This Hyundai EV has a front and rear design I can live with. This time, they refrained from overdesigning, and they built a vehicle for transporting people; not just a showy toy. The hard top and headroom are selling points for customers who are not interested in a plain sheet of glass without sunshade in most EVs. Thank you for the review!
A family friendly vehicle for a family unfriendly price.😂Oh wait, EVs are inconvenient on road trips which family’s love to do. So it’s family unfriendly nonetheless.
I'm not sure which family you are driving 210+ miles without a 24 min break... but if you've somehow conditioned yours to not complain, please do tell your secret.
The high roof is actually pretty impressive. So much so that they could have raised the 3rd row seat off the floor a tiny bit more for added comfort. But overall I really like what I'm seeing here.
I like it a bit better than the EV9, stylewise, and I'll be crossshopping both in Summer 2026 when my Mach-E lease ends. I want an EV that can comfortably seat 6 adults.
Good idea. Both are the best family 3-row EVs IMO. I'd defintely go with the Ioniq 9 because standard NACS plug, larger battery, better aerodynamics and thus range, AND physically climate control instead of the dumb 5in display KIA is using that you literally cannot see as a driver 99% of the time lol. However, the EV9 is almost certainly doing to get the larger battery and NACS plug too next year or whenever they refresh it. It also IMO has a much more handsome exterior. But you literally cannot go wrong with either. I'd go for the Ioniq 9 no question if pricing is less than the EV9 Long Range RWD. Otherwise I'd get the one with better deals
Hi, I have a 2024 Sante Fe non-hybrid. I am very happy with it. The size I’d say is “ Goldilocks “ This Ionic 9 is bigger than a Palisade! Electric vehicles are not for everyone, eventually maybe.
Nah I think the Santa Fe has its own complete unique identity and looks amazing in person. I think it's better than the Ioniq 9. Extremely boxy while delivery great interior space efficiency. It's 10in shorter, 4in narrower, and a couple inches shorter. It's really a perfect side for people who occasionally use the third row. Also with the hybrid powertrain you get good efficiency, decent performance, and amazing range. Both are targeting completely different audiences.
Please don’t forget to mention ISOFIX points in 3row vehicle like this. Only option out there with 3 ISOFIX across 2nd row right now seems to be q7 and mdx *watched it again and of course u mentioned it 2+2 thanks!!
The two tone seats are really cool but if a parent had designed it they would put the darker color on the seat bottom and the lighter color on the seat back
The larger battery is a surprising addition, although on the freeway, it will only give you about 20-25 miles additional range given the actual efficiency of these big things (unless the Ioniq9 gets substantially better efficiency than the Ev9, which is unlikely). The excellent charging speed of the EV9 and Ioniq9 would be reason enough to buy one over a Rivian given their, quite frankly, pathetic charging speed (for the price of the vehicle) and abysmal thermal management. I wonder if the increase in top power output is a result of higher battery voltage. I like the rear end styling of this and the wheel choices are better, but otherwise I prefer the EV9 styling. Otherwise, they look largely the same to my eye. The J3400 charge port being native is not really as great as it sounds because 1) its on the wrong side of the car to use a supercharger correctly and 2) the charging speed is about 60% of what you would get at an 800V charger, which superchargers currently are not and the vast majority won't be for many years. I've also not heard what Hyundai/Kia will be doing with the V2L adapters since those will need to be changed for use with J3400 (and will require changing more than just the adapter, it will require hardware changes on the vehicle too). Personally, I'll continue using CCS chargers primarily even when Kia gets access to superchargers, along with my J1772 L2 charger at, so I would rather have the CCS port and use an adapter for the occasional supercharging.
Charge port location won’t be an issue for the V4 SuperChargers which will be the ones offering full voltage for eGMP cars. I’d prefer all the manufacturers stick with curb side ports for better curb side charging options. I’m with you on wondering about the V2L availability. That’s a lot of battery sitting around when the power goes out!
I think the body colored strip in the wheel arch gives the impression that the rest of arch is olive green instead of just black which complements the exterior's lighter shade of green. Still, Kia's EV9 looks so much better than the Ioniq 9, which is more MPV than SUV in style.
