A taste of practical luxury at an affordable price sounds tempting. Well, at least that’s what Honda’s upscale division is hoping as it introduces the Acura ADX utility vehicle this year.
Acura refers to the ADX as the brand’s “gateway” model, positioned below the five-passenger RDX and seven-passenger RDX and electric ZDZ utilities in the lineup. It shares the same overall look as both gasoline-powered variants including the “Diamond Pentagon” mesh grille, moderately bulging fenders and cleanly styled door and fender panels.
In back, the wraparound taillights extend into the sculped liftgate.
The interior comes with a 10.2-inch digital driver’s gauge display along with a 9.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. A standard wireless phone charger is positioned ahead of the traditional floor shifter.
The ADX may be the smallest of group, but in overall length it’s less than five centimetres shorter than the next-in-line RDX. But in distance between the front and rear wheels the RDX has about a nine-centimetre advantage and is about five centimetres taller and four centimetres wider. In cargo capacity the RDX also holds a considerable advantage with the rear seat in place or folded.
The ADX is constructed using the same platform as the Acura Integra hatchback and is equipped with that model’s turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder rated at 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The engine is linked to a continuously variable transmission with paddle shifters that operate simulated gears. The standard drive modes – Normal, Comfort, Sport and Snow – adjust throttle response, transmission mapping, and steering feel for optimum performance with each.
A hybrid power system based on the Honda Civic’s 200-horsepower 2.0-litre unit plus two electric motors is rumoured to become available sometime after the launch. If correct, that would make the ADX more fuel efficient than the turbo-1.5-litre’s estimated 7.4 l/100 km in combined city/highway driving.
All-wheel drive is standard with the ADX’s three trim levels. According to Acura the system can direct up to 50 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels in slippery driving conditions.
Acura anticipates pricing for the ADX base model will start in the mid-$40,000 range including destination charges. It will arrive reasonably well outfitted with a panoramic moonroof, dual-zone climate controls, power tailgate, 18-inch wheels and eight-speaker sound system.
The mid-grade A-Spec adds heated and ventilated and power-adjustable front seats, front and rear faux suede seat coverings, leather-covered flat-bottom steering wheel, ambient interior lighting and 19-inch wheels.
Selecting the A-Spec Platinum Elite gets you front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding side mirrors, 360-degree surround-view camera, heated steering wheel and premium 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Google connectivity with Amazon Alexa voice activation is also standard with the Platinum Elite.
Included with the three ADX trims is AcuraWatch driver-assist technologies with blind-spot and rear-cross-traffic monitoring, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, collision and lane-departure mitigation, and traffic-sign recognition.
Inattentive driver-attention and rear-seat monitoring are also part of the AcuraWatch suite.
The Platinum Elite trim incorporates front and rear sensors that can automatically apply the brakes in low-speed situations if an object is detected before the driver is aware of it.
With the impending arrival of the ADX, Acura will now have an able competitor in the upscale compact utility vehicle bracket currently occupied by rivals Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Lexus UX. (The Cadillac XT-4 is also part of the group, but it will soon be in short supply as production is expected to cease for good in early 2025.)
With attractive looks, a roomy interior and competitive pricing it’s a good bet that the ADX will elicit a significant degree of buyer interest. Along with the Integra hatchback it gives the Honda division a one-two punch in the entry-luxury-vehicle class.
