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Acura’s ADX is the brand’s newest model, and it is also a very attainable model for many shoppers. We think the ADX will end up being a big success for Acura. After only a few months on sale, it has already passed the TLX, Integra, and ZDX in deliveries for the brand, and is nipping at the heels of the RDX. Here’s our review of an Acura we think will be a favorite in this segment very soon.
Bias Alert - My family has been buying and owning Acura vehicles since the 1990s. We still own one, and any bias that may leak into this story is 100% due to the positive ownership experiences we have had.
2025 Acura ADX A-Spec With Advance Package - What Is It?
The ADX is Acura’s newest vehicle. This five-passenger crossover slots in under the RDX in the Acura lineup of crossover/SUVs. It’s also a solution for those who would really love an all-wheel drive Integra hatchback.
A-Spec means it is the sportier version of the ADX, and Advance means it has the fancy options package, which makes the best audio available.
2025 Acura ADX A-Spec With Advance Package - What’s the Price?
The ADX starts at $36,350 with FWD and no special paint or option packages. We tested the top trim with a price that included the destination charge, totaling $46,890. That price included $1,540 in paint, underbody spoilers, and logo pattern projector we’d try hard not to buy on our ADX. Let’s cal the target price $45,350 without those.
Is this price fair? We think it’s competitive. We paid about the same for a top trim Toyota Venza (Hybrid) in 2024. A top-trim Mazda CX-30 prices out to about $40K and offers a lot of a value in this segment.
2025 Acura ADX A-Spec With Advance Package - How Big Is It?
Although we refer to the ADX as a “small crossover” in our title, we felt very comfortable with the ADX. It’s roomy up front, and the rear seats are very usable for adults or kids in car seats. For many, this vehicle will feel “right-sized.” The passenger volume is 97.3 cubic feet. For comparison, that’s within a cubic foot and a half of the space provided by a Toyota RAV4 (98.9 cu ft). It’s about three cu ft more than the Mazda CX-30 offers (94.1 cu ft). The cargo area feels very large for those who are accustomed to compact crossovers. It has 55.1 cu ft of space with the rear seats folded and 24.4 cu ft with them up. The space is about the same as an Integra with the seats up in both, but you'll find it to be much more practical and useful. The ADX offers more cargo volume in all scenarios than a Mazda CX-30 or Subaru Crosstrek.
Under the cargo floor is more space that is not included in the tally. There is a compact spare tire under there, and the tools you’ll need to change the tire if need be. We love spare tires at Torque News, so the ADX was already on my good side before I even drove it. Be advised that the front wheel drive models don’t get a spare.
2025 Acura ADX A-Spec With Advance Package - What Powers It? What’s the MPG?
The ADX has a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that produces 190 hp. Its peak torque is developed at just 1,700 RPM, which makes the ADX more responsive than the 190 hp would lead you to believe. This power level is lower than what Mazda offers in its CX-30 by a substantial amount.
The ADX can use regular unleaded, which is a huge plus in a premium vehicle. The AWD ADX earns a 27 MPG combined EPA estimate and 30 MPG highway. That is good for a non-hybrid, and over ten years of ownership it will equate to about a $3,500 savings versus the CX-30 Turbo. The FWD ADX gets 1 MPG better. During about 350 miles of testing in mixed scenarios, we observed 29.1 MPG.
2025 Acura ADX A-Spec With Advance Package - How Does It Drive?
We would not call the ADX an Integra wagon in terms of its handling. The ADX is very satisfying, but it’s not a racey sports wagon. Honestly, I’m glad it is not, because I’d rather have the comfort the ADX offers. “Sporty” is the right term.
Acceleration is good in Normal Mode, and it gets better in Sport Mode. Since Sport is simple to activate, we used it quite a bit. On curvy deserted roads, the ADX is fun to drive. It feels like it has a lower center of gravity than the Acura RDX, and its outward visibility is outstanding. The Mazda CX-30 (turbo) is more sporty and offers more power in all situations.
2025 Acura ADX A-Spec With Advance Package - What Makes It Special?
The Acura ADX has many features we like in a premium crossover. The spare tire is a big deal. I would not own a daily driver or family vehicle without one. The ADX also has a “regular” gear shifter. You pull it back to access the gears, and Sport Mode is easily initiated because S is the last pull slot. Most Acuras have a push-button sort of shifter. There are paddle shifters to allow you to hold the revs of the continuously variable transmission (CVT).
The Advance Package adds the 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. It is fantastic, and easily as good as anything in this class of vehicle and price point. It may be the best in class. It’s at another level than what’s offered by the CX-30’s Bose system. If you're an audiophile, this is a significant development.
The ADX uses a touch-screen system, not the much ridiculed sensor pad system of past Acura crossovers. We felt this new infotainment system was outstanding. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both standard, as is Google Maps Built-In. This is a class-leading infotainment setup, and it's a significant reason to opt for the ADX over the CX-30, which features an infotainment system we're not fond of, having experienced a very similar setup firsthand in our CX-5.
The ADX has a very nice interior with real leather. The top trim's seating is heated and also ventilated. Everywhere you cast a glance, the ADX looks upscale, modern, and expensive. Acura nails this premium interior vibe perfectly.
2025 Acura ADX A-Spec With Advance Package - Competitors
The ADX does not align “perfectly” with Lexus, BMW, Audi, or other premium brands. The Toyota Venza (Hybrid Limited) was a very close match with an ownership and fuel cost advantage, but it was discontinued in 2024. The Toyota Crown Signia is similar in some ways, but it’s bigger, a bit pricier, and has no spare tire (dealbreaker).
The Mazda CX-30 is the real matchup here, and both vehicles have their strong points. If you want the quickest and sportiest one, it’s the CX-30, with its big bump in power and torque and its geared transmission. However, the ADX offers a better overall ride quality, more cargo volume, better audio, better interior, and a much better infotainment setup. With the fuel costs included, these two have an identical ownership cost. Looking ahead to 2026, the Mazda CX-5 will arrive, and it’s going to be all-new. A CX-5 Hybrid would be a very interesting matchup to the ADX.
2025 Acura ADX A-Spec With Advance Package - Conclusion
We have long considered the Mazda CX-30 the best premium small crossover. However, the ADX brings a long list of things it does better at a similar cost point. Although Mazda is premium in our opinion, many will think of Acura as a step up in that regard. What the ADX really offers is an AWD hatchback (crossover) alternative to the Integra for Acura shoppers. Those who like the Honda HR-V (like me) but can't accept its low power level will also find the ADX remedies its one (and only) major downside. Acura was brilliant to bring the ADX to market. If I were shopping for a premium crossover, it would be my personal first consideration, and having had both an Integra and TSX in our family along with a boatload of crossovers, the ADX looks to my experienced eye like a winner for the Acura brand and indeed for all future ADX owners.
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John Goreham is a long-standing member of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools.
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