New for the 2025 model year, the Acura ADX is the brand’s first compact crossover SUV. Based on the same platform as the popular Honda HR-V, the ADX ups the ante with some premium details while still keeping the luxury model well within the reach of the average driver. Every ADX is equipped with a 1.5L VTEC Turbo engine that produces 190 hp, which is more than enough muscle to motivate the compact model. The new SUV is equipped with front-wheel drive, though Acura also offers an all-wheel drive option that can send half of the power to the rear wheels to maximize traction when you need it most. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) allows the ADX to deliver impressive efficiency, squeezing up to 31 MPG on the highway.
It’s a pretty compelling package, but drivers will still have to make one key decision: which trim to choose. The debut ADX is available in three trims, from the base trim to the sporty A-Spec and the most premium model in the A-Spec with Advance. It’s hard to go wrong when picking between the three, but it’s always good to familiarize yourself with some of the key differences before setting foot inside your local Acura dealership. Let’s examine each trim in detail and learn what exterior, interior, and tech features drivers should keep an eye out for when exploring the 2025 Acura ADX.
Exterior
Let’s start on the outside, which is the first thing you see when you look at the Acura ADX.
ADX
With its modern design and compact size, the ADX packs all the curb appeal a driver could ask for. This is even true of the base ADX trim, which gets off to a strong start with a generous slate of exterior features that should quickly make the new ADX one of the most exciting options in the luxury segment. Acura has equipped the crossover with a full complement of LED taillights, daytime running lights, and headlights, with the latter also boasting an automatic on/off feature that’ll give you one less thing to worry about when you’re behind the wheel. The headlights are just one of the ADX’s automated exterior features, with the SUV’s smart windshield wipers and power tailgate with walk-away close also making the list. The side mirrors benefit from a heating function and can fold away under their own power. A one-touch power moonroof with tilt and slide function allows every driver the chance to experience a bright, airy cabin even when opting for the base trim.
A-Spec
Every Acura model is a sight to behold, but the A-Spec package allows the brand’s SUVs and sedans to gain a decidedly sporty edge along with some high-performance appeal. The ADX’s A-Spec Sport Appearance exterior package sees the SUV replace its standard 18-inch machine-finished wheels with a set of 19-inch Shark Gray five-spoke alloy wheels. The aesthetically pleasing package comes with an exclusive A-Spec grille and gloss black mirror caps that, along with the standard body-colored door handles, give the exterior a cohesive look and distinguish it from the base trim without much of an effect on the MSRP. The A-Spec also adds LED fog lights to the mix, which should be handy for improving visibility in adverse conditions.
A-Spec with Advance
The range-topping trim sets itself apart with 19-inch Berlina Black split five-spoke wheels that lend the A-Spec with Advance a more serious look. The wheels pair well with the trim’s other major upgrade in the form of gloss black power-folding side mirrors, making the A-Spec with Advance the obvious choice for those looking to up their ride’s curb appeal.
Interior
Stepping inside the Acura ADX reveals a premium interior, which only gets more opulent the farther up the trim selection you go.
ADX
Comfort is clearly a priority at Acura, with the brand treating the new ADX to a sumptuous cabin packed with plenty of premium features. A dual-zone automatic climate control system allows the driver and passenger to set their ideal temperature. An auto-dimming rearview mirror helps prevent you from losing your night vision when being tailgated by an inconsiderate driver. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is packed with tech and customization potential, with integrated controls and a telescoping feature that helps to create a more ergonomic ride. The ADX rounds out its interior arsenal with a smart entry and walk-away auto lock system that’ll keep you from having to fumble for your keys every time you approach or depart the SUV.
