2024 Acura ZDX Type S From Every Angle
The first Acura ZDX was a radically styled coupe-style crossover that didn’t sell particularly well. The new ZDX is a much larger, more practical two-row electric crossover with styling that’s still bold, but arguably less funky than the original ZDX. Acura invited me to drive its newest offering in the gorgeous oceanside mountains of Santa Barbara, California.
The ZDX definitely looks like an Acura, with a faux pentagon grille that’s bordered by a thin strip of LED lights that houses a giant Acura pendant. Its aggressive-looking “chicane” headlight design further identifies it as an Acura, but this big crossover is still based on General Motors’ Ultium EV platform like the Honda Prologue, Chevrolet’s troubled Blazer EV, and Cadillac Lyriq. The only exterior clue about the shared platform is its stretched wheelbase, which is one of my favorite aspects of the car.
Styling is subjective, so I’ve compiled some interesting angles in and around the new ZDX to share. My driving impressions are embargoed for another week, so in the meantime enjoy the different angles of the ZDX.
Take The Chicane To The Pentagon
Acura’s two trademark front-end design elements, the chicane daytime running light design leads directly to the ZDX Type S’ illuminated pentagonal “grille”
What The Frunk?
Peeking under the creased hood of the ZDX Type S reveals a big slice of plastic and some sound deadening material that looks like sheepskin near the wheel arch.
Who’s Got You Smiling Like That?
The ZDX’s rear tail lights look like my squinty eyes when I smile real hard. Am I alone in seeing that?
Bring Out Your Dead
Something about the side profile gives the ZDX a bit of a resemblance to a sporty hearse.
Acura? I Hardly Know Ya
Despite the Acura emblem on the steering wheel, the ZDX shares its architecture with General Motors’ Ultium vehicles like Blazer EV and Cadillac Lyriq. The interior design is fine, with lots of buttons, and ample space and storage.
Why’s It Gotta Be White?
The ZDX Type S’ white leather seats look great, but you can already see a suspicious brown stain on the side bolster near the seat controls. I SWEAR IT WAS THERE BEFORE I GOT INTO THE CAR.
Trunktastic
The ZDX has a sizeable trunk with a gaping maw of an aperture to load stuff into. It should prove to be quite practical.
Wheeley Nice
The ZDX Type S comes fitted with these massive 22-inch wheels thoroughly secured to the vehicle with six lug nuts.
It’s Grille-ing Time
Since the ZDX is a BEV that doesn’t require as much ventillation as an internal combustion vehicle, it doesn’t need a traditional grille. Acura created a faux grille using LEDs around the perimeter, the big Acura logo in the middle, and embossed an angular design into the faux grille that all works quite well.
Smells Like B&O
The ZDX has a Bang & Olufsen stereo, but only the upper speaker grille is metal and displays the B & O branding. The entirety of the door below the arm rest is hard, scratchy GM plastics that were already marred by clumsy journalists’ feet by the time I got into it.
Booty So Big, Lord Have Mercy
This is the most interesting aspect of the ZDX’s styling in my opinion. This is a close-up of the d-pillar and the character line that runs down the side of the body and creates a shelf at the rear. It’s kind of giving me a subtle nod to the 2002 Renault Megane’s derrière and I’m here for it.
Is That A Speaker?
This speaker on the a-pillar confused me. I don’t think I’ve ever just seen a dark hole in the a-pillar of a car before. I feel like it’s a perfect spot for a spider to live, so if you have a pet spider then this might be the car for you.
Buttons! Sweet, Merciful Buttons!
Thankfully, the ZDX Type S has plenty of physical controls for adjusting the climate. Unfortunately, all the buttons look and feel the same and require you to visually confirm you’re hitting the right one. But still way better than banishing the controls to the dark depths of the screen!
E-Colon
The ZDX has Honda’s “e:” badge to denote its electrified powertrain. I asked the folks at Acura if it’s meant to be spoken in the name of the car and they said no. It’s not the ZDX E-Colon.
Don’t Emboss Me Around
Again, the white leather seats in my test car were very comfortable and supportive, and feature embossed Type S script on the front seat head restraints.
