2027 Subaru Getaway vs Kia EV9 vs Hyundai IONIQ 9: Which Three-Row EV Looks Like the Smartest Family Buy?
Subaru's new three-row Getaway gives the brand a real shot in family-size EVs, but the Kia EV9 and Hyundai IONIQ 9 already set a high bar on range, charging, and everyday usability.
Subaru finally has something important to say in the family-size EV conversation.
The new 2027 Subaru Getaway is the brand’s first all-electric three-row SUV, and on paper it looks much more serious than Subaru’s earlier EV efforts. Subaru says it will offer more than 300 miles of range in its larger-battery form, up to 420 horsepower, standard all-wheel drive, and a native NACS charge port. It will also seat up to seven passengers, which is the whole point here: this is Subaru trying to stop being an EV bystander in the big-family segment.
The problem is that Subaru is not entering an empty space. The Kia EV9 and Hyundai IONIQ 9 are already here, already specced, and already much easier to understand as real-world purchases.
So if you need a three-row electric SUV, should you wait for Subaru or buy one of the Korean heavy hitters instead?
A straight spec table helps, but a visual check matters too when these three are selling very different personalities. I pulled official manufacturer images for all three so the shape, stance, and cabin vibe are easier to compare without bouncing between press sites.
Official exterior gallery: Subaru Getaway vs Kia EV9 vs Hyundai IONIQ 9
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Subaru's cleanest official Getaway exterior image makes the SUV look more premium and more road-trip ready than the stage-shot reveal photos.
To make the spec-sheet part less annoying, I split the hard data into two sortable tables. The first covers ownership stuff. The second covers sheer family-hauler size. Use the US/Canada toggle when you want the numbers in your own units.
| 10-80% DC charge | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 | $58,955 | 335 | 110.3 | ≈24 min | 422 | 5,000 | 7 |
| 2026 Kia EV9 | $57,900 | 305 | 99.8 | ≈24 min | 379 | 5,000 | 7 |
| 2027 Subaru Getaway | TBD | 300 | TBD | ≈30 min | 420 | 3,500 | 7 |
Subaru still has not published official U.S. pricing for the Getaway, so that price cell stays marked TBD instead of pretending otherwise. The ownership table also mixes starting price with best-known headline specs because Subaru still has not published a full trim matrix. The dimension table below uses the best early preview measurements currently available for the Subaru until Subaru posts a full production-size spec sheet.
| 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 | 199.2 | 78.0 | 70.5 | 123.2 |
| 2026 Kia EV9 | 197.2 | 77.9 | 69.1 | 122.0 |
| 2027 Subaru Getaway | 198.8 | 78.3 | 68.9 | 120.1 |
Further down, the interiors tell the same story in a different way: Subaru is practical, Kia is the flashy family-luxury pick, and Hyundai is chasing a calmer lounge feel.
Official interior gallery: Subaru Getaway vs Kia EV9 vs Hyundai IONIQ 9
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Subaru's official cabin image focuses more on space and visibility than flash, which fits the brand even if it is not the fanciest interior here.
Wait for the Subaru Getaway if You Want the Most Rugged Personality
The Getaway’s appeal is not hard to understand. It is the most Subaru answer possible to the three-row EV question.
Subaru says the Getaway will deliver 8.3 inches of ground clearance, standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, X-MODE, and up to 3,500 pounds of towing. That matters because neither the EV9 nor the IONIQ 9 is really trying to sell an outdoors-first identity. They are family EVs first. The Subaru wants to be a family EV that still looks and sounds like it belongs on a muddy cottage road.
There is also enough performance here to keep it from feeling like a soft, compromised people mover. Subaru now quotes up to 420 horsepower, and the claimed 10 to 80 percent DC fast-charge time of about 30 minutes on a 150-kW connection is competitive enough to make road-trip duty believable.
If your priorities are winter traction, light trail access, a higher-riding feel, and the familiarity of Subaru’s brand identity, the Getaway already looks more distinctive than a lot of new EV launches.
