The base ZDX starts at around $85,000 while the Type S starts at about $7,000 more.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Honda and Toyota have been under a lot of pressure to develop more electric vehicles. The Japanese auto giants have been seemingly left behind by companies like Hyundai Motor Co., which boasts a full slate of nine EVs among its Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands.
To compare, Toyota Motor Corp. and its luxury division Lexus, which produce many hybrids, sell one fully electric car, while Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and its luxury unit Acura now each sell one with the help of General Motors.
In the late 1990s, these companies were pioneers of hybrid technology, but their move to full electric propulsion has been slow at best. Honda had to piggyback on GM’s Ultium platform to build the Prologue and the Acura ZDX. It was the fastest way Honda could bring an EV fit for North American consumption (read: large SUV) to market. But partnerships don’t always work.
Indeed, the collaboration with GM has ended and Honda has already announced its new “0 series” line of EVs. The company says it named it “0″ to signify its commitment to zero environmental impact and zero traffic fatalities by 2050.
They showed off a couple of concepts at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year including a wedge-shaped sedan that looks like something from the year 2100. Importantly, this new EV line will have Honda’s DNA. Hondas have a light, nimble feel to them and simple but functional interiors, and that’s missing from the Prologue and ZDX.
The ZDX fits nicely into the Acura lineup with its familial grille and headlights. In Type S guise with its two-tone paint job, it is a real head-turner. The company did a great job with the design, but it starts to go south once you step inside.
The base ZDX has 342 horsepower, while this Type S makes 500.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Interior components such as the steering wheel, control stalks, and door panels — the main touchpoints of a vehicle — feel as if they’ve been lifted directly out of the Chevrolet Blazer EV parts bin. It’s different from what’s found in the rest of Acura’s lineup. A base ZDX costs nearly $90,000, and it’s not exactly the luxury we expect from an Acura. It’s also entering a market already saturated with luxury EVs.
The Type S, which starts at $94,216, makes 500 horsepower and 544 lb-ft of torque and like other luxury EVs, it can accelerate quickly. It also steers well, and those yellow Brembo brakes aren’t just for show; they provide lots of stopping power and feel natural to modulate. It’s not the typical Type S experience, but there’s a decent amount of control built into the chassis and it can be hustled around your favourite highway on-ramp. The ride is also excellent, courtesy of an air suspension system and it’s tuned to remain compliant even in the Sport driving mode.
Switching between drive modes is a bit of a pain, though. You cycle through them with an inconveniently placed black rocker switch above your knee that you have to look for every time and it feels like an afterthought.
The ZDX steering wheel feels a lot like the Blazer EV.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Another problem for the ZDX is the Cadillac Lyriq, which is based on the same platform. You can get it in a dual-motor version with nearly as much power as the Acura for about $14,000 less. Even a fully loaded Lyriq is about $6,000 cheaper than a ZDX Type S. It even has a better interior that almost feels custom-made, one of the nicest Cadillac has put out in years. From the large curved screen to the open-pore wood and the machined aluminum trim, it sets a standard the brand can be proud of.
The Lyriq is also pleasant to drive and prioritizes ride comfort over handling, so it’s not as sporty as the Acura, but that’s not such a bad thing in a large SUV. And it looks great, drawing as many stares as the ZDX when I drove it around for a few days. It’s easily the better deal out of the two.
The Cadillac Lyric is based on the same platform as the ZDX.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
A partnership that produced better results was when BMW and Toyota joined forces to build the Supra and the Z4. As amusing as all the memes were, the result of the partnership gave the world two distinct and excellent sports cars in a market saturated with overweight SUVs.
It’s the same with the Toyota GR86 and the Subaru BRZ twins, which are brilliant cars and have developed a cult-like following. Sports cars are expensive to make and difficult to get just right, but Toyota and Subaru have decades’ worth of racing experience and nailed down the formula.
Honda’s plan for its 0 Series line of electric vehicles is ambitious. They’ve coined the approach to its development “Thin, Light and Wise” in direct contrast to many current EVs that are saddled with large, heavy batteries and “thick” frames to support them. Honda says the new EVs will focus on the “joy of driving” and maximizing space for passengers, values the company has held dear for a long time. It sounds promising but we won’t see one of these new EVs till at least 2026. At least this time we know it will be a real Honda.
Shopping for a new car? Check out the new Globe Drive Build and Price Tool to see the latest discounts, rebates and rates on new cars, trucks and SUVs. Click here to get your price.