2026 Acura ADX Review
Price: $39,350 (est.)
Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-liter DOHC 16-valve inline-4 with direct fuel injection
Horsepower/Torque: 190 hp @ 6000 rpm / 179 lb-ft @ 1700-5000 rpm
0-60 MPH: 8.7 seconds
MPG: 20.8 (?? WTF)
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Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi
Photography: Manufacturer
Upon first glance, the 2025 Acura ADX looks like a slightly raised Integra. Which, in A-Spec guise, really echoes the Integra Type-S. That synergy doesn’t stop on the inside either; the interior falls right in line with the lovely cabin of the Integra. Which means, expensive-feeling switchgear, great, supportive seats, beautifully simple controls, and an overall sense of refinement. Start the engine, and it’ll also sound a bit familiar. The ADX is powered by the same engine found in the non-Type-S Integras, making 190 horsepower and 179 ft/lbs torque, but with the added benefit of AWD.
All of this sounds pretty damn amazing, right? What you might have here is a more practical and grippy Integra! Yeah… no.
So, it all kinda falls apart upon actually driving the ADX. Instead of being based on the Integra, the ADX is actually based on the Honda HR-V. So, while we get the Teggy’s engine… we get slapped with the CVT from the HR-V. And so the typical CVT horrendousness follows through, with rubber-bandy power delivery, mediocre acceleration, and hilariously bad highway passing ability.
So, let’s reset expectations and start anew:
Let’s go into this ADX not thinking "Teggy" but more thinking of what it truly is… a real entry-level model to Acura’s lineup. Look, every automaker needs an entry-level model, and Acura has been leaning on the Integra to carry that torch, but with crossover sales eclipsing everything… not having an entry-level crossover was a glaring omission in Acura’s lineup.
Let’s start off with the looks. The ADX looks spectacular, completely throwing away its "entry-level" status with looks that errrr… look like it should cost $10,000 more. Is it the best-looking entry-level luxury crossover on the market? Yes. Every one of its large number of competitors… if you look hard enough, you can glimpse their "el-cheapo" underpinnings. The ADX, on the other hand, looks more expensive than it has any right to be.
The entry-level luxury market also has the luxury (see what I did there?) of added freedom. Consumers don’t expect sports car levels of performance. They don’t expect Suburban levels of interior room. Heck, they expect a certain amount of compromises in terms of NVH, ride quality, performance, and handling because it’s an "entry-level" vehicle. But what they do expect is the style, an iota of feel, and all the tech a luxury vehicle offers, and there the ADX delivers in spades.
What also delivers in spades is the chassis. Yes, it's based on the HRV, but damn it to hell, this thing feels amazing in the corners! Augmented by the best AWD system on the planet (SH-AWD), the torque-vectoring wunderkind simply delivers grip like no other vehicle in its class! The steering is beautifully precise, and flogging it through some bends, that reassurance and the 'devil on your shoulder' whispering 'go faster... you got this' sensation that other beautifully well-sorted handling vehicles deliver is abundant. If Acura can somehow shove another 100 HP into the ADX... dear God... talk about a sleeper!
The only thing that really falls apart is the lack of fuel efficiency. I swear to everything that is holy in the universe, I wasn’t flogging the ADX! No matter what hypermiling technique I used, I could not get it to eek past 21 MPG. That is city and highway. That is standard communting to and fro. Not carving up a mountain. I can only chalk it up to first year programming bugs with the ECU because it should deliver closer to 30 rather than in the teens.
Well, there's one other thing that I find irritating about the ADX: the CVT. If you're a normal human being, you probably won't mind it. Puttering around town at no more than 20% throttle, you wouldn't even realize its transmission is a glorified rubber band.
BUT, if you happen to give it any more throttle, or, God forbid, try to pass someone on the highway... it becomes a drone-filled cacophony of irritation. The CVT utterly saps any sort of power delivery from the normally lovely 1.5 Turbo. So much so, in fact, that a sprint to 60 mph takes nearly 9 seconds, and as for passing on the highway... just bide your time. That gap you're aiming for? Yeah, you're not going to make it.
While the 2025 Acura ADX might not live up to those initial Integra-derived performance hopes, it absolutely carves out its own niche as a sharp-looking and well-appointed entry point into luxury crossovers. By leaning into its role as an accessible gateway to the Acura brand, the ADX totally nails the style, interior refinement, and tech features. It’s perfect for buyers who prioritize looking good and feeling good inside, proving that "entry-level" doesn't have to mean compromising on curb appeal or cabin quality. This makes it a strong contender for anyone wanting an upscale compact SUV that looks expensive and feels premium where it counts.
Yousef Alvi