Buy the Hyundai IONIQ 9 if Range and Fast-Charging Matter Most
If you are shopping with a spreadsheet open, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 makes the cleanest argument.
Hyundai says the long-range rear-wheel-drive version can reach up to 335 miles in U.S. trim from a 110.3-kWh battery. That is a strong headline figure for a vehicle this large. Hyundai also says the IONIQ 9 can charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 24 minutes when connected to a 350-kW charger.
That is the advantage of Hyundai’s big dedicated EV platform. The IONIQ 9 does not just offer size, it offers the kind of charging and range story that makes a large electric SUV easier to live with if you regularly do long highway drives.
There is a packaging story too. Hyundai is pitching the IONIQ 9 as a lounge-like three-row EV, not a rugged utility tool. If your version of family duty is highway miles, school runs, airport trips, and carrying six or seven people in real comfort, the Hyundai’s smoother, more premium vibe is going to land better than Subaru’s tougher image.
Buy the Kia EV9 if You Want the Most Proven All-Around Choice
The Kia EV9 still has the strongest “just buy this one” energy of the group.
Kia’s U.S.-spec EV9 lineup starts with a 76.1-kWh battery and moves to a 99.8-kWh pack on the longer-range versions. Depending on trim, Kia lists between 230 and 305 miles of EPA-estimated range, with the sweet spot being the Light Long Range trim at 305 miles. That is not as headline-grabbing as Hyundai’s best-case number, but it is already real, already on sale, and already easier to budget around.
The EV9 also remains one of the most convincing large EVs for families because it does not feel experimental anymore. The design is bold, the interior packaging is smart, and the whole vehicle reads like it was designed from the beginning to replace a Telluride, Palisade, or Explorer in a normal household.
This is also where Subaru has a challenge. The Getaway’s specs are promising, but Subaru has not announced pricing yet. Kia already has an established product in market, which matters if you are making an actual buying decision instead of admiring an auto-show debut.
The Real Question Is Whether Subaru Can Price This Aggressively
This comparison gets interesting the moment money enters the chat.
Subaru has done enough with the Getaway’s spec sheet to earn attention. A 300-mile target, 420 hp, 150-kW DC charging, and standard AWD give it a real reason to exist. But none of that automatically makes it the smartest buy unless Subaru lands the price in a credible spot.
That is especially true because both Korean rivals have clearer identities already. The IONIQ 9 looks like the range-and-tech choice. The EV9 looks like the most balanced and most established family pick. Subaru therefore needs the Getaway to feel like more than a late arrival with chunkier cladding and a good AWD system.
If Subaru prices it too close to the Hyundai and Kia, buyers may decide the better-developed alternatives are the safer move. If Subaru undercuts them meaningfully, or bundles more standard equipment into the volume trims, the Getaway could become the interesting left-field pick for families who want an EV without giving up Subaru-ness.
So Which One Looks Smartest Right Now?
Right now, the Kia EV9 looks like the safest recommendation, and the Hyundai IONIQ 9 looks like the one to beat on pure long-distance credentials.
The Subaru Getaway is the wildcard. I like what Subaru is trying to do here. It sounds quicker, tougher, and more characterful than a lot of three-row electric SUVs. But until the company confirms pricing, trim structure, and real-world U.S. availability, it still feels like the one to watch rather than the one to sign for.
The Motorlinks Take
Subaru finally looks awake in the EV family-hauler fight, and that alone makes the Getaway matter.
But if you need a three-row electric SUV soon, the established choices still hold the stronger cards. The Kia EV9 is the easiest all-around answer today. The Hyundai IONIQ 9 looks strongest if your priority is range and charging performance. The Subaru Getaway has the best chance of winning over buyers who want family practicality with an actual outdoorsy streak, but it still needs the right price and launch execution to turn that promise into a recommendation.
For now, I would buy the Kia, keep a close eye on the Hyundai, and wait for Subaru’s pricing before getting too carried away.
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