Acura ZDX Type S.
Honda’s first EV, the Prologue, is getting all the attention but the Acura ZDX Type S likely points to Honda’s EV future. Here’s why.
Acura ZDX Type S review backdrop: ADAS
I’ve been testing lots of EVs over the last few months with a focus on ADAS or Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. Tesla Autopilot is the best-known example of an ADAS. These systems take over driving tasks such as steering, acceleration and braking. Vehicles I’ve test driven this year with ADAS include the Rivian R1S, Rivian R1T, Subaru Solterra, Cadillac Lyriq, Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, and Ford F-150 Lightning, among others. I’ve also recently tested Tesla’s Full Self Driving on a Model Y.
In 2025 EVs are about ADAS
Electric vehicles used to be about the paradigm shift from gas to electric and how far you could go on a charge and the convenience of charging at home. While that’s obviously very important, the future of EVs — and the future of driving — is autonomy. Elon Musk is actually right about this. Technologies like Tesla’s Full Self Driving, General Motors Super Cruise, Ford’s BlueCruise, and Rivian’s Highway Assist fundamentally change the way you drive.
ADAS: with vs without
I can’t emphasize enough how an ADAS like Honda’s changes the driving experience. Driving instantly becomes much less tedious and stressful. Your only responsibility is to stay alert. On the highway, the car essentially drives itself. I now look forward to taking medium- and long-distance trips. Even in Los Angeles traffic!
Vital specs
The Acura ZDX Type S is fast (0-60 in 4.3 seconds) with plenty of range — over 300 miles (the variant I drove). And public charging is fast. I averaged over 100 kW charging speeds at Electrify America, which makes for a fast charge. As spelled out below, one of its best features is Hands Free Cruise based on General Motors SuperCruise gen 2. The ZDX Type S has a starting MSRP of about $73,500 but is eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit.
Honda Prologue Vs Acura ZDX Type S
The Honda Prologue — the ZDX’s cousin — is now the No.4 bestselling EV in the U.S., according to Cox Automotive. Testimony to a successful collaboration with General Motors, which makes the Prologue and Acura ZDX for Honda (though Honda will do development in-house in the future). At this time, however, the Honda Prologue does not include General Motors’ Super Cruise — which Honda calls Hands Free Cruise. It is only available on the Acura ZDX Type S, which I test drove for a week.
Honda’s Hands-Free Cruise
In testing the ZDX, I found it to be the most reliable/stable iteration of SuperCruise that I’ve tested to date. It worked in more situations and disengaged less often than SuperCruise on other GM EVs that I’ve tested.
The Acura uses GM’s Super Cruise gen 2. The newest GM ADAS has two big changes: it has a much larger map than the gen 1 — which means it works on more roads — and adds automatic lane change. With the addition of automatic lane change, most highway driving is done for you. A drive I took from Los Angeles to the Mojave Desert (near Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve) via Interstate 5 and Route 138 was done almost entirely — once I cleared Los Angeles traffic — with Hands Free Cruise. That means I simply sat behind the wheel while the car did the steering, acceleration, braking, and lane changes. In short, I did little or nothing but stay alert and listen to music. The lane changes were particularly impressive. With Hands Free Cruise, the car will decide when to pass slower cars, execute the pass, then return to the right-hand lane. Hand Free Cruise also worked on 138, a lesser two-lane highway that meanders through the desert. That was impressive since I had tried gen 1 SuperCruise on 138 and didn’t work. The only places Hands Free Cruise didn’t work were on-ramps and exits and local roads in the Mojave Desert.
Los Angeles traffic is another story
Alas, Los Angeles traffic with its unpredictability and ubiquitous construction zones is a different story. And definitely not a cakewalk. Please see my video that shows ZDX with Hands Free Cruise (above) in some pretty hairy situations on Interstate 5 in heavy traffic in Los Angeles. To summarize the video: construction zones combined with heavy traffic present edge cases for any ADAS. Hands Free Cruise would sometimes suddenly disengage. And that can be unnerving if you’re not prepared for the loud warning beep and the sudden lurch when it disengages. That said, this problem is not limited to Honda’s Hands Free Cruise. All ADAS I’ve used have, more or less, the same problem with very heavy traffic and construction zones. When unconventional/hazardous driving conditions are detected, ADAS software will err on the side of caution and more often than not disengage.
Making sure an EV has ADAS tech isn’t easy, even in 2025
Teslas come with Autopilot standard. So that’s a done deal on any Tesla. But if you’re buying an EV from a traditional carmaker, it’s more complicated and you’re on your own. And it ain’t pretty. As a rule, dealer salespersons will not tell you if the EV you’re buying has an ADAS. (And many dealers don’t even show it on their website!) Based on my experience, I would say maybe half (at best) the salespeople will tell you voluntarily or even know whether the trim you’re looking at has an ADAS. Chevrolet and Cadillac dealers being a good example. But it’s really the same at all dealers. So you have to do your own research. (See the video above where I talk more about this.)
SuperCruise is #2
Not all electric vehicle ADAS platforms are equal. After lots of testing of various ADAS, I’ve come to the conclusion that GM’s SuperCruise is the No.2 ADAS in the U.S. after market leader (and gold standard) Tesla. That’s not just based on performance but the fact that Super Cruise penetration in the U.S. market is growing quickly. And it will be available on a raft of GM EVs in 2025, including:
- Acura ZDX Type S (made by GM)
- Cadillac Lyriq
- Cadillac Optiq (Super Cruise standard — a first for GM)
- Cadillac Escalade IQ
- Chevy Equinox
- Chevy Blazer EV
- Chevy Silverado EV
Upshot
The Acura ZDX Type S is a fast, dual-motor SUV with long range battery options and the best iteration of GM’s Super Cruise to date.