I love this upright hatch design SO much more than the new Santa Fe. And as for those wheel eyebrows.... I'd get rid of the color strip floating in the middle of the black, and just make a black square around the wheel wells. I like what they were going for! I really like hard angles and squares (love the pixel design), but I understand rounded shapes are more aerodynamic, so "fake" squares seem like a great idea!
Fingers crossed they give this platform another look with less hood and plus sliding doors! There was a Kia concept recently for an adventure van so maybe a more normal minivan is somewhere in the pipeline.
Don’t mind the eyebrows! Kona looking front and Volvo looking rear. Was there a rear windshield wiper? What the CD drag coefficient? Same or better than EV9?
Curious why they're sticking with the charge port on that side. With the NACS port standard I'd have expected them to follow the Tesla standard for port location.
It’s the correct side. Wide scale adoption of EVs will need curb side charging to be a viable option. Driver side is for early adopters who think they’re going to forget it’s plugged in if it’s not where they can see it while standing by the driver’s door.
No point in catering to v3 super chargers when those won’t give the car full power anyways, and V4 super chargers are made to more easily accommodate right side charge ports.
To my eye, it looks good from the back and decent from the front. The side view is kind of weird though. I think the black trim around the wheel arches is the main thing (I wish that were minimized/simplified, with more body color), and then the third-row window is just slightly odd.
If you're going to use the NACS connector you really should place it where it's actually compatible with all of the existing Tesla chargers and their parking spaces, i.e. put the port in the driver's rear or the passenger's front. The current port location means the car will have to cross over a spot and waste one, annoying everybody else wanting to charge.
No thanks for me. I’d rather focus on curb side charging than SuperCharger stalls. Especially when you consider V3 stalls can’t provide full power to eGMP cars anyways and V4 stalls have a cable designed to accommodate right side charge ports.
That rear angle is definitely an older Volvo with pixelated lights. Hyundai why do you always have to rip off other brands? It’s 2024 for heaven’s sake. EV is the least family friendly automobile technology I can think of. And at an unfriendly price too.
Hmmm...not quite the EV I'm looking for, an Ioniq5, Mach-E, is as big as I'm interested in going. The styling is a bit of a letdown after the Ioniq 5. I really wanted the I... 5 as soon as I saw it, but this one is kind of meh to me. I actually think the KIA EV 9 looks better. The larger battery and greater range might make this car a better choice than the EV 9. I really like the climate control, physical controls rule. On the whole, it looks like a worthwhile vehicle, just not something I'd buy for myself.
according to numbers online, it seems like the Ioniq 9 has 3-4 more cubic feet more space behind the third row but 3 cubic feet less behind the second row. I also don't know if figures are factoring in the sub trunk and frunk which means the rivian definitely has more cargo space in general regardless of which rows are folded. But the EV9 and Ioniq 9 have noticeably more passenger space/specs.
KIA EV9 MSRP for the loaded trim with all packages (minus paying for any optional colors inside/exterior) is $77,395. I'd expect a Calligraphy Performance version to land under 80K. No way hyundai thinks it's a good idea to stray that far. I deal pricing for this car is to range from 55-75K. At least that will put it within range of a CX-90, XC90 T8, Grand Cherokee L, etc and under the R1S, Model X, and XC90.
Idk about that foul horrid green, but in any other color I’d say this looks pretty good. Tbh honest wasn’t sold when I first started watching but imagining it in blue or black would definitely make it look better. I will say that steering wheel screams Range Rover lol
I wish they would bring the wool option to the US option list. Anything but leather (or pleather) for me please! I just want comfy couch fabric in my seats, is that too much to ask?
Looks like a watered down Chinese rendition of a Cadillac EV on the interior and the front end. If the Rivian Amazon delivery van and Volvo had a child it’s what the rear would look like.
This will not give a dent in the sales of the Grand Highlander, Pilot, Pathfinder, and Equinox. It would be sold at a loss too. Another massive L product by Hyundai.
What a Stunning Luxury looking interior with a Bench Seat for families, but somehow nobody can convince the Koreans to put that bench seat on their Gas cars on the Top tip trim...Why Hyundai, why?🙏🙏🙏🙏
This car's styling reminds me of one of those MPVs that are popular in Europe and South East Asia like Fiat 500L, VW Touran or BMW 2 series Active/Grand Tourer. Somehow the hood/beltline is too high, but the roof is low? Not a good look regardless
I hear this a lot. If Tesla's port is on the driver's-side front, and Hyundai's port is on the passenger-side rear, couldn't the Hyundai owner back into the Supercharger space without taking up an extra stall? What am I missing? (Keeping in mind I have never been to a Supercharger location.)
