2025 Acura ADX

How does the Acura ADX drive? We can't sugarcoat it: The ADX is slow. At the Edmunds test track, our test ADX needed 9.4 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill. That lags far behind the BMW X1 and even less expensive SUVs like the Ford Bronco Sport. And it's not just outright acceleration where the ADX lags behind. The ADX just doesn't stop, steer or drive with the same quality of other Acura products.

Thankfully, visibility and drivability are both good. The ADX's automatic transmission makes it feel a little more sprightly, and it can be driven smoothly with little effort.

The ADX has a load of advanced driver aids, but we found them in need of better operation. The blind-spot monitoring was inconsistent with its notifications, for instance, and lane keeping assistance rarely urged us to get back in the lane (even when we dithered out of it intentionally to try to goad the system into operation). If you hate driver aids beeping and chiming at you, this might be OK, but we'd simply prefer a well-tuned system.

How comfortable is the Acura ADX? The ADX does a decent enough job of absorbing impacts on rutted roads, but it's far from a class leader when it comes to ride comfort. Most of the comfort on the interior comes down to the front seats. The seats in our ADX A-Spec Advance test vehicle were supportive, covered in a nice leather, and were adjustable in a dozen ways.

It's also worth mentioning that the ADX's control layout is an example of how to do a cabin right. There are physical controls for the climate functions, drive modes and driver assistance systems, and the buttons on the steering wheel are easy to read and have a nice click to them. We really appreciate how usable this cabin is.

However, the ADX is really let down by how loud it is inside, at pretty much any speed. Road noise, wind noise, engine noise — it's pervasive and never leaves you alone. We'd like for a more isolated experience with ride comfort that does a better job of both controlling the body and absorbing everyday lumps and bumps.

How’s the tech? Tech-wise, the ADX doesn't do anything that's particularly special. The small screen looks tacked-on, and though the resolution is nice, other cars in this class have moved away from just sticking a screen on a dashboard and calling it done. It doesn't feel like Acura put that much effort into differentiating it from the inexpensive Honda HR-V on which it's based.

The more expensive ADX trim levels come with Google Built-In, which is a feature that adds a variety of Google-based features, such as the Google voice assistant. It's smart and can answer questions and do various commands for you (like changing the temperature or volume). Google Maps is also built in, but most will likely default to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, both of which are standard and support wireless connectivity. We also don't think the upgraded Bang & Olufsen system is worth the money.

Is the Acura ADX a good value? At its base price, the ADX has plenty of standard features such as adaptive cruise and a decent audio system that will leave most satisfied. It's also practical — not surprising since it's based on a Honda HR-V, a spacious car for its class.

However, the value proposition vanishes when you start looking at the top trims. Our test car was an A-Spec Advance AWD. It gets you nicer wheels, a better audio system, and different interior colors but not a lot else. When you equip a Mercedes GLA or BMW X1 to the same equipment levels, they're more expensive but only by a couple of thousand dollars. Those SUVs are more modern-feeling and pleasant to drive, not to mention quicker and more luxurious.

The ADX is, frankly, just another SUV in the sea of two-row crossovers that fill our roads. It's nice enough in isolation, but the competition from BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and even non-luxe brands like Hyundai, Kia and Mazda are more interesting to look at, offer better tech, or are better to drive. The ADX will probably become a big seller for Acura because of how SUV-hungry American buyers are, but it's uninspiring, and there are far better options in this class.