Crossovers are still very popular and vital to the U.S. market. A crossover is the blending of the high riding and utility of an SUV, but built on a more fuel efficient automobile platform. In an effort to add a sporty flare, Acura created the ZDX which looks like a four-door sports coupe. The advantage is sleek profile styling. The ZDX was designed, developed, and is manufactured in North America. The sculpted lines and sensuous curves were crafted by Acura’s first female designer.
At first glance you may think the Acura ZDX is the sister car to the Honda Crosstour. The truth is they are quite different and built on different platforms. The ZDX is built on the Acura MDX foundation, versus the Honda; sitting on the Accord under-belly. I suspect that buyers of the ZDX will be responding more to it on an emotional level versus a space logic. Think empty-nesters. The coupe-like rear-end takes a big bite out of your rear cargo space.
The styling from the front is big and bold with a hint of upscale chic. The face of the ZDX is aggressive with an Acura-beaked grille. Diamond-shaped headlights morph into the front fenders and a large Acura logo is framed in the grille. The ZDX features a panoramic glass roof, hidden rear door handles, and pronounced fender flares.
The 2012 Acura is available in three trim levels: Base $46,905, Technology $51,405, and Advance $57,455. All three models come with a 3.7-liter VTEC V6 that generates 300 horsepower and 270 pounds of torque and is mated to a 6-speed automatic with Sportshift. Standard on the ZDX is Acura’s exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) system providing outstanding cornering ability as well as excellent all-season capability.
The interior design of the ZDX is titled a “2+Freedom,” which translates into plenty of room for the front occupants, adequate cargo space for weekend vacations, and comfortable rear passengers’ space for two adults. The ZDX does seat five; however, Acura recommends to keep the trip short. A new manufacturing processes allows the ZDX leather to precisely follow the complex lines of the instrument panel, center console and door panels.
The interior on my fully-loaded Advance edition was two-tone with beautiful lines as the center console flowed into the dash with elegance. The cabin area with rich leather appointments gives the 2012 Acura ZDX a warm, comfortable, and airy feel. The cabin is well lit due to the extensive use of LED lighting along with natural light shining through from the panoramic sunroof.
The ZDX is tuned to provide an ideal balance of precision handling, road isolation, and damping. For its size and mass, the ZDX feels surprisingly light and agile. The suspension is made up of front Macpherson struts and rear multi-link that uses specially-tuned coil springs, dampers, and anti-roll bar for a quiet luxurious ride and handling.
Room for improvement:
- Rear declining roof line does compromise space for the rear passengers
Cool Features:
- Rich with advanced technology features on upscale models
- Push button start
- Cool Sports-coupe design
The standard safety equipment for the 2012 Acura ZDX model includes ACE™ is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. ACE™ utilizes a network of connected structural elements to more-evenly distribute crash energy throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment and can help to equally disperse the forces transferred to other vehicles in a crash.
Also included safety features are: multiple-threshold front airbags, dual-chamber side airbags with a front passenger side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), front seats with active head restraints, knee bolsters for front occupants, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor and front seatbelts with an automatic tensioning system with integrated load limiters. In addition, the 2012 ZDX has a Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) along with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.
In Summary – The 2012 Acura ZDX offers an original twist to the crossover concept. The merging is of distinctive sport coupe-like styling with a high-level of refinement with Acura’s confident durability record and high resale value. It is bold, unique, comfortable, and very powerful. The ZDX will not be for everyone; however, if you are looking for a vehicle that stands out from the crowd and can reliably and with confidence take you on the snowy weekend trips, then the 2012 Acura ZDX is worth putting on your to-buy list. 
Specifications
2012 Acura ZDX Advance
Base price: $56,670 as driven: $57,455 (including destination)
Engine: 3.7-Liter 6 cylinder
Horsepower: 300 @ 6300
Torque: 270 foot pounds @ 4500
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic with Sportshift
Drive: All Wheel-Drive
Seating: 5-passenger
Turning circle: 38.4 feet
Cargo space: 26.3 cubic feet
Curb weight: 4,462 pounds
Fuel capacity: 21 gallons
EPA mileage: City 16 / Highway 23
Wheel Base: 108.3 inches
Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper
Also consider: BMW X6, Cadillac SRX, and Infiniti FX 35
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