The ADX is Acura’s all-new compact SUV that is sized just right to appeal to first-time luxury vehicle buyers, young families and empty nesters. Starting in the mid-$40,000s, three trims are offered, but the top-line Platinum Elite A-SPEC is the model we recommend getting to enjoy all the high-tech features.
The ADX features a clean, well-proportioned exterior design that will appeal to many, and looks the part of a premium compact SUV. The Platinum Elite A-SPEC comes with 19-inch black wheels and black trim which offers a sportier look, and the rear presents a sporty stance with polished dual exhaust tailpipe finishers.
The ADX is built on the same platform as the Integra hatchback with a sport-tuned suspension, so we expect a good balance of confident handling and ride quality. And like Integra, the ADX features a 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine under its hood. Power output has not been finalized as of this writing, but should be close to 200 horsepower, which is adequate, but European competitors offer more.
Its continuously variable transmission (CVT) isn’t our preference in a vehicle marketed to be sporty. CVTs tend to keep engine revs elevated when accelerating, creating excessive interior noise and slower acceleration times, but thankfully for Acura, most buyers will be indifferent, and the ADX at least offers standard metal paddle shifters (a high-quality touch) for those who want to control the shifting feel.
With standard All-Wheel Drive (AWD), the ADX Platinum Elite A-SPEC also includes 5 drive modes, including Individual Mode for drivers to customize their preferences for steering feel, suspension tightness and accelerator responsiveness.
Safety is also a strength of the ADX, with available parking sensors that can stop the vehicle if it detects an obstacle at low speed, a surround-view camera, ten standard airbags and a host of standard driver assist features that European competitors charge extra for.
Inside, the ADX features a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch centre touchscreen. These screens are smaller than competitors, but the top-line ADX is equipped with Google Built-in, which is user-friendly, and its Google Assistant voice command function can operate several vehicle features like adjusting cabin temperature. Google Maps also provides familiarity to many as does Google Play, which allows drivers to download third-party apps like they would on their smartphones.
You also get 5G connectivity, a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system, a 12-way power driver seat, ventilated front seats and a hands-free power rear tailgate, and even if you don’t choose the top-line trim, the ADX is still an excellent value that undercuts European competitors with standard features like a panoramic moonroof, heated steering wheel and nifty climate control temperature dials that change colours when you increase (red) or decrease (blue) your temperature settings.
Rear seat leg room and cargo space are also notable strengths, and ADX’s standard power tailgate can automatically close as you walk away, a feature we particularly like and give Acura credit for.
If you don’t want an SUV, the Acura TLX Type S is currently the best value and most advanced Japanese sports sedan available.
It was refreshed for the 2024 model year with a new frameless grille that the ADX also gets, along with an all-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster, larger 12.3-inch centre screen, a surround-view camera, rear USB ports, and an improved windshield camera enabling its active safety features to function better and do more.
With 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque from a 3.0L turbocharged V6 engine, the TLX Type S’s acceleration thrilled us, especially with the drive mode set to Sport+, which enhances the exhaust tone, keeps the engine primed to build speed quickly and tightens the precise steering even more.
The low, wide styling with a long, chiseled hood makes the vehicle look distinct and premium, and its Jewel Eye multi-projector headlights perform very well at night. It’s 20-inch wheels resemble those from the Acura NSX sports car.
What the TLX lacks in leg room and infotainment user-friendliness vs. European competitors, it makes up for with confident handling and a superb all-wheel drive system called Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), which can distribute up to 100% of rear torque to one rear wheel (called torque vectoring), something many pricier European rivals don’t offer. This system enables it to corner particularly well and provide enhanced traction in inclement weather.
Other valuable features include 16-way heated and ventilated front seats, an excellent-performing 17-speaker ELS premium audio system, a spacious under-armrest storage compartment, and the presence of good old physical buttons and knobs to control the climate control and radio volume that a vast majority of drivers still prefer.