Super chargers are on the driver side of the parking stalls. Tesla’s back into the parking spot. The cable will not reach to the passenger side of this vehicle.
Fortunately, Tesla V3 chargers will (probably) never be this car’s first choice anyways. The lower voltage offered by Tesla Superchargers mean eGMP cars can’t get their full charge speed at V3 stalls. The new V4 stalls offer full voltage and are designed to accommodate a wider variety of charge port locations.
This Hyundai EV has a front and rear design I can live with. This time, they refrained from overdesigning, and they built a vehicle for transporting people; not just a showy toy. The hard top and headroom are selling points for customers who are not interested in a plain sheet of glass without sunshade in most EVs. Thank you for the review!
None of the Hyundai/Kia EVs have a glass roof without a sunshade.
The 300+ range across all trims is what will sell this car.
The stealth EV caravan that no one asked for, but we all need!
A family friendly vehicle for a family unfriendly price.😂Oh wait, EVs are inconvenient on road trips which family’s love to do. So it’s family unfriendly nonetheless.
I'm not sure which family you are driving 210+ miles without a 24 min break... but if you've somehow conditioned yours to not complain, please do tell your secret.
I love the green exterior, along with the design of the interior.
The high roof is actually pretty impressive. So much so that they could have raised the 3rd row seat off the floor a tiny bit more for added comfort. But overall I really like what I'm seeing here.
I was thinking the same. However, if they raise the 3rd row seats, they may lose the fold flat cargo room.
Let’s talk about that beautiful green paint job. Love the taupe/brown/plum interior as well.
The eyebrows as you call them over the wheel archers look cool!! Something different but not over the top👍 Nice review and love your work Alex👍👍
I like it a bit better than the EV9, stylewise, and I'll be crossshopping both in Summer 2026 when my Mach-E lease ends. I want an EV that can comfortably seat 6 adults.
I can't imagine that Hyundai owners are the only ones fed up with touch-screen only controls
I love the styling tbh, looks like a futuristic Volvo wagon.
Funny, I made the same comment on a different review. I’ll be curious if anyone else thinks the same. 😅
@@Molishious I think anyone who grew up with their mom's Volvo 850 wagon feel like they've seen the back of this car somewhere. =)
@ Yes, I agree.
My gosh Hyundai is on a next level
I like this better than I thought I would. Part of it is the color, but although I like boxy, I like also the aerodynamic looks of this car.
Just in time for the rollout of the V4 supercharger stations. Hyundai really is on the cutting edge of electric vehicles.
I had no idea this was coming. Ev9 is hard to find. Maybe I'll wait a d consider this one.
Good idea. Both are the best family 3-row EVs IMO. I'd defintely go with the Ioniq 9 because standard NACS plug, larger battery, better aerodynamics and thus range, AND physically climate control instead of the dumb 5in display KIA is using that you literally cannot see as a driver 99% of the time lol.
However, the EV9 is almost certainly doing to get the larger battery and NACS plug too next year or whenever they refresh it. It also IMO has a much more handsome exterior.
But you literally cannot go wrong with either. I'd go for the Ioniq 9 no question if pricing is less than the EV9 Long Range RWD. Otherwise I'd get the one with better deals
This is what the Santa fe wants to be when it grows up
Hi, I have a 2024 Sante Fe non-hybrid. I am very happy with it. The size I’d say is “ Goldilocks “
This Ionic 9 is bigger than a Palisade!
Electric vehicles are not for everyone, eventually maybe.
Nah I think the Santa Fe has its own complete unique identity and looks amazing in person. I think it's better than the Ioniq 9. Extremely boxy while delivery great interior space efficiency. It's 10in shorter, 4in narrower, and a couple inches shorter. It's really a perfect side for people who occasionally use the third row. Also with the hybrid powertrain you get good efficiency, decent performance, and amazing range. Both are targeting completely different audiences.
A bit reminiscent of the Isuzu Axiom 😅 (and not in a bad way!)
Now that you've mentioned it, I could no longer unsee the resemblance 😅
THAT'S what it was reminding me of! Thank you for saying this, it was driving me crazy. 😄
Oh wow I completely forgot about the Axiom until the moment you mentioned it 👍
Retro callback to the aughts!
