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The first electric vehicle I ever beat back was aTesla Roadsterin 2011 . I will never leave the feeling of the instant torque allow for by the electric motor , actuate me to 60 sea mile per hour in less than four second base — a effort my little Miata daily driver could n’t even woolgather of doing .
I ’ve had a act of a dearest social occasion with that kind of quickening ever since . But like all relationships , time has will me wanting a bit more — I want an EV that brings me as much joy in the twisties as it does on the highway on - ramps .
It was with great anticipation that I slid behind the bicycle of the 2025 Acura ZDX Type S. Sure , it ’s a midsize SUV , but it wears the Type S moniker , a name reserved only for the most fun - to - push back in the Acura stable . Could this be the EV unicorn I have been appear for ?
Y’all , it did not go as gestate .
Nuts and bolts
On launch , the ZDX will be uncommitted in A - Spec and Type S trim back — both of which come equip with a 102 kWh battery . The A - Spec will be usable in rear - wheel drive with 313 nautical mile of mountain range and just over 350 horsepower , while all - rack drive drop the reach to 304 international mile but ups the mogul to 409 pony .
The performance - oriented Type S get big businessman down to all four wheels and goes for broke with 499 H.P. and a humongous 544 Sudanese pound - feet of torque . However , all those fast - go electrons take a price on range , as the Type S can only go 278 geographical mile on a full charge .
Although I did n’t get the probability to essay the 190 kilowatt charging capabilities of the ZDX , Acura says that it ’s quick enough to append up to 81 miles in 10 minutes of tear and to go from 20 % to 80 % battery capacity in 42 minutes . However , offerings from Kia , Hyundai and Genesis can do it quicker .
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When it comes to appoint at nursing home , the ZDX sports a 11.5 kW onboard courser that Acura says can add nearly 30 miles in an hour , assuming a 60 amp paries charger .
The S stands for Sport, right?
Acura allege the number one wood experience comes first in this new cable car , and that goes twofold for the partizan Type S. Unfortunately , the top trim does n’t put a smile on my face .
mistake the gondola into mutation fashion and it scrunch down 15 millimeters — that ’s just over a half in to us Yanks — while the brake and throttle valve get a bit more responsive and the already toilsome steerage get a bit more weighty . The adaptive dampers firm up and the car produces a pernicious but obtrusive performance sound .
Combined with the 544 Syrian pound - feet of torque , this should make for a supremely fun cable car to get , yet somehow … it just does n’t .
The ZDX is a fire to launch on the superhighway . Similarly , accelerating at higher amphetamine is also satisfying , and whip around a Prius doing 55 in the dissipated lane is an sluttish job .
Still , I bear more joyousness from an Acura Type S vehicle .
Do n’t misunderstand me , there is nothing inherently bad about the driving experience . And yet , sling the SUV through the back roads of Santa Barbara , California , felt clinical . Here ’s where it go improper .
The Type S weigh over 6,000 pounds . Even if the weight is evenly distributed front to rear , that ’s a pile of massiveness to get around a bend . I wish the sizeable steering , but there is n’t much feedback occur . The torque is always there on corner exit and body roll is kept in check , yet I ’m not feeling the joy .
The 275/40 Continental Premium Contact 6 summer tires on the Type S offer up pot of grip , but the lowly - profile sidewall immix with the harder run - flat rubber compound means that the drive is just a touch coarse .
Of naturally , Acura experience how to progress a proper Type S car . The new Integra Type S is a veritable riot to drive . I just like the company make for the same engineering to this much larger and heavy sibling .
brake in the ZDX is confident with big ol’ Brembo brakes up front and three layer of regeneration . you’re able to turn regen all the way off , but why would you give up free electrons ? It might take a number of time to get used to the maximum regen , but it allows for full one - foot lever drive , bringing the ZDX to a ended plosive . Even if you ’re not in maximal style , you’re able to still bring in more regen by pulling the steering roulette wheel paddle on the left .
There is also a Charles Percy Snow mode that raises the intermission almost a full column inch , as well as a choose - your - own - dangerous undertaking item-by-item modality , but most tribe will likely just keep the car in normal manner and , again , that ’s just fine .
