Problem solved. Appreciate the help and wanted to say "thanks".
The setting in Siri Announcements was turned off. I didn't even know for sure that there was a setting or where it lived in the iOS Settings app, so I can only guess that it got changed during the iOS 26.0 beta cycle install because that's when it stopped working. I found it via a Google search, and when I enabled it, the setting showed up in the CarPlay settings, I enabled it and voila, life is good.
I am still missing the ZOOM setting for screen layout/icons, but that's not a big deal, as my screen already gives me 2 x 5 icons which is good for me.