Honda fans were pleased when the all-new HR-V arrived in showrooms for the 2023 model year, mainly for how much room the subcompact SUV gained over its previous incarnation. Fans of Acura, Honda’s luxury arm, who wanted their own version with the luxury brand’s compact SUV would have to wait a bit longer for the Acura ADX though.
This Spring, the wait for this subcompact premium SUV with the “A” logo on the nose ended when the ADX finally entered showrooms across the country.
To give it a good test drive, Acura sent an ADX in the top-tier A-Spec with Advance all-wheel drive to my soggy unpaved driveway. Priced at $44,000 ($45,950 as-tested), it was painted a cloudy sky-matching Urban Gray Pearl ($600) and featured some nice interior upgrades to justify the price.
I was excited to see what this subcompact premium SUV could do for Mom and me during its time in the heart of Appalachia. And since I enjoyed making a list of things I liked (and two things I didn’t) a while ago, I figured, why not do it again with the Acura ADX?
This story is 100% human-researched and -written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
How Much is the 2025 Acura ADX, a Compact Premium SUV?
Acura’s entry-level premium SUV is quite affordable, second only to its luxury sport compact sibling, the Integra. Even with the options piled-on at the top level, your wallet won’t be harmed by stepping into this expenditure. Here’s what you can expect to pay for your 2025 Acura ADX prior to the $1,350 destination charge:
- ADX: $35,000 (front-wheel drive), $37,000 (all-wheel drive) include LED headlights and taillights, 18″ wheels, heated front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, power moonroof, ambient lighting, steering wheel controls, leatherette eating, power driver’s seat, WiFi hotspot, a 9″ multimedia touchscreen, a 10.2″ digital driver display, capless gas tank and a full suite of driver assist features including blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist and traffic sign recognition
- A-Spec: $38,000 (front-wheel drive), $40,000 (all-wheel drive) adds microsuede interior details, vented front seats, a panoramic sunroof, 19′ wheels, A-Spec appearance package, sport pedals, charge ports in the rear seat, a wireless phone charge pad and premium audio;
- A-Spec with Advance $42,000 (front-wheel drive), $44,000 (all-wheel drive); $45,950 as-tested with destination charge, adds Google Built-in, Bang & Olufsen premium sound, leather upholstery, heated steering wheel and a surround view camera system
As far as the competition goes, the ADX has the best entry price of any premium compact SUV; the only one that comes close is the Alfa Romeo Tonale with a starting price that’s just $1,500 more. All the rest in this space, such as the Infiniti QX55, the Lincoln Corsair, the Volvo XC60, and the Genesis GV70, will require several cash infusions to become a part of your driveway, especially once all the options have been checked-off on the order form.
Read: 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV: Electric for Errands, Gas for Road Trips, Sport Mode When You Need all the Feels
1. Not Too High, Not Too Low
I’m approaching my late 40s this year, while my mom just hit her mid-60s back in May. Thus, we both need a vehicle that’s both A) comfortable for her to sit in, and B) easy for both of us to get in and out of. My 1997 Toyota RAV4, despite all the things I’ve had to fix on it so far (and more that still need to be fixed) works for both of us as far as those matters go.
So, what about the 2025 Acura ADX, then? Getting in and out is no problem at all, though my mom would prefer perfectly flat floors for mounting the front seats (like my RAV4) than the raised mounting points in newer cars (like with the Acura). The bolstering on the seat bottoms work well for me, but Mom prefers flatter cushioning, which would make sliding into and out of the premium SUV easier for her (and, perhaps, for me, too).
Read: The 2025 Lincoln Corsair PHEV May Be Small in Stature, But It’s Grand in Luxury
2. That Interior Coloring, Though
I’m old enough to remember a time when interiors had colors other than black or gray. And I’m not just talking about the seats or door panels. I mean the whole cabin was draped in color! If you had a blue car, for example, every inch of that car’s interior could be had in white or tan or, if you dared, blue. It was a wonderful time, now lost to the same economic choices that also dictate what colors you’ll find on the dealer’s lot when shopping for your next car.
Acura, like many, many others, is not immune to the monochrome. However, if you opt for either the A-Spec or A-Spec with Advance trims for your 2025 ADX, and you choose Platinum White Pearl or – as with this example – Urban Gray Pearl, a lovely color option appears on the menu: Orchid. This two-tone option features seating for five in either white synthetic leather/microsuede or genuine leather with big, blue accents. The theme continues with the door panels, center console and armrest, and even the dashboard. Sitting inside a well-equipped ADX with this colorful interior (which also includes available heated-and-ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a hands-free tailgate) will make you wonder why this is such a rarity at all.
