2011 Acura ZDX
MSRP: $46,020
The 2011 Acura ZDX is a midsize luxury 5-passenger SUV, but it looks like a giant hatchback. The ZDX looks like Acura started with an MDX and traded low-end torque and towing capacity for sportier performance. Sadly, only half of this trade was executed.
The ZDX has a 3.7 liter V6 that puts out 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. It has 19-inch wheels, Acura’s patented SH-AWD, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual override. It is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, and goes from zero to sixty in 7.3 seconds.
The ZDX comes with a 10-way heated power driver’s seat with memory, an 8-way heated power passenger seat, a power tilt-telescope, leather-wrapped steering wheel, foglights, automatic xenon headlights, 2-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a back-up camera, and a trip computer. The audio system has 8 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, and audio jack, and Bluetooth. The Technology package or the Advance package have plenty of other conveniences if you want to upgrade.
The ZDX also has active front head restraints, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes with brake-assist. In government tests under 2010 standards, the ZDX got perfect scores of 5 stars on front and side impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it perfect scores of good on their impact tests.
Conclusions and driver feedback:
The front half of the cabin is really, really nice. The dash is futuristic and busy, but in an entertaining way. The materials are all very high-quality, and the design is attractive. The front seats are comfortable, give plenty of support, and there is plenty of headroom and legroom there. The main problem is when you get to the back seat. Because of the “super-hatchback” design, there isn’t enough headroom or legroom for the rear seat. Also, cargo space isn’t nearly what it could be: 26 cubic feet behind the seats, and another 30 if you fold the rear seats down.
The ZDX gives decent performance. The engine is enough for OK acceleration, and the engine runs without a lot of effort at highway speeds. The steering is responsive, and the suspension is OK, with average body roll. The ride is very nice, almost allowing detachment.
The main problem here is that it doesn’t come close to fulfilling its potential. Even with the aerodynamic tweaking and reduced weight, the ZDX doesn’t perform any better than the larger MDX. So, basically, you get an MDX with a cramped rear seat and less cargo space, but with no gains in mileage or acceleration, and a loss of torque and towing ability.
The verdict: to paraphrase the words of anyone who has every woken up with a severe headache after a party: “what the bleep were they thinking?”
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