What A Fully Loaded Acura ZDX Costs

If you’ve made it in life, then you’re probably considering splurging on a luxury electric vehicle (EV). I’ve always said this before in my electric luxury car reviews, but if an engine isn’t a selling point in a luxury car (for example, its engine sound) then going electric makes a certain luxury car even more refined. After all, automakers spend so much time isolating the internal combustion engine (ICE) in luxury cars that, by replacing it with an electric motor, this noise source is pretty much eliminated.

Now, if you’re in the market for a luxury EV, it’s the German automakers and, to a certain degree, Tesla (which has been reducing its prices dramatically over the past years), that lead the charge in the United States. The Japanese, on the other hand, are lagging. Honda and its premium brand Acura, however, now have a compelling EV with the Prologue and ZDX, respectively.

Well, here’s the ZDX, Acura’s competitor to the Tesla Model Y. It’s an electric crossover with sporting intentions that’s in line with the Acura brand’s Precision Crafted Performance philosophy. This is even more true with the range-topping Type S, which is the ZDX at its sportiest and most dynamic form. Now, if you’ve got the money to splurge even more for a fully loaded Type S with all the accessories and packages fitted, how much will you be paying for this performance-oriented EV?

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Acura and other authoritative sources, including The Drive and Car and Driver for driven impressions.

A Fully-Loaded ZDX Costs Over $80,000

As mentioned, a fully loaded 2024 Acura ZDX means starting off with the performance-oriented Type S, which has a base price of $74,500 before destination charges and any possible incentives. Your only optional extra for this vehicle is one of the available vibrant paint selections that cost $600, but if you include all available accessory combinations, here’s what could be fitted to the ZDX and how much it costs.

What You Get Is A Sportier, More Functional ZDX

The plethora of accessories available for the ZDX helps in improving its looks. The ZDX already looks sporty in your typical Acura fashion but with accessories like the blacked-out enclosed grille, the front chin, the side skirt extensions, and the rear diffuser (not included if you want the tow hitch, however), the ZDX looks even sportier than it already is. Add to that the sleek roof box that’s mounted on top of the roof crossbars, the ZDX looks functional and sleek in a sporty way that suits this electric SUV’s character really well.

To achieve this look, you’ll have to spend on the following accessory combinations. These accessories are the most expensive that’s available, and in total, these accessories cost a total of $7,042. Together with the destination fees, a fully loaded ZDX Type S costs a grand total of $83,492. Here’s a breakdown of the optional extras and accessories that were fitted to the ZDX.

Exterior And Interior:

• Double Apex Blue Pearl: $600 Packages
• Type S Performance Wheel & Tire: $1,000

Accessories

1. All-Season Protection Package II, Type S (Wheel Locks – Chrome • Cargo Tray • All-Season Floor Mats, Type S) – $485
2. Valve Stem Caps – $30
3. Wheel Lugs, Black – $325
4. Door Mirror Cover, Carbon Fiber – $600
5. Emblems, Gloss Black A-Mark & ZDX – $210
6. Emblems, Gloss Black AWD – $35
7. Emblems, Gloss Black E – $30
8. Front Under Spoiler – $600
9. Front Grille – $375
10. Lower Door Garnish – $260
11. Side Under Spoiler – $800
12. Tailgate Spoiler – $1,000
13. Trailer Hitch – $795
14. Roof Crossbar – $315
15. Roof Box, Midsize – $567
16. Door Edge Film – $55
17. Protection Film Package – $135
18. Cargo Cover – $220
19. Rear Seat Back Protector – $110
20. Cargo Net – $60
21. First-Aid Kit – $35

What Else A ZDX Type S Offers

As for the other aspects of the ZDX Type S, the interior is a nice place to be. Visually speaking,

the interior of the ZDX Type S
is filled with genuine materials that range from brushed aluminum to plush leather, but the build quality from its German rivals looks far more consistent. Oh, and since this is essentially the luxury version of the Prologue, there are a few interior parts that came from other GM electric SUVs, such as the steering, the main infotainment screen itself, and most of the interior physical controls.

Likewise, its Ultium platform and battery are shared with vehicles like the Cadillac Lyriq. Both models get a 102 kWh lithium-ion nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery, but the Cadillac ends up having superior specs than the ZDX on paper. Where the ZDX Type S in particular showcases its sporting intentions is with its Brembo six-piston brakes up front and adaptive air suspension that offers both a cosseting ride and composed handling.

What It’s Like To Drive The ZDX Type S

The 2024 Acura ZDX Type S looks sporty and has some of the hardware to be a sporty electric SUV, but does it actually fulfill the role of being Acura’s more passionate EV? The Type S badge has been applied to Acuras with true sporting intents, but as you read through the real-world experience by independent reviewers, it’ll help you manage your expectations.

Performance Specifications

Its Cosetting Pros

As expected in a vehicle with a more premium positioning, the ZDX Type S is even more comfortable, refined, and quiet than the Prologue. The suppleness of the ZDX Type S’s ride quality, along with the pleasant tech experience provided by its GM-sourced infotainment and Bang & Olufsen surround sound system are impressive. Changing drive modes, however, is a faff, but everything else works well. As for the range, you get up to 313 miles on a full charge, making it the Japanese EV with the best range.

The Dynamic Shortcomings

Unfortunately, if you’re expecting the same Type S magic that you experience from the MDX, Integra, and TLX, you’ll probably be left wanting more. To be fair, there’s nothing wrong with the ZDX Type S’ handling, as it’s reasonably dynamic and flat-footed in changing directions. However, it doesn’t have the full Type S flavor that Acura’s gas-powered models have. It’s a sign of Acura’s technical limitations in working on a platform that isn’t theirs, and it shows in aspects like the steering, which, while precise and responsive, is devoid of any feedback. And, while 499 horsepower sounds delicious, it isn’t helped by the fact that the ZDX Type S is one porky electric SUV.

That’s why we say that you should manage your expectations. For us, we recommend just sticking to the A-Spec variants since you get more range out of their slightly less powerful electric motors. The dynamic abilities of the ZDX Type S aren’t drastically different from what the other ZDX models are able to offer anyway.

Nevertheless, The ZDX Is Still An Important Car

The 2024 Acura ZDX Type S may not be the sporty EV we were hoping for, but it remains to be a pleasant EV to drive. At the same time, it’s also an important product for both Acura and GM in more ways than one.

It Speeds Up Acura’s EV Deployment

It’s no secret that the Japanese automotive industry is reluctant to make the shift towards EVs, and to a brand like Acura in particular, corporate decision-making is closely tied to its mother company, Honda. Like the Prologue, the ZDX is a compelling EV, but its speed from announcement to finally being on sale is a lot more rapid thanks to GM. If Acura and Honda were to develop a compelling EV for the North American market, it would take them far longer to release one and could have missed the EV boat by then.

Whilst Splitting The Cost With GM

Finally, developing an EV, let alone a competitive and compelling one from scratch is an expensive endeavor. You have to create an entirely new R&D team, as well as a supply chain and a production line. By partnering with GM, Honda and Acura’s development time wasn’t just shorter, but it was also a lot less costly. This also helps GM in earning back the investment it made in creating the Ultium platform and battery technology, as well as the R&D team and production line that’s needed to fulfill the American automaker’s EV endeavors. At the moment, GM is currently on variable profits for its EVs. Variable profit means that your earnings from each EV sold exceed your variable costs, which is a good metric since it has been slowly increasing year after year, according to GM’s CEO Mary Barra.