2025 Acura ADX vs 2025 Porsche Cayenne

The 2025 Acura ADX, while sharing its platform with the Honda HR-V, distinguished itself with Acura's signature styling. The vehicle featured a striking pentagonal grille with diamond-patterned mesh, complemented by LED lighting across the board. A-Spec models added LED fog lights, enhancing the sporty aesthetic provided by vent-like creases, a hatch-top wing, and dual exhaust outlets. The ADX offered a choice of six exterior colours, with the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim unlocking vibrant options like Milano Red and Adriatic Sea Blue. Inside, the ADX maintained Acura's premium feel, with the A-Spec trim showcasing a red interior that extended across the dash and door cards, avoiding the cheap feel of limited coloured elements. The cabin's shiny black trim was textured to hide fingerprints and reduce glare, contributing to a premium experience.

In contrast, the 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a choice between a standard SUV and a sporty Cayenne Coupe, with trim levels ranging from the base Cayenne to the high-performance Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid. The GTS trim, our focus, featured high gloss black trim, a unique front fascia with larger air intakes, and tinted headlights. Red brake calipers peeked through 21-inch anthracite grey wheels, and the Cayenne Coupe boasted an adaptive rear spoiler. Inside, the Cayenne allowed extensive customization, from colour and trim to seat belts, with options like a custom paint job costing up to $15,000. The cabin featured numerous screens, with mechanical controls for essential functions, and a well-thought-out layout that maximized storage space. The Cayenne's interior was a testament to Porsche's commitment to luxury and personalization.

The 2025 Acura ADX came equipped with a 1.5-litre VTEC turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada, the ADX offered adequate power for its size, though it lagged behind competitors like the Infiniti QX50 and BMW X1, which boasted engines with at least 220 horsepower. Despite this, the ADX's power output was sufficient for everyday tasks, and its drive modes—Sport, Normal, Comfort, and Snow—allowed drivers to tailor the driving experience. The Platinum Elite A-Spec trim added an Individual mode for further customization. Visibility was excellent, and noise cancellation measures ensured a quiet ride. However, those prioritizing fuel economy might consider hybrid competitors like the Lexus UX 300h.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.0-litre V6 producing 348 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. The Cayenne S featured a V8 with 468 hp, while the Turbo GT, available only as a coupe, boasted 650 hp. Plug-in hybrid options reached up to 729 hp. Our GTS-trim tester delivered 493 hp from a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, with 486 lb-ft of torque and an eight-speed transmission powering all four wheels. The Cayenne GTS accelerated to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and reached a top speed of 275 km/h. The GTS struck a balance between sporty and comfortable, with precise steering and an agile suspension system. The optional carbon ceramic brakes provided ample stopping power, and the Cayenne transformed into a comfortable commuter in Normal mode.

The 2025 Acura ADX offered a premium interior with leatherette seating surfaces on the base trim and microsuede accents on A-Spec and Platinum Elite A-Spec trims. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel featured a sportier shape on A-Spec models. Standard features included heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver's seat, with front-seat ventilation and power adjustments for the front passenger on A-Spec trims. The ADX provided ample headroom and legroom, surpassing competitors like the Lexus UX and BMW X1. Cargo space measured 690 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,560 litres with them retracted. A power tailgate, dual-zone climate control, and rear-seat vents were standard.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne, known for its a la carte approach, offered limited standard features. The base model included eight-way power-adjustable seats, heated but not cooled or massaging, and two-zone climate control. The GTS trim added a GT Sport steering wheel and Race-Tex headliner, with options for Race-Tex or leather interiors. The Cayenne's options list was extensive, allowing for customization of nearly every interior element. However, the Cayenne accommodated only five passengers, with no third-row option. The standard Cayenne offered 772 litres of cargo space, expanding to 1,708 litres with the rear seats folded. The coupe version had slightly less space, and plug-in hybrid models sacrificed some utility for battery placement.

The 2025 Acura ADX featured a nine-inch centre infotainment screen and a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wi-fi hotspot, and a wireless charging pad as standard. A-Spec models added rear USB-C ports, while the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim included Alexa Built-In, Google Built-In, HD Radio, and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. The audio system's "beosonic" app allowed users to adjust sound by mood or ambiance, offering a user-friendly alternative to traditional audio settings.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne boasted a 12.6-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An optional 10.9-inch passenger screen allowed for navigation and media control, with a screen filter preventing driver distraction. The Cayenne's screens were responsive and easy to use, with voice control available for many functions. A head-up display provided essential information, though it appeared dim with polarized sunglasses. The Cayenne included four high-speed USB-C charging ports and a cooled wireless charging area, ensuring devices remained cool while charging.

The 2025 Acura ADX came with nearly all safety and driver-assistance features as standard, including adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot information, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. The only optional feature was a surround-view camera system on the Platinum Elite A-Spec. While the ADX had not yet been crash-tested, Acura aimed for top safety ratings, similar to the Honda HR-V's success.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered standard parking sensors, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring, but adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-departure warning were optional. Porsche's InnoDrive adaptive cruise control system was advanced but not available on our test drive. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had rated the 2025 Cayenne for safety.