Please don’t forget to mention ISOFIX points in 3row vehicle like this. Only option out there with 3 ISOFIX across 2nd row right now seems to be q7 and mdx *watched it again and of course u mentioned it 2+2 thanks!!
The Ioniq family seems to have very little design consistency, but I kinda like this one. I'm not sure if more than the EV9, but maybe!
You forgot to mentioned that the Europe spec has swivel 2nd row seat and a compartment with UV light
Wow, looks like the three row ev option I've been waiting for!
The two tone seats are really cool but if a parent had designed it they would put the darker color on the seat bottom and the lighter color on the seat back
If I'm a Hollywood movie maker, I'd call Hyundai USA asap. Best futuristic design ever.
This is similar to the color the concept car had.
Great color
Like a modern day Isuzu Axiom. Clean squarish styling looks good. Much better than the EV9
Very futuristic looking.
Honestly, it looks like a minivan. Just accept that it is a minivan and give it sliding side doors.
Yes please! And cut a foot or so out of the hood while you’re at it too so it’s easier to park.
Phenomenal.
The larger battery is a surprising addition, although on the freeway, it will only give you about 20-25 miles additional range given the actual efficiency of these big things (unless the Ioniq9 gets substantially better efficiency than the Ev9, which is unlikely). The excellent charging speed of the EV9 and Ioniq9 would be reason enough to buy one over a Rivian given their, quite frankly, pathetic charging speed (for the price of the vehicle) and abysmal thermal management. I wonder if the increase in top power output is a result of higher battery voltage.
I like the rear end styling of this and the wheel choices are better, but otherwise I prefer the EV9 styling. Otherwise, they look largely the same to my eye.
The J3400 charge port being native is not really as great as it sounds because 1) its on the wrong side of the car to use a supercharger correctly and 2) the charging speed is about 60% of what you would get at an 800V charger, which superchargers currently are not and the vast majority won't be for many years. I've also not heard what Hyundai/Kia will be doing with the V2L adapters since those will need to be changed for use with J3400 (and will require changing more than just the adapter, it will require hardware changes on the vehicle too). Personally, I'll continue using CCS chargers primarily even when Kia gets access to superchargers, along with my J1772 L2 charger at, so I would rather have the CCS port and use an adapter for the occasional supercharging.
Charge port location won’t be an issue for the V4 SuperChargers which will be the ones offering full voltage for eGMP cars. I’d prefer all the manufacturers stick with curb side ports for better curb side charging options. I’m with you on wondering about the V2L availability. That’s a lot of battery sitting around when the power goes out!
After Santa fe ugly rear end with the of center badge name this is a beautiful car , well done hyundai
The XC70 has returned!
It kind of looks like a “modern” design from the early 2000s. Someone mentioned the Axiom and…yeah. Dont hate it, but probably better in person.
The retro train has now arrived at the aughts!
I think the body colored strip in the wheel arch gives the impression that the rest of arch is olive green instead of just black which complements the exterior's lighter shade of green. Still, Kia's EV9 looks so much better than the Ioniq 9, which is more MPV than SUV in style.
I love this upright hatch design SO much more than the new Santa Fe.
And as for those wheel eyebrows.... I'd get rid of the color strip floating in the middle of the black, and just make a black square around the wheel wells. I like what they were going for! I really like hard angles and squares (love the pixel design), but I understand rounded shapes are more aerodynamic, so "fake" squares seem like a great idea!
Here i am hoping Hyundai or Kia bring an EV minivan to market...just so i can cross shop something with the idBuzz...
Anything an SUV can do, a minivan can do better...
Fingers crossed they give this platform another look with less hood and plus sliding doors! There was a Kia concept recently for an adventure van so maybe a more normal minivan is somewhere in the pipeline.
Don’t mind the eyebrows! Kona looking front and Volvo looking rear. Was there a rear windshield wiper? What the CD drag coefficient? Same or better than EV9?
Curious why they're sticking with the charge port on that side. With the NACS port standard I'd have expected them to follow the Tesla standard for port location.
It’s the correct side. Wide scale adoption of EVs will need curb side charging to be a viable option. Driver side is for early adopters who think they’re going to forget it’s plugged in if it’s not where they can see it while standing by the driver’s door.
