We live in an automotive age when we have access to more horsepower than ever before. Yet given the clogged arteries that plague America’s metro areas, it’s unusable and therefore pointless. What good is a 0-60 mph time of 2.5 seconds if it only gets you to the next traffic jam a few seconds sooner? Fast cars don’t do you any good crawling along the interstate at 5:15 PM.

In a nation where our infrastructure is deteriorating along with our politicians’ ability to fix it, cars should comfort, coddle, pamper, protect and connect. Speed is far less important. And so, along comes the 2025 Acura ZDX Type S, the second vehicle to wear the ZDX moniker and the brand’s first electric vehicle, or EV.

The first ZDX, offered from 2009 through 2013, was a humpback four-door pseudo SUV with a back seat suitable only for those you detest. It wasn’t popular.

This newest ZDX is another story entirely, as it’s not really an Acura. It’s actually the result of a now-dissolved joint venture between Honda and General Motors using the GM's electric vehicle architecture. The resulting Acura ZDX shares its inner workings with the Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Blazer. In fact, it’s built at GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant and is eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Of course, Acura’s engineers and stylists have tried to endow the ZDX with as much Acura-ness as possible. The Acura ZDX’s handsome design cues crib from the stunning Acura Precision EV concept. And although it’s large for an Acura, measuring 189 inches long and 77 inches wide, its ample 22-inch wheels do much to hide its true size.

Certainly, there’s no hiding it inside, where you’ll encounter an extremely roomy cabin front and rear with wide, comfortably supportive seats covered in indulgently soft leather. There’s also 30 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 63 cubic feet with the second row folded. There is no third row, nor a front trunk.

There’s a logical, well-designed serenity to the Acura ZDX’s cabin, a welcome relief from Acura’s often chaotic dashboard design. The restrained use of buttons is welcome, as switchgear proves easy to find and use. Materials are fairly refined for the most part, although there’s still too much GM cheap plastic. And why is the driving mode switch buried by the driver’s left knee? This is a particularly poor design choice.

A Bang & Olufsen audio system is standard, as is wireless phone charging, wireless Apple Car Play and wireless Android Auto. An 11-inch infotainment screen is standard, and its user interface easy-to-use, with large icons that are easy to activate while driving. USB-C ports are present front and rear, and the center console boasts plenty of large flat surfaces to stash stuff.

The ZDX is offered in A-Spec and Type S trim. The former can be fitted with a single 358-horsepower motor driving the rear wheels. You can add a second motor that brings power up to 490 horsepower with the added benefit of all-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive Type S comes solely with two motors that generate a combined 499 horsepower. Ordering the Type S is worth the extra bucks, as it’s fitted with larger Brembo brakes, 22-inch wheels and an air suspension system with adaptive dampers.

Range is EPA rated at 313 miles per charge for the rear-wheel-drive A-Spec, 304 on the all-wheel-drive A-Spec and 278 miles on the Type S – which proves to be more than enough. Towing is rated at 3,500 pounds.

If there’s anything that can be said about the 2025 Acura ZDX Type S, it’s that it doesn’t feel like an Acura Type S. Instead, it delivers some sportiness balanced with a heavy dose of quiet comfort. Nevertheless, reaching 60 mph takes less than five seconds. While that’s not front-of-the-pack, it’s more than swift enough for most drivers. The adaptive suspension and air springs mask some of its weight, which is in excess of 6,000 pounds, although there’s no escaping it while cornering. Still, the ZDX acquits itself fairly well despite little-to-no steering feel. But it is nicely weighted.

In all, the 2025 Acura ZDX Type S delivers a nicely balanced dose of ride and handling, something uncommon for the usual adrenaline-ruled Type S models. It’s so beguilingly well-done, you’ll be pleased. The same goes for regenerative braking, which captures energy generated while slowing down and funnels it back to the battery. How much regeneration you want can be adjusted. Its highest setting works very well, although a gentle touch is recommended when lifting your foot from the throttle. But it allows for one-pedal driving, which is a really nice benefit of EV driving.

And being a GM vehicle, it’s fitted with Super Cruise, GM’s semi-autonomous self-driving system. It’s very well done, and makes cruising the interstate effortless and, well, hands-free.

With the 2025 Acura ZDX, the brand has fielded a credible EV and a good first step as the company moves towards increasing electrification. While not a true Acura, it’s an impressively well-done EV, one that merits a test drive if you’re looking in this space.

2025 Acura ZDX Type S

Base price: $75,850

Motors: Dual electric

Horsepower/Torque: 499/544 pound-feet

Range: 278 miles

Recharge time (240-volts) – 29.4 miles per hour of charging

Length/Width/Height: 198/77/64 inches

Ground clearance: 7 inches

Curb weight: 6,052 pounds

Cargo capacity: 30-63 cubic feet

Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds

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