2010 Acura ZDX Preview

Acura ZDX

Acura says its new Canadian-built (in Alliston, Ont.) ZDX crossover is a four-door sports coupe. A coupe, by definition, has only two doors. That said, the ZDX has an athletic form that mimics the swept-back style of a Grand Tourer - the rear door handles are blended into the black trim at the roofline and so they are more or less invisible. In the end, the ZDX is destined to be a love it or hate it affair. Regardless, the ZDX has the sort of road presence that's impossible to ignore. In trendy Los Angeles, it was definitely a love thing.

The sharp exterior style flows into the cabin. It starts with the generous swaths of leather that wrap all major surfaces and run through to the level of equipment. Standard stuff includes a 10-way power driver seat, eight-way power passenger seat, a huge panoramic glass roof, which opens up the cabin enormously even when the glass panel is closed, and a 253-watt audio system that includes the needed auxiliary inputs. It comes together such that the only available option is the technology package. It upgrades the leather to perforated Milano and adds a navigation system, backup camera, push-button start and a much sweeter 435-watt sound system with 10 well-placed speakers and a 15-gigabyte hard drive for music storage. This option will not likely be cheap, but it is money well spent.

The nit to pick is the busy nature of the driver's environment. There are 12 buttons on the steering wheel, many of which serve two functions, plus a pair of column-mounted stalks, the horn pad and paddle shifters. Then there's the centre stack. The technology package squeezes no fewer than 36 buttons, a volume knob, rotary ring and enter button in the cascading facade. The good news is that it is nowhere near as intimidating to use as it seems at first blush.

As for the rest of it, the heated outboard rear seats will accommodate two adults in comfort - three is a squeeze best left for emergencies - and it does so with surprising headroom. Aft of that, the ZDX brings the needed versatility. Raising the power liftgate reveals 26.3 cubic feet of cargo space; dropping the 60/40-split/folding rear seats bumps the capacity to 55.8 cu. ft. There's also a handy under-floor storage bin and two storage pockets in the cargo area sidewalls.

The extensive use of sound-deadening materials and an acoustic windshield makes the ZDX a quiet ride. What does filter back into the cabin is dealt with by an active noise cancellation system. It sets up a white noise wave that counters the obnoxious noise pattern, bringing the desired peace.

Beauty, however, must be more than skin deep. A brawny 3.7-litre V6 engine powers the ZDX. The use of Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) on the intake delivers 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. As the power is available over a broad range, there is never a lack of oomph, even when climbing some of the steep canyon roads around Malibu.

A big part of the reason for the alacrity is down to the new six-speed automatic transmission. The broader ratio span keeps the engine operating at its optimum for more of its working life. It also comes with paddle shifters. The advantage is that they work regardless of whether the shifter is in the drive or sport mode. When in drive, pulling back on the downshift paddle drops a gear quickly, which brings the necessary engine braking. If the driver leaves the paddles alone, the box reverts to its automatic mode. The rest of the operational logic also means the box doesn't downshift mid-corner, nor does it hunt on a long climb. The sport mode holds each gear a little longer, which accentuates the sporty nature of the ZDX.

From the transmission, the drive is directed to the road through large P255/50R19 tires and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). The system not only splits the power front to rear, it has the ability to overspeed the outside rear wheel in a corner. This action turns the ZDX into the corner, which reduces the amount of steering input required and reduces the likelihood of the stability control system stepping up to bat.

In the twisty bits through the canyons, the ZDX put on a fine show, feeling more like a larger version of the TL than a derivative of the MDX, with which it shares its platform. The suspension (front struts and multiple rear links) dials out unwanted body roll without feeling harsh when the pavement deteriorates. Likewise, the response to steering input is crisp and precise, although a faster ratio would not go amiss. Even when flirting with the limits of adhesion, the ZDX retains its balanced driving feel.