Acura’s lineup is in danger of being 100% crossover-based, with its lauded Integra the sole holdout. This is a bummer, as the long-gone TSX and more recently departed TLX (née TL) were excellent cars. After briefly driving the Integra in its hottest Type S spec, I can tell you that Honda’s luxury arm still knows how to build killer cars, but we all know America loves crossovers, so it seems that 100% threshold is practically guaranteed.
Perhaps to soothe this enthusiast whining, Acura has released the ADX, a new small SUV it says pulls from the Integra’s global architecture. That’s a fair statement, though you’d be hard-pressed to miss the Honda HR-V likeness on the ADX, particularly from the rump. After a week spent behind the wheel of a 2026 ADX in A-Spec Advance duds, it’s clear Acura still builds sport-forward vehicles, just less frequently in traditional car guise.
Elevated Badge Engineering
I’m the first car nerd to jump on the badge engineering finger-pointing train and complain loudly about this long-running automotive approach to saving money. GM really knocked badge engineering out of the park back in the day, and I mean that in the most ridiculous way possible. (See: TrailBlazer/Envoy/Bravada/Ascender/Rainier/9-7X sextuplets) Fortunately, Acura has done a more admirable job with the ADX and its Honda HR-V cousin. Really, the ADX is a lot more than just a spruced-up HR-V.
Outside, this is clearest when looking at the front-end. It’s all Acura, with a pointy nose and triple-creased hood. The automaker’s Chicane lighting looks dope as always - especially at night - front and back. You also cannot enjoy Double Apex Blue Pearl paint on the Honda, and it is absolutely worth the $600 premium. However, stand at the ADX’s rear three-quarter, and you’ll pick up that HR-V familial line.
Heart Of An Integra
Under the skin, however, the changes go deeper. First and foremost, you get the same 1.5L turbocharged inline-4 found in the base Integra. It’s down 10 hp, for 190 horses and 179 lb-ft of torque, but represents a big upgrade over the 158-horse naturally aspirated mill in the HR-V. Then there are specially tuned suspension and steering components, plus a long list of sound-insulating upgrades that make the ADX an Acura.
Now I know there’s a 0% chance Acura is putting a manual transmission in the ADX, but could I request an automatic over the current CVT? Pressed hard, I was not picking up any of the simulated gear changes purportedly delivered by the Step Shift programming. What I did hear was plenty of swishy-swashy noises and poky pick-up. It was at odds with the sporting pretenses of the A-Spec Advance, which does a fine job of slinging through the esses. Crisper shifts would be a welcome addition here.
Cabin Rizz
Something the ADX A-Spec Advance delivers in spades is cabin style. An Orchid microsuede-trimmed getup is newly available for 2026 and looks the stuff. It pops against the lovely white leather upholstery that would be a disaster were my kids allowed to ride around in their typical transportation protocol of food, drinks, and filthy clothing - which they were not.
I love a big panoramic moonroof, which comes standard here, as does a B&O audio system with 15 components. It includes a trunk-mounted sub that cranks and makes for fantastic highway runs with the windows down and moonroof wide open. Big hat tip to Acura for using a relatively small infotainment screen in the ADX. At just 9” across, it’s a pipsqueak by modern standards, but this is a subcompact SUV and since when do all cars need to have gigantic displays dominating the dashboard?
Save The PRNDL
While I’m on the kudos campaign, let’s also celebrate the traditional PRNDL in the ADX. It not only fits into my wildly popular Save The PRNDLs campaign that was started with the Kia K4 Hatchback, but makes the drive experience intuitive and easy.
Those adjectives are in short supply these days as automakers seem hell-bent on outdoing one another by building the wackiest driver-car interface possible. This is seemingly done in the name of innovation, but really just means you’ll have to watch a YouTube video to figure out what goes where.
Is The 2026 Acura ADX Worth A Look?
Not so with the ADX, as it manages to blend the goodness of its Honda roots with the crisper, sportier vibes of its Acura bloodline. At about $36,000 to start, there’s a case to be made here for skipping the German competition. Even in top-line A-Spec Advance setup, the ADX is about $44,000, which remains something of a bargain in today’s high-priced market. Just be sure to pony up for that Double Apex Blue Pearl finish; it’s a looker.
About the author: Niel Stender is an automotive journalist. More of his work can be found at muckrack.com/niel-stender