2024 Acura ZDX Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Acura offers the ZDX in A-Spec and Type S trim levels. Both are sporty in appearance, but the A-Spec has 20-inch wheels while the Type S features 22s and a black-painted roof. From the blunt nose to the squared-off tail, both versions look appealing. Unfortunately, the Type S model's black roof and the chrome trim above the rear quarter window also reminded us of a hearse.

Prices range from $64,500 to $73,500, plus a destination charge of $1,350. If you qualify for the full tax credit, you can slice $7,500 off those figures. Our Type S test vehicle had extra-cost Double Apex Blue Pearl paint, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to $75,450, including the destination charge.

There is a caveat to report. Acura fitted the test vehicles with the optional performance tires but not the all-black 22-inch wheels that typically come with the stickier rubber. This change for the media program was presumably to enhance handling while retaining the more expressive standard machined-finish wheels. The optional performance wheel and tire package costs $1,000 more and requires the black wheels.

Depending on the paint color, you can choose an Ebony, Red, or Orchid interior decked out in perforated leather. Ambient lighting, brushed aluminum trim, stainless steel pedal detailing, and a panoramic sunroof are standard on all ZDXs.

Most people new to the Acura brand will not identify the ZDX's interior components as GM-sourced. That's true even if they're cross-shopping the Acura with the Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Blazer EV because these three electric SUVs have exclusive dashboards, displays, center consoles, door panels, and other interior treatments.

However, Acura owners will notice the differences, from the inferior quality of some interior plastics and the cabin's unmistakable GM scent to the superior Google Built-in infotainment user interface and simple analog climate controls.

Frustratingly, a button located low on the left side of the dashboard next to the electronic parking brake provides access to the driving modes, and the hazard flasher button (which should be in the space between the center air vents) is on the ceiling next to the SOS emergency calling button. Neither placement is ideal.

The 2024 ZDX is available in single-motor rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. With A-Spec trim, output ranges from 358 horsepower and 324 pound-feet for the RWD model to 490 hp and 437 lb-ft for the AWD variant. The ZDX Type S comes with only a dual-motor AWD drivetrain making 500 hp and 544 lb-ft. All three include Normal, Sport, Snow, and Individual driving modes, and the maximum towing capacity is 3,500 pounds.

You'll want the A-Spec RWD (313 miles) for the most driving range, though the A-Spec AWD gives up little in exchange for its extra power (304 miles). Stop at a DC fast-charging station delivering 190 kilowatts of energy or more, and you can recoup 81 miles of range in 10 minutes with RWD and 79 miles with AWD. Type S versions travel an estimated 278 miles on a charge and grab 72 miles of range in 10 minutes.

Acura says all three ZDX models can charge from 20% to 80% in 42 minutes using a 190-kW DC fast charger. At home, on a Level 2 charging station, you can expect to gain 29.4 miles per hour of charging.

In addition, when you buy or lease a new ZDX, you can choose from three packages that provide EVGo charging station credits, a combination of EVGo and home charging station credits, or electrical outlet upgrade credits. Acura also says it has agreements to allow ZDX owners to pay for charging at EVGo, Electrify America, and Tesla Supercharger stations using the new Acura EV smartphone app.

We drove the ZDX Type S in Santa Barbara, California. The route included plenty of highway and mountain road driving, plus a little bit of city travel. Over 118.8 miles, the ZDX traveled 2.3 miles per kilowatt-hour, resulting in an efficiency rating of 43.5 kWh per 100 miles. As of this writing, the EPA hasn't published official ratings for the ZDX, but our result suggests the Acura isn't quite as efficient as most of its rivals.

According to Acura, the ZDX Type S accelerates to 60 mph in less than five seconds. It seems that quick, and this variant's exclusive adaptive air suspension does a commendable job of masking the 6,052-pound curb weight. Also, in Snow mode, the air suspension raises the ride height by 25mm over the standard 7-inch ground clearance. Sport mode drops the Type S by 15mm.

