2010 Acura ZDX

If you call an elephant a mouse, does it suddenly turn into a rodent? Obviously not; yet, starting with the crossover craze, some recent models have been given characteristics that step outside the customary lines.

Coupe-Like Styling

Take coupes, for instance. Marketers for Honda's luxury division call their brand-new ZDX a "four-door sports coupe." Serious coupe fans might dispute that designation, insisting that true coupes have only two doors. Still, several manufacturers introduced the "four-door coupe" theme earlier, including BMW with its X6 and Mercedes-Benz with its CLS sedan.


Said to mix the benefits of a "stylish coupe," sedan, and "flexible SUV," Acura's ZDX "defines its own segment," said Steve Center, vice-president of advertising and public relations. A ZDX represents "provocative luxury," Center added.


Built upon an SUV chassis (borrowed from Acura's MDX), the ZDX flaunts what exterior stylist Damon Schell calls a "deep sexy quarter panel," crafted with one-piece construction and complementing the car's tapered roofline. Long front doors add to the coupe-like character. So do semi-hidden rear door handles. Michelle Christensen, Acura's first female designer, created the original design.

Solar Power, Plus Performance

According to Acura, the ZDX features the world's first continuous glass surface, stretching from hood to bumper to bracket the panoramic sunroof. When closed, the power roller sunshade allows only three percent of outside light to reach occupants. With the shade open, 20 percent of light reaches the interior. Acura promises two-passenger comfort inside the ZDX, but with seating capacity for up to five occupants.


Beneath the low hood, a 3.7-liter VTEC V-6 engine develops 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, driving a new six-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters are mounted at the steering wheel. In Drive mode, a touch on the paddle produces a gear change. S-range gives the driver full control of shifts. When operating automatically, a double-kickdown can occur when necessary.


Front/rear torque distribution from the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system ranges from 90/100 to 30/70, taking place automatically. Left/right, the torque distribution stretches all the way from 100/0 to 0/100: all to none, applied to wheels on either side.

Ride and Handling

Enhanced intake and exhaust sounds yield "a little bit of exciting flavor in the upper rpm areas," said principal engineer Jason Widmer. Otherwise, Active Noise Cancellation and other engineering features help keep the ZDX pleasantly quiet. All models roll on 255/50x19-inch tires, but the ZDX suspension may be set for either Comfort or Sport mode. Fifteen sensors react to road conditions, altering the suspension's effect as needed.