2010 Acura ZDX
Halfway through our year-long test of the ZDX, we finally looked in the rearview mirror. Managing Editor Amy Skogstrom sees the similarity between the Honda CR-Z and ZDX, and that they share "a big horizontal bar that runs right through the middle of the rear windows, meaning that rearward visibility is compromised -- not dangerously, but highly annoying nevertheless."
What about the view when looking forward? "I find the interior design to be entirely too busy for my taste," Skogstrom says. "The space in front of the front passenger has four layers of materials on it -- talk about design overkill. And the satellite radio interface continues to annoy me. Too many buttons, too many menus to toggle through to change stations, and just too confusing."
Senior web editor Phil Floraday agrees with others who have opined that the ZDX is comfortable on four- or five-hour road trips, but he still can't understand "why anyone would willingly choose this body style. Is an MDX going to be less comfortable or worse-handling on the Interstate? If you're looking for better handling, why not a TSX wagon? If you don't need a rear seat for adults, why not get a legitimate coupe? Why? Why? Why?"
To which west coast editor Jason Cammisa responded, "maybe just to annoy you, Phil?" Cammisa praised the thick-rimmed steering wheel, but despised the active cruise control, whose active feature he could not figure out how to turn off -- score another demerit point for the ZDX's overly complex interface. And the combination of long gearing (2250 rpm at 80 mph) and a V-6 that's relatively soft on the low end mean lots of throttle and lots of downshifts on the highway -- the exact opposite, says Cammisa, of what a grand touring coupe should feel like.
Halfway through our year with the ZDX, it's becoming clear that this vehicle is a particular blend of compromises that some of us just don't get.
2010 Acura ZDX
Base price (with dest.): $46,305
Price as tested: $56,855
Overview
Body Style: 5-door crossover SUV
Accommodation: 5-passenger
Construction: Steel unitbody
Powertrain
Engine: SOHC 24-valve V-6
Displacement: 3.7 liters
Power: 300 hp @ 6300 rpm
Torque: 270 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic with sportshift and paddle shift
Drive: All-wheel
Fuel economy: 16/23/19 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
Chassis
Steering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Turns lock-to-lock: 3.4
Turning Circle: 38.5 ft
Suspension, Front: Strut type; coil spring
Suspension, Rear: Independent multi-link; coil spring
Brakes F/R: Power-assisted ventilated disc/disc; ABS
Wheels: 19-in alloy
Tires: Michelin Latitiude Tour HP 255/50R19 103H
Tire Size: 235/60R18
Measurements
Headroom F/R: 38.0/35.3 in
Legroom F/R: 42.2/35.7 in
Shoulder Room F/R: 59.7/55.4 in
Wheelbase: 108.3 in
Track F/R: 67.7/67.7 in
L x W x H: 192.4 x 78.5 x 62.8 in
Cargo Capacity: 27.5/57.3 cu ft (rear/with seats folded)
Weight: 4452 lb
Weight Dist. F/R: 58/42%
Fuel Capacity: 21.0 gal
Est. Range: 400 miles
Fuel Grade: 91 octane
Standard Equipment
3.7-liter V-6 engine
6-speed automatic transmission with sportshift
Paddle shifters
SH-AWD system
4-wheel disc brakes
MacPhearson strut front suspension
Rear multi-link suspension
Variable-assist rack-and-pinion steering
Vehicle stability assist
Electronic brake distribution
Tire pressure monitoring system
XM satellite radio
MP3/auxiliary input jack
USB audio interface
Bluetooth connectivity
Heated front seats
Power tailgate
Panoramic glass sunroof
19-inch alloy wheels
Xenon HID headlights
Fog lights
Heated power door mirrors with turn indicators
Options
Advance package -- $10,550
Acura navigation system with voice recognition
Multi-view rearview camera
Sport seats with perforated leather
Acura ELS surround sound system
10 speakers and AM/FM/DVD-A
Hard disk drive
Dual-zone climate control
Integrated dynamic system
Collision mitigation braking system
Blind spot information system
Front seat belts with e-pretensioning system
Ventilated front seats
Adaptive cruise control
Credit: Automobile Magazine
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