivetrain, competitive driving range, well-integrated software, high-quality materials, and the inclusion of a NACS charging port, which simplifies charging and broadens access to infrastructure. Taken together, he described the IONIQ 9 as a vehicle that “does everything well,” without obvious compromises.

Hyundai, in turn, framed the recognition as validation of its broader electric vehicle strategy. The company points to the combination of advanced technology, generous interior space, and everyday charging convenience as core priorities for its EV lineup—areas that the Auto Focus award directly reflects.

The Auto Focus Vehicle of the Year title further strengthens the IONIQ 9’s position as more than just another large electric SUV. As interest in three-row electric vehicles continues to grow, and as charging accessibility becomes an increasingly decisive factor for buyers, this kind of endorsement suggests the IONIQ 9 is resonating with drivers who value a well-rounded, user-focused electric experience.