Hyundai IONIQ 9 Dominates NWAPA Drive Revolution 2025 Awards
Hyundai IONIQ 9 claims Vehicle of the Year at NWAPA Drive Revolution 2025, with class-leading range, space, and EV performance.
Hyundai sets new standard amid EV surge and hybrid resurgence
In a field thick with innovation, the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) has named the **2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 AWD Performance Calligraphy** the Vehicle of the Year at its 2025 Drive Revolution event. The award reflects more than glitzy tech: it’s about utility, comfort, and family-friendly electric performance. Test drives over two days around Ilani Casino Resort underscored its 311-mile range, three-row layout, and native NACS charging port as key differentiators.
The IONIQ 9 also won Best Battery Electric Vehicle. In tight competition, other segment leaders included the 2025 Lucid Air Pure (runner-up Vehicle of the Year) for its 372-mile range and sophisticated autonomy tech, and the 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Track Package for emotional styling and a throwback muscle attitude despite being electric.
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Why does this matter right now?
The timing could not be sharper. Federal tax credit rules shift on September 30, and EV buyers are in a sprint to lock in incentives. Vehicles like the IONIQ 9 that meet eligibility and combine range, practicality, and charging infrastructure have rare leverage in the market. Hybrids are also under renewed scrutiny, as they remain a fallback for buyers uneasy about charging infrastructure or fully electric ownership.
The event also reflects how consumer priorities are changing: not just how fast a vehicle accelerates, but how usefully it functions day to day. The IONIQ 9’s three rows, generous cargo space, and NACS port mean it’s built for real families, not just weekend showings.
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How does it compare to rivals?
The IONIQ 9 outshines many rivals on multiple fronts. The Lucid Air Pure is superb at range and luxury tech, but doesn’t offer the room or utility of a three-row SUV. The Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Track Package brings showmanship, Brembo brakes, and a roaring heritage, but it is less subtle and more polarising for those wanting everyday comfort.
In ICE and hybrid segments, the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla Premium Plus won Best ICE for delivering 300 hp from its three-cylinder turbo engine and GR-Four AWD, proving internal combustion still has high-performance relevance. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD snagged Best HEV, showing that hybrids remain essential transitional technology, especially in mixed-usage households.
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Who is this for and who should skip it?
The IONIQ 9 is made for families, long road trips, EV early adopters who want both style and substance, and those who need space without giving up electric efficiency. It caters to buyers who demand a balance: premium touches, long range, and three-row practicality.
If you’re someone whose priority is sport-car exhaust sound, raw ICE thrills, or minimal footprint in parking garages, one of the ICE or smaller EV alternatives may be better. Also, price sensitivity and charging infrastructure still matter: a top-trim Calligraphy doesn’t come cheap, and not all regions are equally served by fast chargers yet.
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What is the long-term significance?
Hyundai’s success here signals that the electric SUV space is maturing. The IONIQ 9 could become a benchmark. The integration of charging standardization (NACS), long range, and family-friendly layouts is becoming a formula for success. Automakers that lag behind in any of these areas may find themselves at a competitive disadvantage.
This also shows that battery electric, hybrid, and ICE technologies will coexist through the coming medium term. Hybrids like the Santa Fe still earn accolades, ICE vehicles like the GR Corolla show performance credentials, and EVs are under pressure to deliver usability, not just novelty. Manufacturers who can convincingly straddle all three stand to lead.
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NWAPA 2025 Drive Revolution winners
- Vehicle of the Year: 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 AWD Performance Calligraphy
- Best BEV: 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 AWD Performance Calligraphy
- Best HEV: 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD
- Best ICE Vehicle: 2025 Toyota GR Corolla Premium Plus
- Best Value: 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line
Further Reading
- Which EVs Still Qualify for the $7,500 Tax Credit?
- Mercedes EQS Sets 749-Mile Solid-State Battery Record
- BMW X5 Offers Five Drivetrain Options Including Hydrogen
- 2026 Detroit Auto Show Set for Major Comeback
- BMW Doubles Down on Circular Car Manufacturing
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