There’s a new point of entry for the Acura lineup. The least-expensive crossover on the Acura lot for the 2025 model year will be a compact SUV.
Slotting in under the RDX, and 2025 Acura ADX shares its underpinnings with the well-reviewed Honda HR-V subcompact.
Acura hasn’t revealed pricing, but says the ADX will start “in the mid-$30,000s.” It is set to arrive on dealer lots in “early 2025,” Acura says.
It grafts the sharp-beaked look of the RDX onto the HR-V’s easy-parking proportions, and takes no real design risks in the process. At 185.8 inches in length, however, the ADX is half a foot longer than the Honda HR-V.
Acura calls the ADX a “youthful” design. The frameless grille is very contemporary. Headlights and daytime running lights are contained in a single unit, with the latter a “chicane” shaped slash.
Acura says the ADX will come in “three well-equipped trims, including A-Spec and A-Spec with Advance Package, which are for buyers who desire an even sportier appearance with LED fog lamps, gloss black lower exterior trim, Gun Metallic skid garnishes front and rear, larger 19-inch wheels and A-Spec badges.”
It will have a size advantage over much of the entry-level subcompact class. While its wheelbase is as short as that of the HR-V, it’s nearly as long as the RDX.
The interior borrows heavily from the successful Acura Integra sport sedan. It keeps its drivers’ 10.2-inch instrument screen and 9-inch central touchscreen separate, which increasingly stands out in a field of cars with one giant screen unit. We like that the old-school Acura design means the steering wheel likely never blocks your view of screen elements.
Leaning into the youthful theme, Acura goes with colorful interior design schemes. Among the options are red with ebony and orchid with blue accents.
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, as is wireless device charging. The top-line model has Google built-in with Google’s voice assistant.
The ADX may ride on the HR-V’s chassis, but it borrows the rest of its mechanical parts from the sporty Integra. That should differentiate it considerably from its Honda cousin, which is not known for its sporty character.
Under the hood is a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Acura hasn’t released power figures, but the same powerplant makes 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft. of torque in the Integra. Power goes through a continuously variable transmission to the front wheels, though an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system is available at every trim level.
Every model gets four drive modes – Snow, Comfort, Normal, and Sport. A-Spec with Advance Package models also get an Individual setting so the driver can store their own preferences.
Now that Americans clearly prefer SUVs to sedans, subcompact SUVs are increasingly buyers’ first luxury cars. The ADX will compete with the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and Lexus UX. All those vehicles give shoppers a taste of luxury car life but keep prices down and are best suited to those who don’t use their rear seats often.
Acura answers its luxury competitors with Honda’s famous build quality and durability, handling-focused tuning, and sharp, creased styling. The ADX looks to bring all of that with a lower price than many rivals.
We look forward to bringing you a drive review as soon as Acura lets the press test it.
