2010 Acura ZDX review

The 2010 Acura ZDX is an all-new midsize luxury crossover that competes directly with the BMW X6. Based on the MDX platform, the Acura ZDX is Acura's new flagship SUV. The Acura ZDX appealing exterior is more stylish than most SUVs and it features a surprisingly car-like ride. It sits higher than any sedan but doesn't provide the extra cargo space or rear-seat room sedan owners usually associate with an SUV.

Motor Trend, which named the Acura ZDX as a contender for 2010 Sport/Utility of Year, explains: "If you want an Acura for family road trips, buy an MDX. The ZDX comes with a base price in the mid-$40,000 range.

The 2010 Acura ZDX is a midsize five-passenger crossover SUV. Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, automatic xenon headlights, heated outside mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, ambient cabin lighting, a back-up camera with a rearview mirror display, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, heated eight-way power front seats, leather seat upholstery and interior trim, a trip computer, Bluetooth and a power liftgate. There are two significant options packages for the Acura ZDX. The Advance package includes these features plus electronically adjustable suspension dampers, a blind-spot warning system, adaptive cruise control, heated and ventilated front seats and a sport steering wheel.

The 2010 ZDX features the same Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system found in many Acura products. A six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control is standard. The Acura ZDX maximum towing capacity is 1,500 pounds.

Standard safety equipment for the 2010 Acura ZDX includes antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.

What was the question? Once you get past the ontological issues, however, the Acura ZDX--like the X6--is actually an interesting car. Priced to start at $42,500 in base trim, it's also the most affordable of the new breed of luxury crossover/hatch/coupes.

The styling itself is often successful--a muscular fender, a graceful turn of the roofline. But its the utility/performance package that really makes the Acura ZDX. Power can be shifted around a lot as well, thanks to the Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. Wile normal driving sees a typical 90-10 front-rear torque split, up to 70% of the engine's power can be sent rearward when necessary.