Acura ZDX Type S: GM Tech, Acura Soul?

The automotive industry is full of strange bedfellows, but few partnerships have raised eyebrows quite like the collaboration between Honda and General Motors. The result of this union is the 2024 Acura ZDX, the brand’s first all-electric vehicle. While it wears the badge of the Japanese luxury automaker, its bones are thoroughly American, built on GM’s Ultium battery platform.

For loyalists, the big question isn’t just about range or horsepower. It is about identity. Does the ZDX Type S feel like a precision-crafted performance machine, or does it feel like a Cadillac Lyriq wearing an Acura costume? Here is a detailed look at how this cross-brand experiment performs in the real world.

The Ultium Connection: What Is It?

To get an EV to market quickly, Acura skipped developing a proprietary EV architecture for this generation and borrowed GM’s Ultium platform. This is the same chassis and battery technology found in the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer EV, and the Honda Prologue.

The ZDX is even assembled alongside the Cadillac Lyriq at GM’s factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Because of this, you will notice immediate similarities if you look closely:

  • The Key Fob: It has the heft and shape of a GM fob.
  • Switchgear: The turn signal stalks, window switches, and steering wheel buttons are pulled directly from the GM parts bin.
  • The Tech Stack: While the graphics are skinned for Acura, the underlying infotainment system relies heavily on Google Built-In, similar to current Chevrolet models.

However, sharing parts is not necessarily a bad thing. GM’s Super Cruise, rebranded here as AcuraWatch 360+, is arguably the best hands-free driver-assistance system on the market. By adopting GM’s tech, the ZDX gains hands-free driving capabilities on over 400,000 miles of compatible roads immediately at launch.

Performance: Earning the Type S Badge

Acura knows that the “Type S” badge carries weight. It implies performance, agility, and driver engagement. To ensure the ZDX lives up to the name, Acura engineers tuned the software and suspension distinctively from its GM cousins.

The Numbers

The ZDX Type S features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup powered by a 102 kWh battery pack. The output is substantial:

  • Horsepower: 500 hp
  • Torque: 544 lb-ft
  • 0-60 mph: Approximately 4.8 seconds

While these numbers are strong, they are not record-breaking in the EV world where a Tesla Model Y Performance creates similar stats for less money. However, Acura focuses on handling over straight-line speed.

Hardware Upgrades

The Type S differentiates itself from the standard A-Spec model and the Cadillac Lyriq with serious hardware changes:

  • Brakes: Massive 15.6-inch Brembo front rotors with six-piston yellow calipers. These provide necessary stopping power for a vehicle that weighs over 6,000 pounds.
  • Suspension: Height-adjustable air suspension with performance-tuned adaptive dampers.
  • Tires: 22-inch wheels wrapped in 275⁄40 self-sealing all-season tires (summer performance tires are an available option).

On the road, the ZDX Type S feels planted. The air suspension manages the heavy battery weight well, keeping the car flat in corners without shattering your spine over potholes. It feels sharper than the Cadillac Lyriq, which leans heavily toward soft luxury.

Design and Interior: Finding the Acura Soul

Despite the American underpinnings, the design team in Los Angeles worked hard to ensure the ZDX looks like an Acura.

Exterior Styling The exterior is undeniably Acura. It features the signature “Chicane” daytime running lights and a 3D-embossed Diamond Pentagon grille. The grille is closed off for aerodynamics but retains the visual texture fans expect. The “Double Apex Blue Pearl” paint is exclusive to the Type S and helps the car stand out in a sea of grey crossovers.

Interior Cabin Inside, the blend of DNA is most obvious. You get Acura’s sport seats and a specialized steering wheel, but the vibe is different from a TLX or MDX.

  • Audio: For the first time, Acura moved away from its Panasonic ELS Studio 3D system. The ZDX features an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen luxury audio system. It sounds incredible, offering crisp highs and deep bass.
  • Screen Real Estate: An 11-inch digital instrument cluster sits next to an 11.3-inch touchscreen. It includes physical buttons for climate control, a welcome retention of tactile controls that many EVs are abandoning.

Charging and Range

The trade-off for the Type S performance is a slight dip in range compared to the single-motor A-Spec version.

  • ZDX Type S Range: EPA-estimated 278 miles.
  • ZDX A-Spec (RWD) Range: EPA-estimated 313 miles.

Charging Speeds The ZDX supports DC fast charging at rates up to 190 kW. In real-world terms, this means you can add about 81 miles of range in 10 minutes under optimal conditions. It takes approximately 42 minutes to charge from 20% to 80%.

Acura provides purchasers with options for home charging station credits or public charging credits through EVgo. Furthermore, the ZDX is positioned to take advantage of the growing access to the Tesla Supercharger network, though you will likely need an NACS adapter until the charging ports are standardized in future models.

Pricing and Verdict

The 2024 Acura ZDX Type S starts around $73,500. This puts it in direct competition with the Audi Q8 e-tron, the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, and the Cadillac Lyriq Sport.

So, is it just a GM vehicle? Technically, yes. But emotionally, Acura has done enough tuning to give it a distinct personality. The steering is heavier, the ride is sportier, and the styling is sharper than its GM platform-mates. If you want the reliability of the Ultium battery platform combined with the aggressive aesthetic of an Acura, the ZDX Type S is a valid contender in the luxury electric SUV market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Acura ZDX qualify for the Federal Tax Credit? Because the ZDX is built in Tennessee and uses the Ultium battery platform, it navigated the confusing eligibility rules effectively at launch. However, tax credit availability ($7,500) changes frequently based on battery component sourcing. You must check the current IRS status for the specific VIN and purchase date.

Is the ZDX Type S faster than the MDX Type S? Yes. The electric torque makes the ZDX Type S significantly quicker off the line than the gas-powered MDX Type S, despite the EV being heavier.

Does the ZDX have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto? Yes. Unlike GM, which controversially announced plans to phase out phone projection in future EVs, the Acura ZDX retains wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features.

What is the warranty on the battery? Acura offers a High Voltage Battery Limited Warranty that covers the battery pack for 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.