Read: The 2022 Infiniti QX55: Stylish, Smart and Sassy
3. All the Room in the World for the Everyday
There’s one big benefit to building the 2025 Acura ADX upon the bones of the 2025 Honda HR-V: a bigger footprint leads to more room for everyone and everything. One day, I took Mom out to buy groceries (a rare occasion these days) before my trip to Louisville for an assignment.
After checking out of the grocery store, the ADX’s 24.4 cubic feet of space swallowed up every bag. The privacy cover also helped protect our purchases from the summer sun, too, and managed to make my carry-on bag and backpack feel rather small. If we needed more room, the 60/40-split rear bench folds down to open up a healthy 55.1 cubic feet, perfect for a big shopping extravaganza or a couple of large purchases. And if we had a couple more people around, there would’ve been plenty of legroom for them at 37.7 inches; Mom and I would have to *make do* with just 41.9 inches up front.
Read: The 2023 Honda HR-V Delivers on the Promise of a Go-Everywhere Vehicle
4. The Smartest Place for a Camera Button, Ever
Not that I really needed it too often (as front-ward visibility is excellent), but the 2025 ADX A-Spec with Advance is the only trim to offer a multi-view camera system; the other ADX trims only have a rear camera. My favorite thing about this system wasn’t the ability to see if any stray cats were impeding my ability to park behind my Toyota in the early morning hours (though that’s important, too), but where Acura placed the button to activate the camera: at the end of the windshield wiper stalk. No hiding the feature in a touchscreen menu, no overly flush piano black button on the center console to have to look down to see while (slowly) pulling in. Nope! It’s right there where it just makes sense to place it. If only everyone else would do the same with their multi-view camera systems.
5. Tech That Won’t Overwhelm (Bring Your Phone, Though)
First, the bad news: if you want SiriusXM, you’ll have to bring your iPhone or Pixel and use either the wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to bring your favorite channels and shows to the base eight-speaker or (only on the A-Spec with Advance trim) 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system via the SiriusXM app. Acura is among the first brands to cast aside satellite radio from new models, as more people opt to use their phones for their audio enjoyment.
The good news, though, is that Acura hasn’t fallen into the tech-over-everything trap other luxury brands (like Mercedes-Benz) have taken to like ducklings take to water. The 9-inch touchscreen is diminutive but easy to use; you can even add functions to the sidebar from the app menu by dragging and dropping. And with Google Built-In… built-in, you can add your favorite apps from the Google Play store, and use Google Assistant to find your favorite (or new favorite) restaurants and shops.
Now Comes the Disappointment: First, This Isn’t an NSX
It’s true the ADX won’t keep up with a legend like the long-gone NSX with its 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Not with 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque doing the work, anyway. While the Acura ADX isn’t a speedster, it does have confidence-inducing power and delivers enough for its smallish frame.
What does hold it back, though, is the CVT, or continuously variable transmission. No matter how much Acura’s VTEC, or variable valve timing, kicks in, it’s not enough to feel really fast, and the CVT will loudly complain about your lead foot the whole time. While it won’t matter as you approach the premium outlet shopping center, getting there on the highway—where big rigs and left-lane bandits live—might be too much of an adventure for some drivers of this premium SUV.
Then, There’s Some Pain at the Pump
Most of my driving is in my small Virginia town, and it’s mostly over a total of some seven miles in the early morning hours: the distance travelled to drop Mom off at work, then turning back home. The 2025 Acura ADX with front-wheel drive delivers an EPA-estimated rating of 28 mpg combined (26 in-town, 31 on the open road), while all-wheel drive configurations (like my ADX) offer 27 mpg combined (25 city/30 highway).
I managed just 22 mpg combined before hopping on the highway to get to my local airport; on that trip the MPG climbed up to 28 by the time I pulled into the economy lot to catch my flight. Add to that the fact that Acura recommends premium fuel for this turbocharged powertrain to maximize horsepower production (regular is fine, but it will deliver slightly less power) didn’t endear me or my budget. Instead, it made me wish this car was offered solely as a hybrid to make the most of that high price premium fuel commands. At least the ADX is kinder to your budget at the dealership, though, right?
If none of the above complaints or the lack of onboard satellite radio doesn’t bother you, the 2025 Acura ADX is a sharp little mini-me version of the Acura RDX and a handy runabout to have in the driveway, especially if you’re moving on up out of the Honda side to enjoy the premium life. For what you pay at the dealership, you get quite a nice car and the Acura badge, and that’s not a bad thing, indeed.
