Acura’s New Small SUV Looks Awfully Familiar: 2025 ADX First Drive

The 2025 Acura ADX, Acura's new small SUV, leverages Honda HR-V architecture to compete in the highly competitive small luxury SUV segment, offering a stylish package with advanced technology and good value for its class despite modest fuel economy and power figures.

• The Acura ADX is a new small SUV targeting the popular small luxury segment.

• It combines Acura's design and tech with Honda HR-V architecture, offering value for money.

• Performance and fuel economy are average for its class, with rivals providing more efficiency.

The 2025 Acura ADX is a crucial addition to Acura's lineup, targeting the booming small SUV segment in the US market. Built on the same platform as the Honda HR-V, it combines Acura's design language and technology with Honda's driving dynamics. While offering a competitive price and a range of features, its performance and fuel economy are only average for its class, prompting consideration of alternatives for efficiency.

Vehicle Design & Features

• 00:00:29 The Acura ADX is the brand's smallest SUV, sharing its global architecture and exact length with the Integra sedan, though its wheelbase matches the Honda HR-V. Designed to rival vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz GLA class, Audi Q3, and Lexus UX, it features classic Acura design elements such as Jewel Eye headlights and a large pentagonal grille. The rear design, including chunky D-pillars and taillight proportions, shows a strong resemblance to the HR-V. A notable convenience feature is the walk-away power liftgate, which automatically closes when the driver leaves with their hands full.

Interior Technology

• 00:01:56 The ADX interior features a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch main touchscreen display, with the latter's aspect ratio giving it more screen real estate. This main screen is oriented perpendicularly to the dashboard, potentially skewing it away from shorter drivers. Google built-in software powers the infotainment, providing Google Maps for navigation, the Google Play Store for apps, and Google Assistant for voice control. Additionally, it supports standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via wired or wireless connections, appealing to iPhone users who prefer not to share data with Google.

Performance & Drivetrain

• 00:03:00 Under the hood, the ADX is equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, which are slightly lower than the Integra but with torque coming on sooner. It offers front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive, exclusively paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that allows for virtual ratio shifting with paddle shifters. Drive modes include Normal, Comfort, Snow, and Sport, with Sport mode enhancing throttle response and transmission logic for better acceleration. Fuel economy averages around 24-25 miles per gallon in mixed highway driving, which is considered acceptable but not outstanding for its class, with alternatives like the Lexus UX or NX offering better efficiency.

Market Positioning & Value

• 00:04:21 The Acura ADX starts at $35,000 for the base front-wheel-drive model, with an A-Spec with Advanced Package topping out at $42,000, plus an additional $2,000 for all-wheel drive. This pricing positions it as a competitive value in the entry-level luxury small SUV segment, which is crucial as small SUVs account for approximately 30% of new car sales in the US, outselling even pickup trucks. Despite some compromises in fuel economy and performance compared to segment leaders, the ADX is praised for blending stylish Acura design, Honda's driving dynamics, and advanced technology into a cohesive package, offering good value for its price point.