2025 Acura ADX Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Though it shares its general shape with its platform-mate, the Honda HR-V, the new 2025 Acura ADX is all Acura when it comes to styling. Even the shape of the “daylight opening” is distinct. The large pentagonal grille filled in with diamond-patterned mesh is familiar from the automaker’s existing lineup and looks especially striking here, paired with the ADX’s diminutive proportions. LED headlights, taillights, daytime running lights (DRLs), and front turn signal lights are all standard, and A-Spec models also get LED fog lights. At the back, the ADX features vent-like creases that pair with the standard hatch-top wing and the wide dual exhaust outlets to lend the little crossover a sporty flair. A midgate spoiler is also available for those who want to take it to the next level.

The new car gets standard 18-inch wheels, but they’re automatically swapped out for 19-inchers on A-Spec trims. These are Berlina Black with the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim in Canada, which also features additional gloss black trim elements, or Shark Grey without it. Acura offers six exterior colours for the ADX, though the bottom two trims are available only in grayscale shades. Opting for a Platinum Elite A-Spec model unlocks Milano Red (no extra charge) and Adriatic Sea Blue ($900 extra).

The ADX’s interior, too, feels like authentic Acura fare. Our A-Spec tester, the U.S. equivalent of the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim, was outfitted with the red interior available with the more expensive pearl paints (in Canada, this is leatherette by default, and all other interiors are black). We liked that the red splashed across the dash and door cards and featured generously on the centre console and rear seats as well. Limiting coloured elements to the front seating surfaces can make an interior feel cheap. So can piano black plastic, which unfortunately dominates many a cockpit. The ADX does have some shiny black trim in its cabin, but in many places these components sport a subtle and welcome texture that hides fingerprints and reduces glare.

We were quite pleasantly surprised with the look and feel of the ADX, which truly felt just as premium as we’ve come to expect from any Acura SUV.

In Canada, the ADX comes standard with all-wheel drive (AWD) and a 1.5-litre VTEC turbo four-cylinder engine derived from the base Acura Integra. It pairs with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and produces 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, which proved adequate for the ADX’s size. It’s far from the most powerful in the class, though. Rivals including the Infiniti QX50, Mercedes-Benz GLA 250, Audi Q3, and BMW X1 all come with larger engines making a minimum of 220 horsepower. The Mercedes and the BMW match the Acura’s fuel economy, too, at a Natural Resources Canada rated 8.5 litres per 100 kilometres combined, so it’s hard to claim that there’s a trade-off.

That said, the Acura is not underpowered. It’s worth noting that the same-sized HR-V gets by with just 158 horsepower. We found the ADX’s power output sufficient for everyday tasks like merging into fast-moving highway traffic and zipping away from a stoplight. We even managed to have some fun with it on twisty mountain roads. Since the ADX is Acura’s most accessible SUV, there is — at least for now — no high-performance Type S version.

Drive modes will certainly help owners get what they want to out of the vehicle. Every ADX has at least four: Sport, Normal, Comfort, and Snow. These adjust engine response, steering feel, sound in the cabin, and the colour of the gauges. We did find that engine braking, which is programmed into the CVT, was more aggressive in Sport mode than in Comfort, and the simulated gear shifts sounded more satisfying.

The Platinum Elite A-Spec trim adds Individual mode, which lets the driver pick and choose their preferred combination of characteristics. You can select the audible feedback of Sport mode and the calmer colouring that normally accompanies Snow, for example.

Visibility from behind the wheel of the ADX is excellent, even for a petite driver, thanks to the slim A-pillars and adjustability of the driver’s seat relative to the beltline. We also noted that Acura’s noise cancellation measures seem to be effective. We heard very little of the wind or the road, even at highway speeds.

If fuel economy is a priority for you, you may want to consider a competitor with a hybrid powertrain. The Lexus UX 300h is rated for 5.6 L/100 km combined with standard AWD, and its power output more or less matches the Acura’s at a total system output of 196 hp. Every model mentioned in this section requires premium fuel, although the UX can run on regular.

