Review: 2024 Acura ZDX Type S keeps first EV mostly on-brand

The 2024 Acura ZDX is the Honda premium brand’s first-ever electric vehicle, a midsize crossover SUV with five seats.

Visually it’s every inch an Acura, and it’s very close in size to the brand’s bestselling model, the MDX midsize crossover. But the EV is differently proportioned—3 inches lower, on a wheelbase that’s 8 inches longer.

Named after a low-volume Acura SUV sold from 2010 to 2013, the new ZDX is actually built by General Motors and rides on that company’s Ultium EV platform—as does the related Honda Prologue from Acura’s parent brand. EPA range ratings vary from 313 miles for the rear-wheel-drive base ZDX A-Spec model to 278 miles for the top Type S trim, which has all-wheel drive standard. The ZDX A-Spec with AWD comes in between those ranges, at 304 miles.

In late April, we spent more than four hours driving the Acura ZDX in and around Santa Barbara, California. All our test vehicles were the top Type S version, so we can’t comment on the differences between those and the A-Spec models.

2024 Acura ZDX

An Acura inside and out—and electric

Overall, the Acura ZDX will likely appeal to MDX owners willing to make the jump to battery-electric power, though it foregoes that SUV’s third-row seating and it’s less sporty than other Acuras. For SUV buyers in particular, that is likely to be an acceptable tradeoff.

The 2024 ZDX looks every inch an Acura, inside and out. The shield-shaped front “grille” is a blanking plate, but the designers have managed to reduce the visual height of a midsize SUV. Tricks include a sculpted lower front fascia with horizontal fins, an optional black roof, a chrome band outlining the top of the windows—opinions on that flourish were very mixed indeed—and a silver “swoosh” under the doors.

Sadly, there is no front trunk under the long nose. Acura and GM engineers chose to package power electronics and charging equipment there instead, foregoing one of the benefits of an EV ‘skateboard’ platform.

2024 Acura ZDX

ZDX charges quickly, has route planning

The 102-kwh battery pack charges at rates up to 190 kw, Acura says, noting that the ZDX can add “nearly 81 miles” in 10 minutes of fast-charging. That,