ZDX Brings Sleekness to Utility Niche
03-22-2010, 06:53 PM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
ZDX Brings Sleekness to Utility Niche
Acura's 2010 ZDX is one of a new breed of cars that try to combine the attributes of sport coupes with crossover utility vehicles.
It seems an unlikely combination, but there are consumers who want the utility of a crossover, but without the tall, boxy form of a sport utility vehicle.
What they also seem to want are vehicles that have sporty performance, too — along with the ability to haul bulky items that wouldn't fit into the trunk of a sedan or coupe.
After a week in the ZDX, it's clear that this vehicle is much closer to being a coupe than an SUV, and probably is best described as a five-door hatchback. With its low, sleek profile, it doesn't look anything like a sport utility, at least as most of us perceive that genre to be.
For people who prefer the high ceilings and roomy interiors of traditional sport utilities and crossovers, the ZDX probably won't be very appealing. But if low and sleek coupes are your preference — and you'd rather have rear doors for your passengers and a liftgate to accommodate your stuff (think skis and other sports equipment), the ZDX just might have what you're looking for.
The ZDX is derived from the Honda Pilot/Acura MDX crossovers, both of which are seven-passenger family vehicles. But the roof of the ZDX is so steeply sloped that there's no room in it for a third seat.
The power rear hatch opens just like that of an SUV, revealing a cargo area that can be expanded to more than 55 cubic feet by folding down the second seat.
I found the driver's seat to be a bit cramped, though. With the roof so low, I painfully banged my hand into it a couple of times as I reached back to pull the seatbelt on.
The exterior styling is a surprise, especially coming from a company such as Honda, whose designs traditionally have been quite bland. With the ZDX, the designers apparently were given a free hand to create an interesting shape with lots of unusual angles, making it quite unlike anything else.
Designed at Acura's California studio and assembled in Canada, the ZDX is billed by Acura as a “four-door sports coupe,” and it's similar to vehicles such as the premium BMW X6 and Infiniti FX, and less expensive models such as the Toyota Venza and Honda Accord Crosstour.
It's a bold idea for Honda's premium brand, which has struggled to find its way in the luxury segment, especially with such tough competitors as Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Infiniti and Cadillac.
From the side, the ZDX looks like it has only a front door because the rear door has no visible handles. But there is a rear seat that accommodates two adults quite comfortably, and three for short rides.
The ZDX certainly is an attention-getter and brought compliments almost everywhere I took it.
Those who got into the back seat commented about the exterior door handles, positioned at the top rear of the doors and initially hard to find because they are body-colored.
ZDX prices begin at $45,495 (plus $810 freight), and even the base model is well-equipped, including leather seats. Other interior features include a panoramic glass sunroof, along with a hand-stitched leather dash, center console and door panels.
Under the hood is a 3.7-liter V-6 engine rated at 300 horsepower and 270 foot-pounds of torque. It's connected to a new six-speed automatic transmission, and standard is Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. EPA fuel-economy ratings are 16 mpg city/23 highway.
The car accelerates and handles like a premium sports coupe, allowing the driver to forget that the ZDX is a car with a usable back seat and a rear hatch with decent cargo space.
Our tester, the Technology model, listed for $49,995. In keeping with Honda's usual practice, no options were available beyond what was already included in the $4,500 Technology Package.
That package brought a voice-activated navigation system with AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic, Traffic Rerouting and Real-Time Weather with radar maps; a VGA display screen; and a multiview rear camera.
Also included with the package is the Acura/ELS 415-watt premium audio system with a built-in 15-gigabyte hard drive; GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone automatic climate control system; and keyless entry with push-button start.
The top model comes with the Advance Package and lists for $56,045. Included is everything in the Technology Package, plus a blind-spot information system, radar cruise control, collision-mitigating braking system, Acura's Integrated Dynamics System, heated and ventilated front seats with perforated Milano premium leather, premium brushed-tricot headliner and a sport steering wheel.
Although not included on our test vehicle, the Integrated Dynamics System allows the driver to switch the suspension between Sport and Comfort modes. The Sport mode is for spirited driving, while the Comfort mode is designed to make the ride as smooth as possible.
The ZDX has the same 108.3-inch wheelbase as the MDX. It's 192.4 inches long, which is almost 2 inches longer than the MDX, but it has the same 67.7-inch track. It's 5.4 inches lower than the MDX at the highest point of its roof.
Acura says the ground clearance is high enough to allow for limited off-road driving.
The coolest feature is the double-paned panoramic roof. The front part opens just like a normal sunroof, while the rear panel, over the rear passenger area, is stationary. Both have electrically operated sunshades. With the expansive windshield and tailgate glass, it looks like the top of the car is almost all glass from the hood to the rear.
Standard are 19-inch, seven-spoke aluminum wheels, along with the same type of all-weather tires found on the MDX.
