Acura ADX A-Spec Advance: Is Fully Loaded The BEST Choice?

Also check out Drive Culture on YouTube. Drive Culture is detailed car review YouTube channel hosted by the ultimate car enthusiast, Jonathon Rivers.

Who is Jonathon Rivers?

Well, he’s a +15 year Auto Industry veteran, born and raised in the Motor City!

He lived several years in Japan, speaks & reads Japanese, and now works for American Honda Motor. (Although this channel is his own & not affiliated)

He’s owned several fun cars including a Evo IV, multiple Civic Si, Focus RS, and most recently the Integra Type S (which he lead planning for Acura)!

He’s also been lucky enough to drive just about every key new product in the market from compact cars, to SUVs, EVs and super cars!

If that isn’t enough to prove his “car guy” status, Jonathon has also been featured in Motor Trend, Car and Driver, AutoBlog, Jay Leno’s Garage, Raiti’s Rides and the SavageGeese channels! He’s on Instagram  here and Facebook here.

Check back every Friday at 7am Pacific Time for new content and videos!

The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.

A transcript, cleaned up by AI and edited by a staffer is below.

[Image: YouTube Screenshot]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by   subscribing to our newsletter.

Transcript:

Introduction

Now, the system always tries to hold the simulated gears. Here we are in SM1—it automatically upshifted. SM2, SM3—there’s 60. We’ll back off. So, it’s not that slow.

[Music] Welcome to Drive Culture. I’m Jonathan Rivers. Today, we have the 2025 Acura ADX A-Spec Advance, and I’ll explain why this is one of the best subcompact luxury SUVs on the market. We’ll go over the exterior, interior, powertrain, and, of course, take it for a drive. If you’re new to the channel, be sure to subscribe and hit the bell for more. Let’s get started.

Pricing & Trims

The 2025 Acura ADX is the brand’s first SUV in this smaller size segment. Acura has always offered the RDX, the MDX, and now the all-electric ZDX, but until now, nothing below that. The ADX serves as the entry SUV, much like the Integra is the entry sedan.

Pricing starts at about $35,000 MSRP, but fully loaded models like this A-Spec Advance trim come in at $44,000 before paint, destination, and handling fees.

This one is finished in Acura’s Urban Gray Pearl, a slate gray color with a yellow flake that stands out under sunlight.

Exterior

The exterior shows Acura’s latest design language. The sharp hood lines, bulging fenders, and updated headlights give it a sporty look. The headlights use a single large LED projector with a distinctive checkmark-style daytime running light. Acura branding is even etched into the housings.

The grille follows Acura’s “diamond pentagon” design, with the emblem in the center and integrated features like the 360-degree camera and front parking sensors.

Dealer-installed accessories on this model include a front spoiler extension and a rear lip kit, adding subtle styling touches. The lower front lip is finished in silver regardless of exterior color, and functional openings allow cooling for the turbocharged engine.

From the side, the ADX sits smaller than the RDX, with black cladding, A-Spec badging, and 19-inch Berlina Black wheels wrapped in Continental all-season tires. The mirrors are power-folding with integrated LED turn signals.

At the rear, the design is highlighted by a roof spoiler, sloping rear glass, and LED taillights with the same checkmark motif as the headlights. Dual exhaust outlets and a gloss black diffuser finish the look.

Interior

Inside, the A-Spec Advance trim delivers a premium feel with leather, suede inserts, and red upholstery. The contrast stitching extends across the dash, doors, and seats. The seats themselves are supportive, ventilated, and heated, with power adjustments for both driver and passenger.

The steering wheel is flat-bottomed, leather-wrapped, and heated, with large metal paddle shifters and A-Spec badging.

Technology includes a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Google Built-In provides Maps, Assistant, and access to the Play Store, allowing downloads of apps directly to the car.

Other features include a panoramic moonroof, multiple USB-C charging ports, a wireless charging pad, and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Rear Seating

Despite its compact size, rear space is generous. At 5’10”, I have plenty of knee and headroom. The flat floor allows comfortable seating for five. Premium materials carry over to the rear seats, and passengers get their own USB-C charging ports and ventilation.

Cargo

The power tailgate opens to 24.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up, expanding to 55.1 cubic feet when folded. There’s additional underfloor storage, including a jack and a full-size spare tire—something not always found in this segment.

Powertrain

All ADX models use a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a CVT transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available on higher trims like this one.

Drive Review

On the road, the ADX starts up smoothly, with animations in the digital cluster. A useful feature is the electronic parking brake release—it disengages automatically when you press the accelerator.

Drive modes include Comfort, Sport, and others, selectable via a toggle near the shifter. Comfort mode softens responses for city driving, while Sport sharpens throttle and steering for a more engaging feel.