{"id":34684,"date":"2025-06-30T20:35:56","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T00:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=34684"},"modified":"2025-06-30T20:35:56","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T00:35:56","slug":"payne-road-trippin-in-the-eager-entry-level-acura-adx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/payne-road-trippin-in-the-eager-entry-level-acura-adx","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Road trippin’ in the eager, entry-level Acura ADX"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charleston, West Virginia<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Acura has finally completed its SUV menu with the entry-level ADX appetizer. It\u2019s a tasty little morsel.<\/p>\n

On a road trip to see family in West Virginia, I switched drive modes\u00a0from NORMAL to SPORT and headed up Charleston\u2019s famed Loudon Heights Road, a twisted two-lane carved into the rocky hill that overlooks the capital river city. The firm, rooted steering rack gave me immediate confidence as I dove into blind bends, narrow sweepers, tight hairpins.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been driving this road since I was 16 years old in Volkswagen Golf GTIs, Porsches and BMW M3s, and the Acura SUV showed impressive poise for a high-riding SUV. Credit Honda engineering, which has taken the solid Honda HR-V chassis and dialed it up to Acura standards.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The 2025 Acura ADX is fun to drive in the twisties with AWD and rooted steering. <\/em>Acura<\/em><\/div>\n

Acura has thrown out the HR-V\u2019s 158-horsepower gerbil wheel for the turbocharged, 1.5-liter 4-banger shared with Acura\u2019s entry-level Integra sedan (and the Honda Civic Si hot hatch). Charging into a left-hander at the top of Louden Heights, the all-wheel driver gripped nicely before I flattened the throttle on exit and let loose the turbo-4 and its 190 ponies with a satisfying howl.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a dramatic change from the HR-V with its droning 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, which struggles off corners with just 138 pound-feet of torque.<\/p>\n

At rest in a parking lot, my $45,950 A-Spec Advanced tester looked sharp. Signature \u201cchicane\u201d LED running lights, black trim, Urban\u00a0Gray wardrobe, scalloped shoulders, sharp-edged Diamond Pentagon grille. The wardrobe matches Acura\u2019s performance mission and is as different from the soft, cute lines of the HR-V as a Doberman is from a beagle.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
The 2025 Acura ADX is the brand’s entry-level vehicle. FWD standard and AWD optional in addition to a blacked-out A-Spec package (shown).<\/em><\/div>\n

Acura<\/em><\/figure>\n

Together with Integra \u2014 a gateway drug to hotties like the Integra Type-S hatchback and TLX Type S sedan (not to mention the Acura team that races in the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar series), ADX is a proper introduction to the brand’s performance-oriented SUVs: RDX A-Spec and MDX Type S.<\/p>\n

Performance, meet utility. ADX is no sports sedan, but neither is it your average family hauler, offering surprisingly fun-to-drive dynamics in a ute. For 10 grand extra, it\u2019s a significant step up from HR-V \u2014 a signal you\u2019ve entered a premium store in the car mall. Good thing, because there\u2019s little to choose between premium and mainstream in digital features these days. Like Honda, ADX offers a generous suite of standard features such as wireless Apple CarPlay\/Android Auto, blind-spot assist, adaptive cruise control and a rear hot tub (kidding about that last one).<\/p>\n

ADX\u2019s sport \u2018n\u2019 style upgrades offer more separation from HR-V compared to, say, an Integra and Honda Civic Si \u2014 the latter a hot hatch as compelling as its luxury relative.<\/p>\n

Mission accomplished, ADX. Welcome to Acura.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Acura ADX options AWD that can throw 50% of torque to the rear for better traction when leaning into the turbo-4’s 190 horsepower.<\/em><\/div>\n

Acura<\/em><\/div>\n

Ultimately, however, Acura must also\u00a0justify itself relative to competitors. And subcompact luxe is a boiling shark tank. Ask $40K-plus for an SUV and you are playing in the same league as two of my favorite performers: the BMW X1 and Mazda CX-5.<\/p>\n

Like ADX, these sport utes welcome you with distinctive styling, confident handling and a basket-full of standard features. And they expose ADX\u2019s weaknesses.<\/p>\n