2024 Acura ZDX First Drive Review
Acura proves that sometimes taking a shortcut can pay off.
Christian Wardlaw
QuickTakes:
Acura's first electric vehicle isn't exactly an Acura. Manufactured in Spring Hill, Tennessee, in a General Motors assembly plant also producing the Cadillac Lyriq, the new 2024 Acura ZDX is built upon GM's Ultium EV component set.
From what I saw, the Acura appears to get GM-sourced infotainment technology, driver-assistance systems, and other bits and pieces, including shiny interior plastic. In my opinion, the interior even smells like a new Cadillac.
Acura's parent company, American Honda, partnered with GM to develop the 2024 ZDX and the 2024 Honda Prologue electric SUVs, giving the Japanese automaker a shortcut to selling EVs. Honda is developing its own global EV platform, but its first models won't go on sale until 2026.
The 2024 Acura ZDX is a two-row, five-passenger, midsize electric crossover SUV featuring Honda's signature design cues wrapped around a GM platform, architecture, and technology. It comes in A-Spec and Type S trim levels and has single-motor rear-wheel-drive or dual-motor all-wheel-drive propulsion. Prices range from the mid-$60,000s to the mid-$70,000s, including the destination charge.
After half a day spent driving and riding in the new 2024 Acura ZDX Type S near Santa Barbara, California, I found that this marriage of convenience is successful — even though a divorce is ultimately pending. The vehicle offers good looks, a comfy cabin, practical cargo space, impressive tech, and enjoyable driving dynamics. Plus, this electric Acura is eligible for the $7,500 federal income tax credit, making the price more palatable.
Christian Wardlaw
Acura ZDX Driving Range Soars Past 300 Miles, While Horsepower Hits 500
Acura keeps it simple with the new ZDX. Each one has a 102-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack that Acura says can recharge from 20% capacity to 80% in about 42 minutes when using a 190-kilowatt (kW) DC fast-charging station. Plug in at home to a Level 2 charger, and the ZDX adds 29.4 miles of range for each hour of charging.
The ZDX A-Spec gives you a choice between a single rear motor or a dual-motor AWD system. The single-motor model delivers 358 horsepower and 324 pound-feet of torque and travels an estimated 313 miles on a full battery. The ZDX A-Spec AWD boasts 490 horsepower and 437 lb-ft from its front and rear electric motors while supplying 304 miles of estimated range.
Choose the ZDX Type S for a high-output dual-motor AWD drive system with 500 horsepower and 544 lb-ft of torque. The Type S also swaps the A-Spec's 20-inch wheels for 22-inchers and is available with performance tires. With the Type S, you trade range for performance, as the estimated range is 278 miles.
In addition to larger wheels and tires, the Type S models add faster steering response, thicker stabilizer bars, larger front brake discs, six-piston Brembo front brake calipers, and an adaptive damping air suspension. Every ZDX offers Normal, Sport, Snow, and Individual driving modes. The SUV can tow 3,500 pounds and has 7 inches of ground clearance.
Christian Wardlaw
The Acura ZDX Is Impressive to Drive — or Let Tech Take Over
My Type S test vehicle wore a beautiful extra-cost paint color called Double Apex Blue Pearl. In addition, Acura fitted the SUV with the optional performance tires but not the Berlina Black 22-inch wheels that accompany them, meaning you won't be able to get the wheels seen in the photos with the stickier rubber. The manufacturer's suggested retail price of my test vehicle came to $76,450 before applying the federal income tax credit.
At higher trim levels, there are as many as six exterior paint colors available, and they all cost extra except Mercury Silver. Every paint color pairs with a leather-lined interior in what Acura calls an Ebony color, while both Red and Orchid are available with certain exterior hues.
Heading north on U.S. Route 101, the ZDX Type S proved quiet and comfortable at cruising speeds. Thanks to light traffic, it was the perfect highway to sample Honda's Hands-Free Cruise system, which can take complete control of driving on approved, limited-access highways as long as the driver continues to pay attention to the road ahead.
Christian Wardlaw
Hands-Free Cruise is a trustworthy but not flawless technology. It has an automatic lane-change function for passing and then tucking back into the right lane afterward, but it will also respond to manual requests to change lanes. However, on one occasion, after I released the turn signal, the ZDX unexpectedly returned to the left lane. Fortunately, nobody was following closely behind at the time.