In keeping with its premium positioning, there is no cloth to be found in the ADX lineup. The base trim comes with leatherette seating surfaces. A-Spec and Platinum Elite A-Spec add microsuede accents. We liked that it felt supple but not vulnerable. We’d be comfortable opting for the red interior and expecting it to hold up well over time. The steering wheel is heated and leather-wrapped in every trim, but its sportier, flat-bottomed shape only makes an appearance for A-Spec models.

Heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat are standard, and both A-Spec trims add front-seat ventilation and power adjustments for the front passenger. Driver’s seat memory enters the picture with the Platinum Elite A-Spec.

In the front row of the ADX, the driver and passenger will enjoy more head room and nearly identical legroom versus the Lexus UX, and better legroom than the BMW X1 or Audi Q3. The Acura’s measurements clock in at 979 millimetres for head room with the standard panoramic moonroof and 1,065 mm for leg room. Rear seat legroom clocks in at 958 mm, besting the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Lexus UX. Cargo space measures 690 litres behind the rear seats (or 656 litres in the top Platinum Elite A-Spec trim), or 1,560 litres (1,526 litres on the top trim) with them retracted, making the Acura more spacious than the Lexus but less so than the BMW. A power tailgate with a walkaway close feature is standard for the ADX, as are dual-zone climate control and dedicated rear-seat vents.

Infotainment is so fundamental to our in-car experience these days that technology offerings can easily make or break an aspiring “premium” vehicle. Acura’s product team seems to know that, and they made sure to check all the high-priority boxes. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are wi-fi hotspot capability and a wireless phone charging pad.

Every ADX gets the same nine-inch centre infotainment screen and 10.2-inch fully digital gauge cluster. We were pleased to find that the centre display is a touchscreen. ADX shoppers don’t need to worry about the trackpad that plagues the crossover’s larger siblings! We also noted the physical volume knob with thanks. Bluetooth, two front-row USB-C ports, and an eight-speaker Acura-branded sound system round out the list of standard tech features.

ADX A-Spec models get an additional two USB-C ports at the rear of the centre console for back-seat passengers. In the top Platinum Elite A-Spec trim, Alexa Built-In, Google Built-In, HD Radio, and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system join the mix.

The top-of-the-line audio system features Bang & Olufsen’s “beosonic” app, represented through a wheel graphic that can be accessed via the touchscreen menu. It looks a bit like a compass with Bright, Energetic, Warm, and Relaxed in place of the cardinal directions, and it lets the user dial sound in by desired mood or ambiance rather than by fussing with balance, fade, and the equalizer. Audiophiles may prefer to work with the technical terms, but for the rest of us, this is a fun — and, critically, easy — way to cut to the chase.

Safety and advanced driver-assistance features are nearly all standard on the ADX. The only option is the surround-view camera system, which comes on the Platinum Elite A-Spec. Otherwise, the standard AcuraWatch suite ensures that all ADX owners will benefit from convenience features like adaptive cruise control and traffic-sign recognition as well as passive and active safety features like a blind-spot information system, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Adaptive cruise control is one of those technologies that’s still new-ish and yet rapidly coming to be seen as a basic requirement. It’s therefore interesting to note that this popular amenity is not standard on the Mercedes GLA or on the BMW X1.

The ADX is too new as of this writing to have seen crash-testing with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the HR-V’s success with both is promising. The Honda earned both institutions’ highest ratings: a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and five stars from the NHTSA. Acura says it is targeting the same with the ADX.

In Canada, the 2025 Acura ADX starts at $48,706, which includes the mandatory $2,595 destination charge and other fees. As we mentioned previously, extra-cost paint colours can bump that price up by $900. The 2025 ADX Platinum Elite A-Spec trim starts in Canada at $55,206, fees in. These prices are more or less in line with the competition. The Audi Q3 starts roughly $3,000 lower and the Lexus UX nearly $1,000 lower, while the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA are almost $3,000 more by default.

While each of these luxury crossovers has its own character, and each automaker has its own set of standard versus optional features, the ADX matches its price tag.

Note: Images show a US model.