Acura has never been shy about making a style statement that is out of the ordinary. For the crossover segment, the new ZDX is about as "un-crossover" as any vehicle in the class dares to be.
When Acura is asked about the ZDX exterior design, employees are quick to point out the ZDX is the first vehicle designed from start to finish in the new Torrance, Calif., design studio. That's a sign of good things to come. Acura also touts its first female designer, Michelle Christensen, as the creator of the ZDX look - female designer, another great twist.
Japanese design studios that relocate to California have a history of turning out unquestionably unique vehicles. In the '90s, Nissan, with Jerry Hirshberg at the helm, opened shop in California as Nissan Design International and created some of the era's most distinctive design statements. The "different" creative process marked Nissan as a design leader, not a follower.
There is no denying the distinctive ZDX angles; the bold C-pillars and sloping roofline of this Acura create a sporty, yet sophisticated crossover. While the ZDX is essentially an MDX, there is no comparing the two vehicles. The ZDX is sporty and sleek while the MDX provides utility and hauling capacity.
Acura offers the ZDX in three trim levels: base model ($45,495), ZDX with the technology package ($49,995) and the ZDX with the advance package ($56,045).
From the onset, the ZDX's sloping roofline sets the tone for an entourage of wonderfully creative design cues such as the hidden rear-door handles, the sharp fender flares and standard 19-inch rims. Because of the hidden rear-door handles, flush with the surface and located near the center of the C-pillar, ZDX could easily be mistaken for a coupe than a crossover. Therein lays the absolute appeal of this vehicle.
On the inside, ZDX pays a price for those stylish exterior lines as rear leg and headroom is diminished by the sloping roofline. Cargo volume is also quite tight behind the second row. For my family, including my 11-year-old, this vehicle was the perfect size. He was quite comfortable in the rear seat and his baseball equipment easily fit behind the second row. If we had stopped at the store for groceries and added another passenger, things would have gotten tight.
But the ZDX just looks so good, you may not even care. I didn't.
All of Acura's vehicles are renowned for refinement and technology - and this ZDX is no exception. The cabin is a wonderful blend of exceptional materials and craftsmanship with enough high-tech gadgetry to satisfy the most ebullient tech-savvy consumer. Every ZDX interior features Acura's hand-stitched leather dashboard, door panels and sculpted center console.
The rich leather pulls the entire interior together to create a luxurious tone. The ambient lighting and standard power-panoramic multipanel glass roof opens up the cabin to make it feel larger.
The dash is a contemporary style that flashes it techno-prone roots without being distracting and almost always remains functional, despite lots of buttons and knobs that can be a bit intimidating at first. After some use, you learn to love the functions offered by all that technology.
Sightlines are a bit obstructed by the bold C-pillars, but it's easy to adapt to. Seating is supportive, comfortable and climate controlled.
Standard features on the ZDX include dual-zone climate control, heated power front seats and a power lift gate. The ZDX with technology package adds keyless operation, a 435-watt premium sound system, perforated Milano premium leather seats, a navigation system with real-time traffic and weather, and a backup camera.
The ZDX with advance package adds everything in the technology package plus an integrated dynamics system, heated and cooled front seats, blind spot information system, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking system and premium brushed tricot headliner material.
My tester was a ZDX with the advance package and I appreciated the blind spot information system and backup camera. The GPS navigation system, while oddly lacking a touch screen, delivered intuitive operation and exceptional information updates, including weather alerts.
This ZDX had adaptive cruise and the collision mitigation system, which uses the radar sensors in the front to detect an impending frontal collision to apply the brakes if necessary to avoid a frontal impact. The blind spot monitoring system should have been standard on the ZDX with that C-pillar.
All ZDX trim levels begin with a 3.7-liter V-6 engine (300 horsepower) mated to an all-new six-speed automatic transmission. I found the V-6 to be more than adequate, providing prompt acceleration and spirited power on demand. The transmission is smooth and can be operated manually with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Another standard feature across the line is Acura's exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. The SH-AWD system provides excellent handling attributes as well as superb all-season capability.
Acura's integrated dynamics system, in which suspension dampeners are automatically adjusted via a magneto-rheological fluid whose viscosity is changed by applying varying amounts of electrical current, allows the driver to select comfort or sport modes for driving situations. I tried both and each has distinctive characteristics one will appreciate for long trips or shooting around town.
Overall, the all-new ZDX is a luxurious head-turner that imparts distinction to its exterior styling while keeping quality and refinement a top priority in the cabin. You will not be one of the crowd driving this crossover.
2010 Acura ZDX with Advance PackageENGINE: 300-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6
TRANSMISSION: six-speed automatic
DRIVETRAIN: Super Handling All-Wheel Drive
FUEL ECONOMY: 16 city/23 highway
BASE PRICE: $45,495
AS TESTED: $56,045
WEB SITE: www.Acura.com