Acura ADX vs Hyundai Ioniq 9

The 2025 Acura ADX, despite sharing its platform with the Honda HR-V, distinguished itself with unique Acura styling. Its pentagonal grille with diamond-patterned mesh, LED lighting, and sporty rear design elements like vent-like creases and dual exhaust outlets gave it a striking appearance. The ADX offered standard 18-inch wheels, with 19-inch options on A-Spec trims, and a choice of six exterior colours, with premium options available on higher trims. Inside, the ADX maintained Acura's premium feel with a red interior option, leatherette seating, and textured black trim that minimized fingerprints and glare.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 presented a polarizing design, drawing inspiration from smooth pebbles and midcentury modern sofas. Its aerodynamic shape housed seven passengers comfortably, with a 5,060 mm length and a 3,130 mm wheelbase. Despite its size, the Ioniq 9 achieved a 0.27 drag coefficient. The design featured a swooping roofline and a distinctive rear view with LED taillights. Hyundai offered seven paint colours, with trim-specific options, and wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches. Inside, the Ioniq 9 boasted a spacious and airy interior with flat floors, a sliding centre console, and a panoramic sunroof on higher trims.

The 2025 Acura ADX came standard with AWD and a 1.5-litre VTEC turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. While not the most powerful in its class, it offered adequate performance for everyday tasks and some spirited driving. The ADX featured multiple drive modes, including Sport, Normal, Comfort, and Snow, with an additional Individual mode on the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim. Visibility was excellent, and noise cancellation measures were effective, providing a quiet cabin experience. However, for those prioritizing fuel economy, competitors with hybrid powertrains offered better efficiency.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 featured a 110.3-kWh battery pack on the e-GMP platform. The base Essential trim had RWD with a 160-kW motor producing 215 horsepower, while AWD trims offered up to 422 horsepower. The Ioniq 9 impressed with energy efficiency, often exceeding its estimated 500-kilometre range. Its chassis provided a smooth ride, though it lacked agility in corners. The Ioniq 9 offered towing capacities of 1,587 kg for RWD and 2,268 kg for AWD models. Charging options included NACS superchargers and CCS-port Level 3 chargers, with fast charging times.

The 2025 Acura ADX featured leatherette seating, with microsuede accents on higher trims. Heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver's seat were standard, with additional features like front-seat ventilation and driver's seat memory on higher trims. The ADX offered generous headroom and legroom, with cargo space ranging from 690 to 1,560 litres, depending on the trim. A power tailgate, dual-zone climate control, and rear-seat vents were standard.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 focused on family-SUV practicality, seating seven with a middle-row bench or six with captain's chairs. The sliding centre console improved access for middle-row passengers. The Ioniq 9 offered 1,086 mm of middle-row legroom and 813 mm in the third row. Dual-zone climate control, a heat pump, and heated front seats were standard, with additional features available on higher trims. Cargo space ranged from 620 to 2,462 litres, with a small front trunk for charging accessories.

The 2025 Acura ADX featured a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, and a digital gauge cluster. Higher trims added Alexa Built-In, Google Built-In, and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system with a unique "beosonic" app for sound customization.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 included dual curved 12.3-inch displays, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a wireless charging pad. Six USB-C ports provided ample charging options. The Luxury package and Preferred AWD+ configurations featured a 14-speaker Bose audio system, delivering impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Acura ADX came with the AcuraWatch suite, offering adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot information, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. A surround-view camera system was available on the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim. While crash-test ratings were pending, the ADX aimed to match the HR-V's high safety ratings.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 included advanced driver assistance systems like collision avoidance, lane-guidance, driver attention warning, safe-exit assist, and Highway Driving Assist 2. The Luxury package and Preferred AWD+ trims added a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Crash-test ratings were not yet available.