In addition, the Type S has wider, lower-profile tires and substantially thicker stabilizer bars, especially in the back. A quicker steering ratio and larger front brakes clamped by yellow six-piston Brembo calipers also support the Type S model's enhanced performance.

We zipped along the hilly, winding, and narrow Armour Ranch Road east of Solvang to sample these Type S exclusives. The ZDX acquitted itself nicely, feeling snugged down to the smooth blacktop. It's hard to determine how much the performance tires contributed to the capable handling, but more importantly, on this road, the suspension eliminated unwanted body motions, and the sharper steering made it easy to place the SUV in curves, increasing driver confidence.

The view of the creased fenders and center hood line from the driver's seat reminded us of a 1960s-era Chevy, which as it turned out, our co-driver had once owned. He agreed that the landscape view of the ZDX's hood was vintage GM. That is good because it makes it easy for the driver to place the Acura when parking and hustling along a narrow road without a shoulder.

We also traveled Figueroa Mountain Road north of Los Olivos, which becomes a patched and pockmarked mess as it climbs into the Los Padres National Forest. Here, the ZDX felt huge, and impact harshness made it into the cabin, especially at the rear axle.

On the 101 freeway and California 158, the ZDX was a comfy cruiser, but neither showcased the Type S model's performance and handling upgrades. However, even in Normal mode, the steering effort level is heavier than we prefer. We extensively used the Hands-Free Cruise technology, which is exclusive to the Type S. It's impressive.

Descending into Santa Barbara on 158, the EV's multi-stage regenerative brakes proved helpful and offer one-pedal stopping capability. However, the paddle on the steering wheel is a little tricky to use, and the system appears to default to lighter than heavier regen, both upon start-up and not long after you've dialed in the maximum amount.

Overall, driving the Acura ZDX Type S is enjoyable. But is it a true Type S? That's impossible to say without driving an A-Spec back-to-back, and Acura didn't have any of those on hand for comparison purposes.

Equipped with two rows of seats, the Acura ZDX offers plenty of room for five passengers and 28.7 cubic feet of luggage. Or, you can fold the back seat down to create a maximum of 62 cubic feet of cargo room. The ZDX also provides added storage space under the cargo floor. A standard power rear liftgate offers hands-free access with Type S trim.

The ZDX A-Spec has 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation and a power-adjustable heated steering wheel. Upgrade to the Type S, and you get adjustable thigh support and side bolsters, and heated rear seats are also standard with this trim level. All ZDX models have premium Milano leather, and most interior surfaces on the upper portion of the cabin feature soft padding and quality materials.

We found the front seats quite comfortable and supportive during several hours of driving and riding as a passenger. In addition, the back seat supplies plenty of room for legs, feet, and heads and offers decent thigh support. Type S models have a triple-zone automatic climate control system with a rear control panel, and the test vehicle featured rear window shades and USB charging ports.

Storage space is practical, but most storage areas lack surface liners, so items placed in each location may vibrate, rattle, and scrape as you drive. In addition, we discovered the cupholder clasps rattled when we put loose items in them. Worse, when you pitch the ZDX around a right-hand corner, items placed on the shallow tray forward of the cupholders can slide off to interfere with the driver's feet. Ask us how we know.

Acura equips the ZDX with configurable high-definition 11-inch digital instrumentation and 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment displays. If you measure an EV's worth by the size of its screens, they'll disappoint you. But they're perfectly capable of delivering the information you want in a graphically pleasing and intuitive manner. However, compared to the best tech in the segment, they lack a wow factor.

The infotainment system features Google Built-in with a complimentary three-year subscription to Google Assistant, Google Maps, and apps via the Google Play store. In addition, you get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and, as long as you activate a data plan through AT&T, access to a Wi-Fi hotspot.