Exiting the freeway, I wound my way to Los Olivos and the seasonally lush and green countryside surrounding the town. On these winding roads, the ZDX Type S model's optional tires and adaptive air suspension system did an excellent job mitigating excess body motions while tenaciously gripping the blacktop.
In Sport mode, the ZDX Type is relatively quick, with Acura quoting acceleration to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. A pleasing soundtrack accompanies acceleration, too. However, based on my experience, the steering effort level feels too heavy in Sport mode. To resolve that, use the Individual driving mode to combine different settings and tailor the SUV's driving characteristics to your preferences.
Christian Wardlaw
Paddles on the steering wheel add more vigorous brake regeneration, and the ZDX can come to a stop without using the brake pedal. However, I found the tiny paddles tricky to use. After dialing in heavy regen, the system appeared to reset to a standard regeneration level. If you decide not to bother, that's fine because the pedal feels natural underfoot, and the Brembo calipers quickly haul all three tons of ZDX Type S down from speed.
The ride deftly blends the compliance you expect from a luxury vehicle with the feel of a performance model. However, impact harshness makes its way into the cabin on broken and indifferently maintained pavement.
Overall, the ZDX Type S is enjoyable to drive and sometimes sparks a thrill.
Christian Wardlaw
Simple Infotainment Tech Makes the Acura ZDX Easier to Live With
The ZDX's relatively small 11.0-inch data panel in front of the driver and 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system are both serviceable. While they lack the sophistication you might find in some of Acura's rivals, they are refreshingly simple to use.
The infotainment system features Google built-in and a complimentary three-year subscription to Google Maps, Google Assistant, and apps via the Google Play store. In addition, it has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless smartphone charging, SiriusXM satellite radio, access to a Wi-Fi hot spot, and AcuraLink connected services via GM's OnStar platform.
The test ZDX I drove included the GM's Teen Driver technology, which gives parents a driving report card after a teenager returns home with the SUV.
I found the infotainment system easy to use. After quickly pairing my iPhone, I had no trouble streaming music through Pandora and Apple Music and no difficulty switching from CarPlay to the native technology. Google Assistant passed nearly all of my tests with flying colors and even sarcastically recommended going for a swim when I told it, "I'm too hot."
Fortunately, Acura provides a volume knob on the infotainment system, and, hidden on the back of the steering wheel spokes, you'll find rocker switches that control volume and tuning. Once you get used to them, you'll wonder why every car company doesn't offer a similar design.
Christian Wardlaw
The Type S has a triple-zone automatic climate-control system, 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and a power-adjustable and heated steering wheel. It is a comfortable SUV, and Acura's Milano leather looks and feels supple.
Every ZDX has a panoramic sunroof, but you have to go up to the Type S level to get heated rear seats and a rear passenger climate panel. Every ZDX has a panoramic sunroof, but only the Type S gets heated rear seats and a rear passenger climate panel. There is plenty of room in the second row for three people on a cushion that offers decent thigh support, and both legroom and footroom are generous.
The ZDX A-Spec has a power liftgate that reveals 29.7 cubic-feet of cargo space. Type S models have a hands-free liftgate and 28.7 cu-ft. Fold the back seats down, and the ZDX carries a maximum of 63 cu-ft of cargo (62 cubes in the Type S).
Christian Wardlaw
The Acura ZDX Proves Sometimes Shortcuts Work
Don't begrudge Acura's desire to bring an EV to market sooner rather than later. The underlying GM technology is competitive, and the ZDX is better for it in several ways. As a result of the partnership, this Acura is arguably superior in many ways to the Genesis Electrified GV70 and credibly competes with the more expensive BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.
Besides, the ZDX looks like an Acura and, in Type S specification, drives well enough to fulfill the brand's performance promise. Furthermore, unless you're familiar with American Honda and General Motors vehicles, you won't notice or care what's under the styling — or that it smells like a new Cadillac.
Acura provided the vehicle for this 2024 ZDX review and paid for meals during the evaluation period. The test vehicles in the photos had a standard-finish wheel and performance tire combination that was unavailable to consumers. ZDX buyers will get 22-inch wheels painted Berlina Black when ordering performance tires.
