2025 Acura ADX Road Test and Review

2025 Acura ADX ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

With the all-new ADX, Acura now has a credible entry among the fast-growing group of subcompact crossover SUVs available in the U.S. Acura calls the Guanajuato, Mexico-assembled ADX a gateway premium SUV, bolstering a lineup that includes the larger U.S.-built RDX, MDX, and all-electric ZDX. It provides buyers a place to move up from mainstream brands to the luxury space without breaking the bank.

There are three available trims: base ADX, mid-level A-Spec, and range-topping A-Spec Advance. All offer a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Base prices of the trims range from $36,350 to $43,350, including the $1,350 destination charge. AWD is a $2,000 upcharge. As is usual with Acuras, there are just a few options such as the $600 Urban Gray Pearl premium paint job on the A-Spec Advance test vehicle pictured in this review.

Competitors include the Alfa Romeo Tonale, Audi Q3, BMW X1 and X2, Lexus UX, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Mini Countryman, and Volvo XC40.

ADX in a Nutshell

The ADX is a sharp-looking small SUV, inside and out. Based on the bones of the Honda HR-V, the ADX substitutes a handsome RDX/MDX-like Acura family front end with Diamond Pentagon grille and wide-set checkmark-shaped LED headlamps in place of the HR-V s Ghostbusters Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man-look grille. Critically, the ADX ditches the HR-V's pokey powerplant for a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder similar to the one used in the Acura Integra. It also gets sportier suspension tuning, plus-one tire and wheel size upgrades, and a considerably more upscale cabin design.

2025 Acura ADX ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Lux Interior

Certainly mood elevating is how I would describe the interior of this ADX A-Spec with Advance test vehicle. Unexpected in an entry-level offering even from a premium brand, the dash, doors, and console of this Acura sport a gorgeous multicolor orchid (off-white) and charcoal palette with blue accent panels, a generous use of soft-touch and padded surfaces, complementary piano black and metallic-look accent panels, and ambient interior accent lighting with selectable hues. A panoramic moonroof, metallic-trimmed sport pedals, and a heated, leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel add to the test vehicle's lux feel.

Yet, the controls and dash layout convey the same user-friendly design we've come to love in other Hondas and Acuras. From the bright and colorful standard 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster to the no-nonsense, easy-to-access and operate physical controls for the standard dual-zone automatic temperature control, the new Acura ADX brings a welcome air of familiarity. In addition to a standard wireless phone charger, the ADX's center console offers cup holders as well as convenient stash pockets for small items. On the console, there are hard buttons giving easy access to features such as driver-selectable driving modes, brake hold, and the electric parking brake.

One item the product planners forgot about, however, is an assist handle on the inside windshield pillar or headliner over the front passenger door to facilitate ingress and egress for mobility-challenged folks.

2025 Acura ADX ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

User-Friendly Infotainment

It's neither the largest nor the smallest center screen in the small crossover SUV luxury space, but the 9-inch high-definition landscape-format touchscreen from the HR-V with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto capability works quite well in the ADX. The system is Wi-Fi hotspot capable as well.

Advance trim upgrades from the standard eight-speaker AM/FM stereo to an immersive 16-channel, 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio with driver-selectable music genres and HD Radio. With this trim, Acura throws in Google built-in with three years of complimentary data and access to full-size Google Maps, the ever-handy Google Assistant for voice requests for tasks such as finding a point of interest, changing cabin temperature and audio tracks, and making calls, plus Google Play for easy app shopping.

Both audio systems feature some physical controls, including a rotary volume knob, up/down turning buttons, and hard home and back buttons that make it easier to make adjustments on the fly. On the dash underneath the infotainment screen is a handy shelf that's great for steadying one's hand when using the infotainment screen icons to make inputs.

Native navigation is only included with the Advance trim, otherwise drivers of ADX models with base or A-Spec trim need to use the maps included with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

2025 Acura ADX ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Body Stabilizing Seats

As hokey as Body Stabilizing Seats sounds, it's an apt description of the ADX's front perches, which deliver a thoughtful blend of pelvic and torso support with comfort for road trips long and short. Super stylish in Advance trim with perforated off-white leather and blue micro suede inserts, the top ADX model's front seats up the lux quotient with heated and ventilated cushions, power adjustment and driver memory and lumbar settings.

2025 Acura ADX ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Back Seat Considerations

Standard in the ADX is a simple but versatile 60/40 split folding rear bench with a flip-down center armrest and cupholders. Rear-seat legroom is pretty generous for the subcompact crossover SUV class with one caveat. The low-mounted rear seat bottom cushions are pretty thin, so the two rear passengers (three in a pinch) must sit staring at their knees, which will get old on longer trips. A nice premium touch in A-Spec and Advance models is a standard panoramic moonroof that tilts open for fresh air and has a sliding shade to keep the hot summer sun from beating down, but it steals some rear-seat headroom. Aiding rear seat comfort are climate-control vents at the rear of the front console. A-Spec and Advance models also feature rear USB-C charge ports.

