Acura Unveils the Brand’s Most Affordable SUV Yet

• Acura reveals ADX compact SUV, due in 2025, which will become brand's third sport utility offering and will be positioned below the RDX and MDX.

• The ADX will be powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder VTEC engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission.

• Acura indicates that the ADX will start in the mid-$30,000 range when it goes on sale in early 2025.

At first glance it may seem like Acura's SUV lineup has had the most important bases covered for some time when it comes to what its customers actually buy. But there have been one or two so-called white spaces that have remained unaddressed by the brand, as its competitors' lineups have ballooned to cover every micro-segment. And the bottom end of the size spectrum is where we've been expecting this new contestant.

Acura plans to address this segment with the debut of the compact ADX, revealing a model designed to welcome younger buyers to the brand without stretching their wallets to the RDX or the MDX.

Billed as a gateway model, the ADX is expected to start in the mid-$30,000 range when it goes on sale in 2025, which is no small accomplishment for a premium brand in this day and age.

Just what does the ADX promise its youthful buyers?

For starters, a familiar Acura family look that combines chiseled edges with a modest footprint, with the ADX measuring 185.8 inches front to back. Powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter VTEC engine, not too dissimilar from the DOHC 1.5T found under the hood of the new Integra.

This direct-injected turbocharged with VTEC variable valve timing will be paired with a CVT with Step Shift programming that will seek to replicate the behavior of a conventional automatic.

In fact, quite a bit of the Integra will be in the ADX as well, as they will share a platform.

But Acura doesn't mention horsepower figures at this time, though we expect them to be close or identical to the 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque served up by the Integra.

Front-wheel drive will be standard, we expect, but AWD will also be on the menu as an option, with the AWD system being able to send up to 50% of engine torque to the back wheels.

"A standard Integrated Dynamics System enables the ADX driver to choose between four distinct driving modes—Snow, Comfort, Normal, and Sport—that adjust the throttle response, transmission mapping, steering feel, in-cabin sound, and gauge coloration," Acura adds.

An Individual mode will also be offered on the top trim that will allow customization of the Integrated Dynamics System settings.

In all, Acura will offer the ADX in three flavors, with the base model featuring a 9-inch infotainment screen along with a 10.2-inch Acura Precision Cockpit instrument cluster, eight-speaker Acura Premium Sound System, and 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels along with other goodies.

The A-Spec trim will dial up the styling and comfort features, while also throwing in ventilated front seats, a panoramic moonroof, LED fog lights, 19-inch wheels, Ultrasuede seat trim, red contrast stitching, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel, in addition to tweaked exterior styling details.

At the top of the range Acura will offer the A-Spec model with the Advance Pack that will add an Integrated Dynamics System with five driving modes, a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, built-in Google with Alexa, a surround-view camera system, and rain-sensing wipers, in addition to a few other smaller items.

When it comes to standard safety features, every trim will feature a driver attention monitoring system in addition to the AcuraWatch ADAS suite, which includes lane-keeping assist, blind spot information, a rear cross traffic monitor, traffic sign recognition, and other systems.

"The all-new Acura ADX is an exciting new gateway model for the Acura brand expanding our performance SUV lineup to four exceptional models in the most popular segments," said Mike Langel, assistant vice president, Acura national sales.

Detailed pricing will be announced closed to the start of sales in the first half of 2025.

Will the ADX be affordable enough and premium enough to attract younger buyers to the brand, or are Honda's offerings largely covering this audience at the moment? Let us know what you think in the comments below.