In another GM tell, OnStar provides the AcuraLink connected services, and the ZDX offers Teen Driver technology. Teen Driver allows parents to program a key fob to track vehicle use, and it produces a driving report card when your child returns home.

During testing, Google Assistant quickly and correctly responded to voice commands. There were two hiccups, though. While listening to satellite radio, we requested reggae music. Instead of directing us to the Bob Marley station on channel 19, it asked us to select a streaming service to listen to that genre of music. Also, when we told the ZDX we were too hot, the digital voice assistant suggested a swim rather than adjusting the climate system's temperature. At least it has a sense of humor.

Pairing an iPhone to the infotainment system took no time, and it was easy to run Apple CarPlay and stream music from Apple Music. Overall, the ZDX's infotainment system is easy and intuitive to use and is preferable to every Acura we've recently driven. More of this, please.

The ZDX also marks Acura's switch to Bang & Olufsen audio systems. In this model, an 18-speaker surround-sound system explicitly designed for use in the ZDX immerses you in the music. The fidelity is good, especially for a standard setup, but is not entirely to high-end system standards.

Acura equips the ZDX A-Spec with its AcuraWatch collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). It includes numerous collision detection and avoidance systems, and everything you've come to expect on a modern luxury SUV is present and accounted for.

Upgrade to the ZDX Type S, and the electric SUV has AcuraWatch 360+. That adds more parking sensors, a semi-autonomous parking assist system, a rear pedestrian alert system, and a surround-view camera. In addition, it installs Hands-Free Cruise, a rebranded version of GM's Super Cruise technology.

Driving on the northbound 101 freeway from Santa Barbara, the Hands-Free Cruise system demonstrated remarkable proficiency. Equipped with an automatic lane-change feature, it effortlessly handled light to moderate traffic and smoothly drove the ZDX while a driver monitoring system ensured we paid attention at all times.

We experienced only one glitch during our evaluation. After manually signaling a lane change, the ZDX complied and steered the SUV from the left lane into the right lane. However, we let go of the signal stalk and the Acura canceled the lane change, returning to the left lane. The car we'd passed was distant in the rearview mirror, and it wasn't clear why the system decided to return to the left lane. Had another motorist been following close behind, this would have proved frustrating to them.

After applying the maximum $7,500 federal tax credit, the Acura ZDX makes a strong case for itself compared to the automaker's RDX and MDX gas-powered SUV models.

The two-row, five-passenger Acura RDX costs thousands less and, in A-Spec trim, includes AWD. It also provides about the same cargo space as the ZDX but isn't as roomy for passengers, especially in the back seat. Also, over time, the cost of gas compared to nighttime electricity rates at home will reduce its price advantage.

Meanwhile, after accounting for the tax credit, the larger Acura MDX has a third-row seat and more cargo room but costs about the same as the ZDX. So, unless you need the MDX's extra passenger capacity or larger cargo hold, there isn't a price penalty for choosing the electric Acura SUV.

Compared to its GM platform siblings, the Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Blazer EV, the ZDX offers slightly better value than the Cadillac when comparably equipped but can't match the Blazer SS regarding outright performance. Also, the Cadillac seems more sophisticated, while the Chevy has a dramatically lower base price. None of these observations are surprising.

Unfortunately, without official EPA efficiency ratings, it's hard to judge the ZDX compared to its rivals. Based on our observed data, and compared to the information the EPA has published, most alternatives can eke out more distance per kWh. But it's not fair to compare real-world results against EPA data; often, the two figures bear little relationship to one another.

So, where does that leave the new 2024 Acura ZDX? Appealing design, a comfortable cabin, enjoyable driving dynamics, and impressive technology favor the Acura. In addition, since the federal income tax credit applies, it doesn't cost more than the MDX, removing the argument that an EV is prohibitively expensive.

So, while Acura took a shortcut to speed EV development and get one on the market, the resulting ZDX is an appealing entrant in the luxury electric SUV segment.