Acura ZDX Concept: Up Close
Yesterday, Acura took the wraps off the 2010 ZDX, and I had a chance to see the prototype up close. Acura says the prototype is close to the real thing that will hit dealerships this fall. Whether the ZDX adds anything to the luxury-crossover fray will largely depend on its driving dynamics. As a utility vehicle, it runs the same playbook as the BMW X6 and Infiniti FX, which is to say styling trumps space.
I’m torn over the car’s styling; the tail ends too abruptly for me, and the front overhang extends a bit too far. The headlights and fog lamps look sharp, and it’s nice to see Acura dialed back the current MDX’s mammoth grille shield on the ZDX. At the unveiling, we could look at the cabin but couldn’t sit in it. The design doesn’t stray far from Honda/Acura norms, with a trapezoidal panel housing air-conditioning and stereo controls. It’s a crowded interface — though not quite the Pilot’s mission control panel — but it looks easy enough to navigate once you get the hang of it. The prototype had upscale leather wrappings about the dash; leather or leatherette dash panels are showing up in luxury cars of all prices these days, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see the ZDX’s make it to production.
Characteristic of a slicked-back crossover, the sloping roofline will encounter a few passengers’ noggins before they learn to duck when getting in. (If they’re your kids, at least you’ll get a good laugh out of it.) The seats have collapsible head restraints, which makes the rear view slightly better than in the X6 and its immovable restraints. Of course, sight lines are still marginal all around, so parking cameras and other perimeter sensors will be a must. The cargo area is deep, but there’s a high load floor. The rakish hatch lops off vertical height.
Acura will position the ZDX above the MDX, which runs about $40,000 to $50,000. Will anyone pay more for a crossover with less utility? BMW had the gumption to ask that question with the X6, and let’s not forget that there’s still a market for high-end sports cars with no utility whatsoever. The ZDX is either a relatively useless SUV or a very utilitarian sports car. Its driving experience will determine where it belongs.