No point in catering to v3 super chargers when those won’t give the car full power anyways, and V4 super chargers are made to more easily accommodate right side charge ports.
I don't like when they replace mirrors with screens because of the distance I have to focus on when I look at them.
Agreed. It’s a cool gizmo at first, but in practice I like keeping my focal length about the same while checking mirrors.
I hear the tax credit is going away with the new administration. I wonder if ev makers will offer their own monterey incentive.
Biggest potential issue is that broad shiny silver ledge on the dashboard. Noon sun during summer will shine directly into everyone's eyes.
The Genesis model is going to be bonkers and run laps around any dumb Escalade IQ or ugly EQS.
Also, I would like a little more room between the center console and dash in the front row so it’s easier to slide across to the other side.
IONIQ users prefer CCS because it charges faster.
I love the column shifter.
I don’t love the exterior styling. But the interior packaging is crazy impressive.
To my eye, it looks good from the back and decent from the front. The side view is kind of weird though. I think the black trim around the wheel arches is the main thing (I wish that were minimized/simplified, with more body color), and then the third-row window is just slightly odd.
If you're going to use the NACS connector you really should place it where it's actually compatible with all of the existing Tesla chargers and their parking spaces, i.e. put the port in the driver's rear or the passenger's front. The current port location means the car will have to cross over a spot and waste one, annoying everybody else wanting to charge.
They'll probably relocate it. This prototype still has a CCS connector.
No thanks for me. I’d rather focus on curb side charging than SuperCharger stalls. Especially when you consider V3 stalls can’t provide full power to eGMP cars anyways and V4 stalls have a cable designed to accommodate right side charge ports.
@@GeeDeeBirdI hope not. I was so disappointed to see the R2 second prototype move the port to the driver’s side 😢
I like the 2 lift gate power lifters.
Charging port is on the correct side. Wasted dash shelf. Rethink those dinky interior door handles. I'm assuming the rear wiper is hidden.
Yes! Keep the charge port curb side!
That rear angle is definitely an older Volvo with pixelated lights. Hyundai why do you always have to rip off other brands? It’s 2024 for heaven’s sake. EV is the least family friendly automobile technology I can think of. And at an unfriendly price too.
Hmmm...not quite the EV I'm looking for, an Ioniq5, Mach-E, is as big as I'm interested in going. The styling is a bit of a letdown after the Ioniq 5. I really wanted the I... 5 as soon as I saw it, but this one is kind of meh to me. I actually think the KIA EV 9 looks better. The larger battery and greater range might make this car a better choice than the EV 9. I really like the climate control, physical controls rule. On the whole, it looks like a worthwhile vehicle, just not something I'd buy for myself.
Rear wiper?
EV tax credit getting killed I'd say.
I really am coming to hate the black lower trim and wheel surrounds. It would suck to have to go to a higher trim level just to get rid of them.
Especially shiny black! Hopefully there will be a body color option a few years later when I’m next on the market for a new road tripper.
From the side it reminds me of of an Audi Q7 a little and the back is like a bloated Volvo XC90, that being said I do like it lol
according to numbers online, it seems like the Ioniq 9 has 3-4 more cubic feet more space behind the third row but 3 cubic feet less behind the second row. I also don't know if figures are factoring in the sub trunk and frunk which means the rivian definitely has more cargo space in general regardless of which rows are folded. But the EV9 and Ioniq 9 have noticeably more passenger space/specs.
KIA EV9 MSRP for the loaded trim with all packages (minus paying for any optional colors inside/exterior) is $77,395. I'd expect a Calligraphy Performance version to land under 80K. No way hyundai thinks it's a good idea to stray that far. I deal pricing for this car is to range from 55-75K. At least that will put it within range of a CX-90, XC90 T8, Grand Cherokee L, etc and under the R1S, Model X, and XC90.
Great exterior lighting!
You hear that, TOYOTA!?! Your rear exterior lighting are a joke!
I'm actually glad we cannot have the camera rear view mirror: answering yet another question no body asked for
It's ok but I definitely think the EV9 looks nicer. The wheel arches just seem tacky to me
Idk about that foul horrid green, but in any other color I’d say this looks pretty good. Tbh honest wasn’t sold when I first started watching but imagining it in blue or black would definitely make it look better. I will say that steering wheel screams Range Rover lol
I like it…..green is green
Pretty cool, but probably couldnt afford it anyway...
