Unnamed Automotive Podcast · Unnamed Automotive Podcast

Episode 438: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9, 2026 Acura RDX

·49 min·3 clips

Acura's touchpad infotainment is so awkward that Ben gives up and uses Android Auto instead.

1. Unnamed Automotive Podcast Episode 438 compares the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the 2026 Acura RDX. 2. Sami Haj Asad hosts with Benjamin Hunting, both automotive journalists whose bylines include Motor Trend, Inside Hook, Driving.ca, and Autotrader.ca. 3. The episode tests whether a Hyundai three-row EV and an Acura SUV are worth their prices, their packaging, and their winter behavior. 4. Sami says he drove the Hyundai Ioniq 9 in one of the snowiest weeks of the year and compared it directly with the Hyundai Palisade hybrid. 5. Ben argues the Ioniq 9 is closer to a luxury vehicle than to a mainstream three-row SUV, while Sami says the price and switchgear still feel Hyundai-grade. 6. The hosts note that the Canadian Ioniq 9 is sold as Preferred AWD Plus with the Ultimate Calligraphy Package, while the US lineup starts with a rear-wheel-drive base model. 7. They compare pricing around $80,000 CAD in Canada, about $60,000 US for the base version, and up to $79,000 US for the Calligraphy Design. 8. Both hosts discuss the Ioniq 9's 110-kWh battery, the dual-motor 422-horsepower setup, and the lower-power 303-horsepower and 215-horsepower versions. 9. Sami says the Ioniq 9 felt expensive for its interior technology, range, and driving dynamics when stacked against the Palisade hybrid. 10. Ben says the vehicle's three-row packaging is unusually thoughtful, especially the power-reclining third row and the ability to move seats from the driver's touchscreen. 11. Sami points out the Ioniq 9's cargo area is about 22 cubic feet behind the third row, with enough vertical space for a gym bag or tall roll-on luggage. 12. Ben says the frunk is only 1.9 cubic feet with all-wheel drive and 3.1 cubic feet with rear-wheel drive, which limits its usefulness. 13. Ben describes a winter issue where snow and ice built up between the wipers and the cowl, so he had to use the frunk area to clear it out by hand. 14. Sami says the car's weight showed up in long stopping distances and poor front-end grip when turning at intersections on slushy roads. 15. Ben counters that the Ioniq 9 felt controlled in corners, with the main winter problem coming from wheel balance after snow packed into the 21-inch rims. 16. The hosts say the Ioniq 9 has strong traction control and better behavior than some EVs when pulling away on slippery hills. 17. The Acura RDX segment starts with Ben calling the current model unchanged for 2026 and noting that a new hybrid or plug-in hybrid version is coming on a different platform. 18. Ben says the RDX A-Spec Advance or Platinum Elite A-Spec surprised him with a red interior and better-than-expected styling, but the touchpad infotainment was bad enough that he switched to Android Auto. 19. Listeners who like detailed EV range, charging, and packaging comparisons will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners who want a short, high-level recap without trim-level detail may skip it. 21. The show uses a conversational back-and-forth style with jokes about meet space, ghosts, and Nintendo-like trim names. 22. The tone stays analytical and personal, with both hosts grounding their opinions in winter driving, charging math, and real use cases.

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