Acura promised that it had plans to expand its presence in the compact CUV segment with the luxury brand confirming that smaller is the best approach when it came to the new ADX. The main issue was that Acura kept the bulk of the details about the ADX a tightly guarded secret with only a small pool of teaser images being our only glimpses at it.
That’s now changed with the brand formally unveiling the ADX compact crossover which will expand Acura’s SUV lineup while also allowing it to compete in a smaller segment at the same time.
ADX embraces compact life
At first glance, you would be forgiven if you thought Acura was grasping at straws when they said the ADX would be smaller. The new SUV takes alot of its styling inspiration from the bigger RDX and as a result, the sharp-looking ADX doesn’t look that much smaller to the untrained eye. Look closer and you’ll discover that the ADX is built on the Honda HR-V’s platform and is indeed smaller with the new model measures in at 187.4 inches long and 65.4 inches tall. The ADX also has cargo hauling numbers that are very close to the RDX with the SUV having 22.4 cubic feet of space with the second row up. Fold it down and it expands to 55.1 cubic feet with the RDX besting it slightly with that model holding 29.5 cubic feet of stuff with the second row folded and 58.9 cubic feet when the second row is folded down.
The rest of the exterior is sharp looking and gets alot of the RDX’s core traits including the diamond-shaped frameless front grille, and chicane LED running lights. The base ADX gets standard 18-inch wheels but A-Spec and A-Spec Advanced models get bigger 19-inch wheels.
ADX puts luxury in a smaller package
Slip inside the ADX and you’ll notice that there’s plenty of RDX influence in the cabin with A-Spec models getting upgraded leather seats with splashes of Ultrasuede material, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and a power moonroof. All ADX’s get a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is paired with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. AcuraWatch is also standard and it bundles in goodies like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and traffic sign recognition.
Performance for the ADX comes from a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and while Acura didn’t reveal the final horsepower number, the brand did confirm that it’s paired with a “sport-tuned” version of the brand’s familiar CVT. Front-wheel drive is standard but buyers can equip it with an optional all-wheel drive system. Several drive modes are on hand too with the ADX getting: Snow, Comfort, Normal, and Sport with the highest trim getting an Individual model.
How much is it?
Acura didn’t announce full pricing information for the ADX either but confirmed the new model will start in the mid $30,000 range. This would undercut the $46,050 RDX by $10,000 and allow the ADX to compete against a growing pool of rivals as other automakers attempt to bridge the affordability gap by offering smaller utility vehicles for customers to enjoy.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.