Haven’t you heard? $60k is the new $40k! /s
With the upgraded charging is there any word on increasing the V2L power as well?
Do the second row seats fold flat?
LUUUUUUUUUUUUUVing it!!!!!
I wish they would bring the wool option to the US option list. Anything but leather (or pleather) for me please! I just want comfy couch fabric in my seats, is that too much to ask?
Looks like a watered down Chinese rendition of a Cadillac EV on the interior and the front end. If the Rivian Amazon delivery van and Volvo had a child it’s what the rear would look like.
Love it!
design is a lot better than the Ioniq 5
Hyundai designers obsession with land rover continues
This will not give a dent in the sales of the Grand Highlander, Pilot, Pathfinder, and Equinox. It would be sold at a loss too. Another massive L product by Hyundai.
They need a 250hp rear motor.
What a Stunning Luxury looking interior with a Bench Seat for families, but somehow nobody can convince the Koreans to put that bench seat on their Gas cars on the Top tip trim...Why Hyundai, why?🙏🙏🙏🙏
This car's styling reminds me of one of those MPVs that are popular in Europe and South East Asia like Fiat 500L, VW Touran or BMW 2 series Active/Grand Tourer. Somehow the hood/beltline is too high, but the roof is low? Not a good look regardless
Kinda has a.. baby oiled jellybean look going on, no?
Buying this would be financial suicide. Have to wait for eREV or solid state battery.
Was hoping for something a bit more mini van-y with a bit more truck space. This really does not distinguish itself from the ev9 at all.
The wheel Arch design ruins the overall design of the vehicle.
13:33 Who shrunk Alex!?
I like the spec and interior, but not the front view.
0:53 I think you meant Ioniq 9 not EV9 😊
Not sure I'm digging the side profile. The back looks like a volvo
Why couldnt they have made it 8 seats to been waiting years for an 8 passenger ev suv
Not a fan of those blacked-out wheel arches
Even this is still too expensive.
I’m sorry, Alex I love your opinions on cars and this one is great, but if you think it looks better than EV9 you’re crazy
It may get tax credit until Drumpf removes it
And why should it get a tax credit? EV’s are a dime a dozen these days. And we aught to be charging a massive road and infrastructure tax up front
@@Goocoocachooannual road and infrastructure tax should be fine.
60k .? Attractive? Honestly?
Not really a fan of the outside. Am I the only one?
I will keep my Kia EV9 thank you 😅
I'm not a fan of Hyundai's design at all.
That charge port is going to be a problem at Tesla super chargers. It’s on the wrong side!
I hear this a lot. If Tesla's port is on the driver's-side front, and Hyundai's port is on the passenger-side rear, couldn't the Hyundai owner back into the Supercharger space without taking up an extra stall? What am I missing? (Keeping in mind I have never been to a Supercharger location.)
Super chargers are on the driver side of the parking stalls. Tesla’s back into the parking spot. The cable will not reach to the passenger side of this vehicle.
Teslas are on driver’s rear not driver's front.
Fortunately, Tesla V3 chargers will (probably) never be this car’s first choice anyways. The lower voltage offered by Tesla Superchargers mean eGMP cars can’t get their full charge speed at V3 stalls. The new V4 stalls offer full voltage and are designed to accommodate a wider variety of charge port locations.
60k starting price? Lol. Uh, no thanks.
Looks like an inflatable decoy SUV.
Idiotic packaging: With so much 3rd row headroom why not raise up the seat an inch or so for some actual thigh support?
It looks like a dishwasher on wheels designed by Whirlpool.
Hmmm. Don’t think it will get a tax credit at all.
And why should it? I don’t get a tax credit when I pay through the nose to cover taxes you aren’t paying at the pump yet you drive on the same roads….
@@GoocoocachooIf you think your price at the pump isn't subsidized you don't understand the fuel production and distribution system in this country.
No rear wiper......
I feel like these designs will not age well. It’s not horrible looking though. Not my color.
Again with the pixels....
Looks nice, however EVs are still many years away if at all from me considering
Nice minivan! Like an uglier Kia EV9. Seriously, it looks like super practical packaging.
Hyundai is playing for keeps - taking EV development seriously on all fronts?