Acura will go it alone
The all - galvanizing ZDX is n’t exclusively a Honda Motor fomite . It was developed in partnership with General Motors , using the American company ’s battery technology . in the beginning the plan was to modernize a serial publication of low-cost electron volt , but late last year thatplan was nixedas demand for electron volt slowed . However , Acura wants 100 % of all product to be zero emission by 2040 and it has set a target of net - zero emissions for all products and corporate natural process by 2050 .
Designed through virtual and augmented reality in both the United States and Japan , the creatives at Acura clearly took thePrecision EV conceptwe run across in 2022 at Monterey Car Week and call it good .
And mostly they were right .
The car is nearly the same distance overall as the midsize MDX SUV , but the wheelbase is a full eight inches longer , pushing the wheels out to each quoin for a passably fast-growing position . It baby-sit dispirited than the MDX as well , give the ZDX a bit of an “ is - it - a - station waggon - or - is - it - an - SUV ? ” profile , especially with its squared - off rear roofline . The rear ending give off some serious hearse design vibes , which , depending on your aesthetical , could be a good , bully or bad exterior styling pick .
What Acura got right
Acura has proven to be a original at color choice — the Tiger Eye Pearl and Double Apex Blue Pearl — are a welcome quite a little on a midsize crossing . Acura even offer a red DoI on any Type S with a normcore black , white or grey exterior color .
inwardly , the center cabinet of the ZDX definitely part the cabin into driving blank space and riding space . I compass it . There is plenty of little item warehousing here and the console table also has a cellar level for larger particular like laptop computer and pocketbook .
All trims get power - adjustable leather seating room that are heat and cool and a heated steering wheel . The Type S also adds heated rearward seats , tri - zone climate control , a digital rearview mirror and a head - up display .
Overall , the ZDX is comfortable with light design lines and deal of passenger and lading space . Sure there are a few buttons and dials from the GM parts bin , but the excogitation is very Acura . The rear seat is especially spacious , with more legroom than the rivalry from Germany and Korea . Behind the rearward seats is 28.7 cubic foot of space , include 5 block of underfloor storage . blow up to 62 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded .
Anyone who has driven a GM product lately will immediately spot the 11.3 - inch infotainment interface . Google is built - inhere and I consider it ’s a more substance abuser - friendly system than anything currently on offer from Acura , so I ai n’t even mad . What ’s more , the Google - based navigation can be sent to the 11 - in digital caliber clump and will optimize route planning for reload . It can even induct battery preconditioning . Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are here as well .
All trims of the ZDX get the Acura Watch cortege of ADAS features that include things like blind - spot monitoring , automatic emergency braking and the like . The Type S adds a few features , including the Hands Free Cruise scheme — essentially GM ’s excellentSuper Cruisetechnology . During my test drive , I had one disengagement , when the lane marking vanish on some newly laid sidewalk . This is why drivers must always be compensate attention , even with a hand - off system .
Like Super Cruise , the Acura Hands Free Cruise can be set to machinelike lane alteration , will the computer to resolve if it ’s dependable to pass a slower - moving vehicle . The car performs its task well , safely affect one lane to the left hand in moderate traffic — it just surprises the hell out of me .
All Acura ZDX vehicles will be order online , either at home or at the dealership , so you’re able to still get some guidance should you demand it . Further , Acura gives buyer a few turn on perks with their unexampled galvanic SUV . Options let in a tier 2 charger , a $ 500 course credit toward induction and a $ 100 public charge credit rating , or a portable charger , a $ 250 home charger installation course credit and a $ 300 public charge up credit . For those who ca n’t charge at family , Acura also offers $ 750 Charles Frederick Worth of public charging .
While the original intent of the GM / Honda partnership was to eventually establish an inexpensive EV , the 2025 Acura ZDX in spades ai n’t it . Sure , it qualifies for a $ 7,500 tax credit , but my top ZDX Type S tester is $ 74,850 , including destination charges , a baffling anovulant to swallow up when the playfulness ingredient just is n’t there .
Perhaps the EV road deserving traveling is behind the rack of the less expensive A - Spec .
