| Marketers for Honda's luxury division call their | | | | driver enjoys appealing steering feel and fine |
| brand-new ZDX a "four-door sports coupe." Serious | | | | feedback, along with the bonus of Acura's SH-AWD |
| coupe fans might dispute that designation, insisting that | | | | system, in case the weather turns foul. |
| true coupes have only two doors. Still, several | | | | Delivering a comparatively firm ride overall, the ZDX |
| manufacturers introduced the "four-door coupe" theme | | | | hits an occasional bump hard. Such incidents are |
| earlier, including BMW with its X6 and Mercedes-Benz | | | | appropriate for an SUV-based vehicle, but less so for |
| with its CLS sedan. | | | | what's deemed a sports coupe. Sufficiently supple in |
| According to Acura, the ZDX features the world's first | | | | suspension capability, this four-door recovers nicely |
| continuous glass surface, extending from hood to | | | | from any excess reaction. Acceleration qualifies as |
| bumper to bracket the panoramic sunroof. When | | | | enthusiastic, if not exactly startling, perhaps not quite as |
| closed, the power roller sunshade allows only three | | | | dramatic as some sport-coupe enthusiasts might |
| percent of outside light to reach occupants. With the | | | | crave. |
| shade open, 20 percent of light reaches the interior. | | | | Getting inside demands a moderate climb?almost like |
| Acura promises two-passenger comfort inside the | | | | some actual SUVs. Substantial side bolstering cradles |
| ZDX, but with seating capacity for up to five | | | | the driver snugly, but these serious yet comfortable |
| occupants. | | | | seats are abundantly cushioned, augmented by |
| Beneath the low hood, a 3.7-liter VTEC V-6 engine | | | | superior thigh support. The rear seat is more |
| develops 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of | | | | comfortable and roomy than anticipated, but substantial |
| torque, driving a new six-speed automatic transmission. | | | | head-ducking may be needed to twitch one's body into |
| Paddle shifters are mounted at the steering wheel. In | | | | the back. Cargo space totals 26.3 cubic feet with the |
| Drive mode, a touch on the paddle provides a gear | | | | second-row seats up; 55.8 with those seats folded. |
| change. S-range gives the driver full control of shifts. | | | | Gauges are readable but dim in darker light conditions. |
| When operating automatically, a double-kickdown can | | | | Over-shoulder views are somewhat impaired. Visibility |
| occur when necessary. | | | | directly astern is split by a thick horizontal bar; nearly |
| Front/rear torque distribution from the Super Handling | | | | everything is seen through the upper pane, which is |
| All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system ranges from 90 | | | | adequate but squat. The driver faces Acura's first |
| 100 to 30/70, taking place automatically. Left/right, the | | | | hand-stitched leather dashboard. |
| torque distribution stretches all the way from 100/0 to | | | | On sale around mid-December, the Canadian-built ZDX |
| 0/100: all to none, applied to wheels on either side. | | | | will be priced between the MDX sport-utility vehicle |
| Enhanced intake and exhaust sounds yield "a little bit | | | | and the RL sedan, which puts it in the mid-$40,000 |
| of exciting flavor in the upper rpm areas," said principal | | | | neighborhood. Three versions will be offered, starting |
| engineer Jason Widmer. Otherwise, Active Noise | | | | with the base model, which includes a standard power |
| Cancellation and other engineering features help keep | | | | tailgate. The Technology Package adds Acura's |
| the ZDX pleasantly quiet. All models roll on 255 | | | | navigation system, with Real Time Traffic information |
| 50x19-inch tires, but the ZDX suspension may be set | | | | and a Weather Radar View. Lane Guidance can |
| for either Comfort or Sport mode. Fifteen sensors | | | | show which lane to be in, when anticipating a turn. The |
| react to road conditions, altering the suspension's | | | | multi-view backup camera can provide a normal, wide, |
| effect as needed. | | | | or top view. In base models, the 8-speaker audio |
| On the whole, the ZDX doesn't yield a truly car-like | | | | system is rated at 266 watts. ELS Surround Sound is |
| experience, because its SUV underpinnings are too | | | | part of the available Technology Package. |
| evident. Handling is a prime enticement, as the ZDX | | | | |