It felt like the mid-90s again because Honda was left without an entry in a popular new automotive segment. Back then, it was Honda’s lack of an SUV. More recently, it’s been their lack of an EV. Employing a similar strategy when they partnered with Isuzu on the Passport to fast-track an entry into the SUV segment, this time they’re working with General Motors to debut their first EVs the Honda Prologue and the Acura ZDX.
The first out of the gate is the recently revealed 2024 Acura ZDX which uses GM’s GMBEV3 platform and Ultium battery technology. I drove its Cadillac Lyriq platform mate last year and was very impressed. While the ZDX lacks the presence and wow factor of the Cadillac, it’s an attractive design that’s also arguably more conventionally appealing than the Lyriq.
Acura styling has been met with criticism over the years, but the new ZDX is a good sweet spot: unique enough, but not polarizing. The blue with black roof and silver trim example was a nice combination. I am curious how the ZDX will look in other colors. Other than the occasional black cladding at the bottom of some wagons and crossovers, it was interesting to see a two-tone trim on the lower portion of the ZDX.
Despite incorporating a lot of different design elements in the exterior, it seems to work. The yellow-pained brake calipers also add character. The low, wide stance is further emphasized by a pronounced horizontal shoulder line that stretches the length of the ZDX which is accentuated by the contrasting color change with blue on the shoulder and black on the pillars, roof, and mirrors (but not the mirror base).
Color was a big takeaway for me at Monterey Car Week – whether on a 2024 concept car or on a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet competing at Pebble Beach. The power of color, especially in person, can both elevate and complete a design. It’s interesting how Acura managed to use 3 different colors on one vehicle here.
Functionally speaking, it’s a nicely sized vehicle and there aren’t a lot of EVs on the market yet that are this spacious. Slightly longer than the Lyriq, but with the same wheelbase and without the fastback roof, it will appeal more to families. Sized between the Acura RDX and MDX, the ZDX is a right-sizer SUV for those who don’t require a third row. The ZDX should fit nicely in Acura’s lineup – it is a great next step from not only either of its current SUV entries, the MDX and RDX, but also for existing Honda owners as well.
Similar to Toyota reviving the Venza nameplate, it’s interesting that Acura decided to use the ZDX name again. Both the original Venza and ZDX existed in the same era, were ahead of their time, and were also flops that initially appeared to be in the graveyard of other single-generation automotive failures. The original ZDX was Acura’s cheaper answer to the BMW X6. A modern interpretation of it probably would have fared better in today’s market given that the coupe-SUV segment has continued to grow, and that automakers have worked out some kinks by making the latest designs more appealing than the initial ones.
A decade ago, Acura was getting a lot of flak for its new trademark grille, or as others called it “the beak.” The brand was in a bit of a “can’t win” situation, with cars that were either polarizing like the ZDX or bland like the RL. Recently things have been looking brighter for Acura, and while less aspirational than other upscale brands, it also has a younger vibe than its competitors.
With the reborn Integra, the competitive MDX, and now the ZDX, Acura seems to finally be on the path to getting its mojo back.
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