Safety features include Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, as well as front seat-mounted side air bags, roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows, antilock brakes with traction control, and electronic stability control.
It seems an unlikely combination, but there are consumers who want the utility of a crossover, but without the tall, boxy form of a sport utility vehicle.
What they also seem to want are vehicles that have sporty performance, too — along with the ability to haul bulky items that wouldn't fit into the trunk of a sedan or coupe.
After a week in the ZDX, it's clear that this vehicle is much closer to being a coupe than an SUV, and probably is best described as a five-door hatchback. With its low, sleek profile, it doesn't look anything like a sport utility, at least as most of us perceive that genre to be.
For people who prefer the high ceilings and roomy interiors of traditional sport utilities and crossovers, the ZDX probably won't be very appealing. But if low and sleek coupes are your preference — and you'd rather have rear doors for your passengers and a liftgate to accommodate your stuff (think skis and other sports equipment), the ZDX just might have what you're looking for.
The ZDX is derived from the Honda Pilot/Acura MDX crossovers, both of which are seven-passenger family vehicles. But the roof of the ZDX is so steeply sloped that there's no room in it for a third seat.
The power rear hatch opens just like that of an SUV, revealing a cargo area that can be expanded to more than 55 cubic feet by folding down the second seat.
I found the driver's seat to be a bit cramped, though. With the roof so low, I painfully banged my hand into it a couple of times as I reached back to pull the seatbelt on.
The exterior styling is a surprise, especially coming from a company such as Honda, whose designs traditionally have been quite bland. With the ZDX, the designers apparently were given a free hand to create an interesting shape with lots of unusual angles, making it quite unlike anything else.
Designed at Acura's California studio and assembled in Canada, the ZDX is billed by Acura as a “four-door sports coupe,” and it's similar to vehicles such as the premium BMW X6 and Infiniti FX, and less expensive models such as the Toyota Venza and Honda Accord Crosstour.
It's a bold idea for Honda's premium brand, which has struggled to find its way in the luxury segment, especially with such tough competitors as Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Infiniti and Cadillac.
From the side, the ZDX looks like it has only a front door because the rear door has no visible handles. But there is a rear seat that accommodates two adults quite comfortably, and three for short rides.
The ZDX certainly is an attention-getter and brought compliments almost everywhere I took it.
Those who got into the back seat commented about the exterior door handles, positioned at the top rear of the doors and initially hard to find because they are body-colored.
ZDX prices begin at $45,495 (plus $810 freight), and even the base model is well-equipped, including leather seats. Other interior features include a panoramic glass sunroof, along with a hand-stitched leather dash, center console and door panels.
Under the hood is a 3.7-liter V-6 engine rated at 300 horsepower and 270 foot-pounds of torque. It's connected to a new six-speed automatic transmission, and standard is Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. EPA fuel-economy ratings are 16 mpg city/23 highway.
The car accelerates and handles like a premium sports coupe, allowing the driver to forget that the ZDX is a car with a usable back seat and a rear hatch with decent cargo space.
Our tester, the Technology model, listed for $49,995. In keeping with Honda's usual practice, no options were available beyond what was already included in the $4,500 Technology Package.
That package brought a voice-activated navigation system with AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic, Traffic Rerouting and Real-Time Weather with radar maps; a VGA display screen; and a multiview rear camera.
Also included with the package is the Acura/ELS 415-watt premium audio system with a built-in 15-gigabyte hard drive; GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone automatic climate control system; and keyless entry with push-button start.
The top model comes with the Advance Package and lists for $56,045. Included is everything in the Technology Package, plus a blind-spot information system, radar cruise control, collision-mitigating braking system, Acura's Integrated Dynamics System, heated and ventilated front seats with perforated Milano premium leather, premium brushed-tricot headliner and a sport steering wheel.
Although not included on our test vehicle, the Integrated Dynamics System allows the driver to switch the suspension between Sport and Comfort modes. The Sport mode is for spirited driving, while the Comfort mode is designed to make the ride as smooth as possible.
The ZDX has the same 108.3-inch wheelbase as the MDX. It's 192.4 inches long, which is almost 2 inches longer than the MDX, but it has the same 67.7-inch track. It's 5.4 inches lower than the MDX at the highest point of its roof.
Acura says the ground clearance is high enough to allow for limited off-road driving.
The coolest feature is the double-paned panoramic roof. The front part opens just like a normal sunroof, while the rear panel, over the rear passenger area, is stationary. Both have electrically operated sunshades. With the expansive windshield and tailgate glass, it looks like the top of the car is almost all glass from the hood to the rear.
Standard are 19-inch, seven-spoke aluminum wheels, along with the same type of all-weather tires found on the MDX.
Safety features include Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, as well as front seat-mounted side air bags, roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows, antilock brakes with traction control, and electronic stability control.
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