With the Ioniq 9, its first-ever, three-row all-electric SUV, Hyundai leaves little to chance. This is especially true for the impressive $77,540 top-end Performance Calligraphy model.

RPM News Weekly spent a week with that model, driving around southern New England through some of its most glorious autumn scenery. What we discovered with the Ioniq 9 Calligraphy is how at its price point, Hyundai has blurred the line between itself and its spinoff premium Genesis models.

Notwithstanding its wealth of safety, comfort and convenience features that spell first class luxury, the Ioniq 9 Calligraphy never once gave cause for anxiety at the hands of its battery EV underpinnings. With plenty of range and a multitude of NACS charging stations throughout the region, day-long road trip destinations were only limited by our motivation.

If the Ioniq 9 is an indicator of things still to come from the automaker, that’s a good thing.

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featured image photo montage and video editing by Rich Taber