2025 Acura ADX ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Cargo Calculus

The ADX provides the same amount of cargo space as the Honda HR-V it is based on: 24.4 cubic feet with the 60/40 split folding rear bench seatbacks up and 55.1 with them lowered, which is about average for the small crossover SUV class. That's room enough for a pair of mountain bikes. Under the cargo floor and above the spare tire of AWD models is a small amount of hidden space for valuables such as a camera, purse, or tablet. Front-drive models have a tire repair kit instead of a spare, so there's even more stash space underfloor in them. There are also wells for securely carrying gallon beverage jugs in the rear corners of the cargo area. Access to the cargo bay is via a standard power lift gate with walk-away closing. A-Spec trim brings a rear cargo cover, and Advance adds hands-free cargo access with a foot wave under the rear bumper.

2025 Acura ADX ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Safety and Driver Assistance

Acura doesn't hold back when it comes to ADX safety and advanced driver-assistance features. In addition to 10 airbags, the ADX comes with an extensive set of Acurawatch driver-assist technology, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and auto emergency braking, lane-departure warning with road-departure mitigation, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic warning, traffic-sign recognition, and Traffic Jam Assist which adds lane centering to adaptive cruise control for dealing with stop-and-go traffic under 45 mph. For the A-Spec with Advance trim, the standard backup camera is upgraded to a surround-view one, and front and rear ultrasonic parking sensors are added with low-speed braking control. Notably, unlike some of its European-brand competitors, the ADX includes most of this as standard fare in all trims.

Not part of Acurawatch but also included in every ADX is a driver attention monitor that can detect a non-responsive driver, and a rear seat monitor that sends a reminder to check for people or pets left behind when exiting the vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not yet released crash test ratings for the 2025 ADX, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has. In IIHS testing, the new ADX received Good ratings for side impact and small overlap frontal impact performance, and an Acceptable rating for moderate overlap frontal impacts.

2025 Acura ADX ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Under the Hood

As sharp-looking, luxurious, and well-equipped as the new ADX is, it is no sports vehicle. Under the ADX's hood is a 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder that works quite well in the Honda Civic Si and Acura Integra. It's paired with a continuously variable transmission with six simulated gears and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual control. But the version of the 1.5 turbo in the ADX is detuned to 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, down 5-6 percent from the numbers in the Civic Si and Integra. And being an SUV, the ADX is a few hundred pounds heavier as well. So while the ADX offers more than adequate performance for the daily commute, the 8.5 seconds I measured for it to achieve 60 mph from rest makes driving it less involving. Competitors such as the Alfa Romeo Tonale, Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mini Countryman, Volvo XC40 and even the Lexus UX are noticeably more spritely reaching 60 mph and more able to exploit windows in traffic flow.

Switching to the Sport drive mode doesn't quicken acceleration but enhances throttle response and remains in lower gears longer to stay in the fatter part of the performance curve. Standard active noise cancellation helps keep the engine from droning on at mid-throttle but despite the brassy-looking dual exhaust, the ADX would definitely benefit from some sort of engine sound enhancement that is in sync with Acura's sporty brand mission.

In a week of driving over a mix of suburban streets, two-lane highways, and limited-access interstates in 100-plus degree heat, I observed an average 24.9 mpg on the all-wheel-drive on our test vehicle's trip computer. That was down a bit from the official EPA estimates of 25 mpg city/30 mpg highway/27 mpg combined for the AWD version. As is common with the products of other luxury brands, Acura recommends more expensive 91-octane premium unleaded for this engine application.

2025 Acura ADX ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Smooth and in the Groove

While the ADX does get wider all-season tires and stiffer anti-roll bars than the Honda HR-V it's based on, the smallest Acura is tuned for everyday ride comfort. For those buyers accustomed to the engaging handling of competitors such as the BMW X1, Alfa Romeo Tonale, or Mini Countryman, the ADX's handling doesn't feel quite as nimble or engaging. The ADX's steering is precise and linear, but not as responsive as that in other Acuras, whether it's the Integra hatchback or the RDX or MDX SUVs. But the ADX does just fine for the everyday commute as long as the driver isn't in a big hurry. In Sport mode, I found the ADX's steering effort to be a little too firm, but using the Advance trim's Individual drive mode, I was able to customize it to my liking.

The ADX's optional Intelligent AWD is not the same side-to-side apportioning and understeering-minimizing SH-AWD system as found in more premium Acuras. It's a simpler system that operates in front-drive mode unless it senses a loss of traction, whereupon it can send up to 50 percent of drive torque to the rear wheels. This is great for dealing with rain and snow but not something that necessarily enhances dry handling precision.

2025 Acura ADX ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Commute in Style

With the ADX, Acura finally has a value-priced entry for a buyer dipping a toe into the premium small crossover space. The ADX is less expensive and less engaging to drive than its European competitors, but it's a solid offering with the stylish exterior, upscale cabin, and generous comfort and convenience features for buyers looking to step up to a premium brand. Also worth noting, Acura's 6-year, 70,000-mile powertrain warranty is one of the better ones in the industry.

2025 Acura ADX ・ Photo by Ron Sessions