A-Spec
The A-Spec trim sees the ADX equipped with some sporty upgrades that turn the interior into a high-performance cockpit. The standard leather-wrapped steering wheel is swapped out for a new design with a flat bottom that more closely mimics the steering wheels found in many high-end sports cars. While these steering wheels primarily serve to increase legroom and make for easier entry and exit in a cramped sports car, the intended purpose is a little different in the comparably roomy ADX. In addition to lending the cabin an athletic look, the flat-bottom approach also helps drivers quickly identify the steering wheel’s orientation to achieve quick, precise steering inputs. The trim also gains sport pedals, ambient LED lighting, and an A-Spec Sport Appearance interior package that brings microsuede upholstery accents, ventilated front seats, red contrast stitching, a sporty chrome shift knob, and much more to the equation.
A-Spec with Advance
The A-Spec and A-Spec with Advance are remarkably similar when it comes to the interior. The eight-way power driver’s seat found on the ADX and A-Spec is swapped out for a 12-way version with power lumbar support, as is the leatherette trim with microsuede inserts. The A-Spec with Advance is every bit the luxury model with genuine leather trim, and the top trim also adds a heating element to the leather-wrapped and heated flat-bottom steering wheel that’s sure to keep you cozy on cold winter mornings.
Tech
The new Acura’s tech-forward cabin might be one of its most enticing features.
ADX
While many automakers limit larger displays to higher trims, Acura has taken a more egalitarian approach with the ADX by supplying every model with the same 9.0-inch touchscreen and 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster. The 9.0-inch infotainment display serves as the perfect command center for the SUV’s suite of apps and connected features, which range from wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and AcuraLink Connected Services smartphone integration to a Wi-Fi hotspot and a Bluetooth HandsFreeLink system that allows you to make and receive calls while keeping your hands firmly at ten and two. The base trim also offers two ultra-fast USB-C charging ports and two 12-volt outlets, as well as a wireless charging pad and an eight-speaker premium audio system.
A-Spec
It’s hard to improve on a package that’s as well-rounded as the ADX, but the A-Spec finds a way by adding two USB-C ports to the second row. Like the ADX, the A-Spec also includes a long list of safety features and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) that include all the expected items, such as a collision mitigation braking system, adaptive cruise control, a blind spot information system, as well as some more advanced tech. The Traffic Jam Assist system will handle all the braking, accelerating, and steering duties when dealing with a congested road at rush hour. Traffic Sign Recognition automatically displays relevant signage directly on the digital gauge cluster for easy reference.
A-Spec with Advance
As the name implies, the ADX’s A-Spec with Advance trim is the cutting-edge offering for the 2025 model year. In addition to all the gear you’ll find on the A-Spec, you’ll also gain access to a premium 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and a key fob that’s outfitted with a remote starter. The A-Spec with Advance features extra safety tech like front and rear parking sensors, low-speed braking control, and rain-sensing windshield wipers that’ll increase visibility when the weather turns, as well as a multiview camera system that gives you a little more perspective with various feeds that include front, back, and side views as well as a top-down point of view.
Acura has also teamed up with two of today’s tech giants, Amazon and Google, to provide the ADX with two built-in systems that bring seamless, hands-free functionality to the SUV. Alexa Built-In can control various infotainment functions, settings, and even make a receive calls while Google’s built-in tech gives drivers full access to apps like Google Maps, Google Assistant, and more. Finally, an HD radio swaps out the old analog AM/FM signal for a new, digital alternative that provides improved clarity and coverage no matter where the road might take you.
A New Way to Enjoy Acura
The ADX marks a valuable addition to the Acura lineup, and is a relative bargain with an MSRP that gives every driver the opportunity to experience true luxury without breaking the bank. The SUV’s eye-catching style is a study in contemporary crossover design with sporty lines and alluring curves that speak to the ADX’s performance potential. Every trim offers a standard moonroof and other premium features that live up to the high bar that Acura has set over the years. The sophisticated interior blends style and substance with a litany of modern tech features and all the connected services and ADAS drivers have come to expect from the luxury brand. Throw in a potent powertrain that can achieve up to 31 MPG while offering an engaging, dynamic driving experience, and it’s easy to see why there’s already been so much buzz around the new Acura ADX.
