The newest Acura crossover SUV is the ADX. It’s the smallest in their SUV lineup and it is based on the Honda HR-V. So does that make it a spruced up HR-V or does the new Acura ADX feel like a proper Acura model?
Performance
Engine – One thing that I am very glad is gone is the underpowered 2.0L engine of the HR-V. The 2025 Acura ADX is powered by a 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine which produces 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque (142 kW & 243 Nm). Thanks to the turbocharging, this crossover SUV pickup speed at a much faster rate than the HR-V. Sure, you won’t be setting records at the drag strip since this crossover tips the scales at 1,629 kg (3,591 lbs), but it doesn’t struggle to get going off the line nor speeding up to merge onto a highway like its Honda twin.
Having said that, the power isn’t enough to make this new ADX feel like a proper Acura. It still is on the slow side and it’s missing the pep that the Acura Integra has, which uses the same engine. But this, I think, comes down to the transmission that is paired with the 1.5L turbo engine.
Transmission – Unlike the Integra that I previously reviewed, the Acura ADX is only available with an automatic transmission. And it’s the worst one of all. It’s a CVT. This transmission is great for providing highway fuel economy but it is lackluster when it comes to an entertaining driving demeanor. To me, this is the main reason why the ADX doesn’t provide the same Acura sporty driving feeling that the bigger RDX and MDX deliver. Sure, there are 7 virtual gears to choose from when using the paddle shifters and switching the car to Sport mode, but it doesn’t feel the same as a traditional automatic with real gears.
Fuel Economy – With its CVT and 1.5L turbo engine, the 2025 Acura ADX is rated for 9.1 L/100km (25.8 MPG) in a city and 7.7 L/100km (30.5 MPG) on a highway. During my week with the ADX, I averaged 8.7 L/100km (27 MPG).
Braking – The brakes on the 2025 Acura ADX feel normal, as in, they can easily be modulated for smooth stops and the brake pedal gives good feedback. They don’t have a strong initial bite so it does take a bit more pressure from your right foot to bring the car to a complete stop.
Handling – Unlike the RDX and MDX, the Acura ADX does not receive the SH-AWD system of the bigger SUVs. In Canada, it comes standard with AWD but this system can only distribute the engine’s power to both back wheels equally. The power cannot be distributed to either rear wheel like the SH-AWD system which in turn provides a sporty driving characteristic.
However, the ADX is an easy crossover SUV to drive. It doesn’t take much effort to maneuver the car in a parking lot and it feels stable on highways. This is a great crossover SUV for daily commuting, but not enthusiastic driving.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Because the 2025 Acura ADX is the least expensive crossover SUV, it does not receive the adaptive dampers of its bigger siblings. But even so, the ride is compliant over most uneven and poorly maintained roads. The ADX doesn’t bounce too much when the wheels encounter a pothole nor does the suspension make the ride feel jiggly.
Interior Space – Being based on the 2nd generation HR-V, the ADX has a spacious interior for the type of vehicle that it is. As per usual, the front occupants have plenty of legroom and headroom. Visibility out of the car is good as well with small blind zones and the hood has pronounced hunches at the very edge so that you know where the wheels are.
In the back, I had just enough legroom behind my 6’4” driving position. My knees gently rubbed against the back of the front seat but they did not feel squished at all. Headroom is also adequate with my hair just gently brushing against the headliner.
In the trunk, the 2025 Acura ADX has 656 L (23.1 cu-ft) of cargo space behind the rear seats. With the seats folded, cargo capacity increases to 1,526 L (53.9 cu-ft). A couple things to note, the front seats may need to be moved forward in order for the rear seat backrests to fold down completely and in Canada, the ADX does not come with a temporary spare wheel. In the United States, AWD models do.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The cabin of the Acura ADX is a little bit quieter than that of the Honda HR-V. This is due in part to standard active noise cancellation and the fact that the engine doesn’t need to be revved as much as the one in the Honda to get going. But when this turbo engine does get closer to the redline, it’s unfortunately not a pleasant sound. As for road and wind noise, both are well subdued with mostly tire noise being audible on highways. But the road noise is not obtrusive.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2025 Acura ADX starts from $44,980 CAD ($35,000 USD, FWD) with the Platinum Elite A-Spec costing $51,480 CAD ($44,000 USD, AWD).
Gadgets – The 2025 Acura ADX comes pretty well equipped with quite a lot of standard convenience features. In Canada, it has heated front seats with leatherette upholstery, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, a power sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate controls, an 8-speaker audio system, a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 10.2-inch digital driver display, a wireless phone charging pad, and a power programmable liftgate.
This top spec Platinum Elite A-Spec trim gains ventilated front seats (though these are available on the mid-grade A-Spec as well), a Bang & Olufsen audio system with 15 speakers, a 12-way power driver’s seat with a 4-way power passenger seat, and Google built-in with Amazon Alexa features for the infotainment system.
Thankfully, the infotainment is the same one that is used in the Integra which means that it does not have a trackpad to control it. It’s all done through the touchscreen. Wireless CarPlay & wireless Android Auto are standard but, as mentioned before, Google built-in and Amazon Alexa features are only available on the top spec ADX trim.
Interior Design – The ADX has an interior design that is similar to that of the Honda HR-V but with a bit more emphasis towards luxury. Firstly, commonly used features, such as the climate controls, are all physical buttons or knobs. There’s a bit more leather used throughout the cabin including the center console and mid portions of the door panels. Areas such as the top of the dashboard are soft plastics with only the lower portions of the cabin being made up of hard plastics. Sadly, Acura has decided to use gloss black on the center console. This material highlights scratches, dust, fingerprints and so on. But beyond that, the cabin looks and feels like an Acura product.
Exterior Design – For the most part, the ADX looks like an Acura model from the outside. It has the “chicane” LED daytime running lights and taillights, a diamond grille with the large Acura emblem in the center, and real exhaust pipes that are not hidden behind the bumper cover. But, it’s the tailgate that is reminiscent of the HR-V. At a glance, you’d think that you’re looking at a Honda not an Acura.
Safety – The standard 2025 ADX comes equipped with nearly every safety & driver aid that is available on the ADX. Lane keep assist, emergency braking, blind zone sensors, adaptive cruise controls, and so on are all standard. Moving to the top spec trim will add surround view cameras, front & rear low speed automatic emergency braking, and front & rear parking sensors.
Warranty – The 2025 Acura ADX has a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle warranty and a 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. This powertrain warranty is 6 years & 70,000 miles in the United States. For more information on Acura Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – Overall, the 2025 Acura ADX is an inexpensive way to get your foot into the luxury car market. It’s a great crossover for daily commutes and it’s almost as spacious as the RDX. Unfortunately, it doesn’t provide the same Acura driving characteristics as its bigger brothers and in my opinion, it all comes down to the transmission. It saps the fun out of the powertrain. If it had a traditional 6-speed or the 10-speed that the RDX has, then I think the ADX would be more enjoyable to drive.
Thank you to Acura Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Acura.ca
2025 Acura ADX Gallery
