The Acura ZDX is again, and this time, it’s electrical (and never ugly)

Okay, fact time: we didn’t assume the manufacturing Acura ZDX would look this good. Final yr’s Precision EV idea gave us an thought of what to anticipate, certain, however we (wrongfully) assumed the ZDX would rely extra on the present automobile’s bizarre, kinda-boat-like styling parts. As an alternative, with its rad grille design, slim headlights, brief overhangs, and tri-tone paint job, we’re actually bowled over. This SUV appears nice.

The ZDX is Acura’s first totally electrical automobile, but it surely’s truly a shared effort with Common Motors. Beneath that sharply styled pores and skin is GM’s Ultium battery expertise, and this platform will quickly spawn an SUV for Honda – Acura’s guardian model – referred to as the Prologue.

Acura can have three variations of the ZDX at launch, all powered by a 102kWh battery pack. The bottom ZDX A-Spec has a single electrical motor mounted on the rear axle, which truly makes it Acura’s second rear-wheel-drive automobile ever, after the unique NSX supercar. (Be at liberty to share that truth at your native bar trivia evening, it’ll impress everybody.) On this configuration, the ZDX is estimated to have 340hp, and Acura is concentrating on a driving vary of 325 miles, which isn’t unhealthy.

You’ll be capable to purchase the ZDX A-Spec with a dual-motor setup if rear-wheel-drive isn’t your jam. Acura doesn’t but have an influence determine for this mannequin, although the corporate says the all-wheel-drive ZDX’s vary will drop barely, all the way down to 315 miles. No matter what number of motors your A-Spec has, it’ll experience on 20-inch wheels with all-season tires, and can be capable to tow as much as 3,500 kilos. So, like, a few jet-skis.

Now, when you’re considering, “to hell with vary, I simply need energy”, Acura will even supply the ZDX Sort S. This one solely comes with two motors and all-wheel drive, and ups the SUV’s output to 500hp. The Sort S has adaptive air suspension, 22-inch wheels, and large Brembo brakes. And, you understand, the driving vary doesn’t truly take too massive of successful: the Sort S ought to be capable to go 288 miles on a full cost.

The ZDX’s most DC fast-charging velocity is 190kW, which is sweet however not nice, particularly as increasingly more 350kW public chargers develop into out there. A minimum of you’ll be capable to comfortably cocoon your self inside an opulent cabin when you’re chilling at public charging stations, cranking some tunes on the ZDX’s customary 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

On that be aware, right here’s a giant win: Acura ditched its True Touchpad “absolute positioning” multimedia interface, and now you’ll be able to simply contact the 11.3-inch display screen together with your dirty fingers. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are inbuilt, and Google Maps runs the navigation system, which will also be displayed on the 11-inch digital gauge cluster. Google Maps are one of the best maps, in any case.

The brand new ZDX arrives later this yr, and Acura mentioned it’ll solely be offered by means of an “omni-channel digital gross sales course of”, which sounds fancy and complex. The bottom ZDX A-Spec will begin within the $60,000 vary, with the Sort S costing about $10,000 extra. We’ll have the ultimate particulars later this yr, forward of the primary buyer deliveries in early 2024.