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2010 Acura ZDX Safety Review

November 9, 2009

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

No rating
NHTSA

No rating
IIHS

Includes two-chamber side-impact airbags for the front seats
Cars.com

restrictive C-pillars, which block rearward visibility
Popular Mechanics

TheCarConnection.com expects the 2010 Acura ZDX to score top safety ratings from NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), though neither agency has crash-tested the crossover as of this writing.

Cars.com reports that, "along with the required frontal airbags, the ZDX includes two-chamber side-impact airbags for the front seats" and side curtain airbags that offer significant rollover protection. As is the norm on most models sold in the United States, anti-lock brakes will come standard on every 2010 Acura ZDX. In addition, Cars.com states that "an electronic stability system with traction control" and "active head restraints for the front seats" will be standard on the Acura ZDX.

The ZDX also offers options like a multiview camera for a 180-degree span when reversing. Other advanced safety options include a blind-spot alert system, a collision-mitigating braking system, and adaptive cruise control. The visual aids are almost a necessity; with cargo, the view directly back can disappear, though the half-moon window and glass panel on the tailgate offer better visibility than expected. The rear three-quarter view is almost nonexistent, as TheCarConnection.com's editors observe. Popular Mechanics observes that the "restrictive C-pillars...block rearward visibility," while USA Today says that "fat rear roof pillars and a horizontal crossbar partway down the tailgate's glass panel" also limit the view out the back of the ZDX. These criticisms lead Popular Mechanics to argue that "blind-spot detection should come standard at every trim level," but unfortunately only those ZDXes equipped with the Advanced Package will get the blind spot monitoring and "rear camera with selectable views," according to USA Today.

Conclusion

The 2010 Acura ZDX has lots of standard safety gear, but no crash-test scores as of yet-and needs all the rearview help it can get.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:No ratingNHTSANo ratingIIHSIncludes two-chamber side-impact airbags for the front seatsCars.comrestrictive C-pillars, which block rearward visibilityPopular Mechanics TheCarConnection.com expects the 2010 Acura ZDX to score top safety ratings from NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), though neither agency has crash-tested the crossover as of this writing. Cars.com reports that, "along with the required frontal airbags, the ZDX includes two-chamber side-impact airbags for the front seats" and side curtain airbags that offer significant rollover protection. As is the norm on most models sold in the United States, anti-lock brakes will come standard on every 2010 Acura ZDX. In addition, Cars.com states that "an electronic stability system with traction control" and "active head restraints for the front seats" will be standard on the Acura ZDX. The ZDX also offers options like a multiview camera for a 180-degree span when reversing. Other advanced safety options include a blind-spot alert system, a collision-mitigating braking system, and adaptive cruise control. The visual aids are almost a necessity; with cargo, the view directly back can disappear, though the half-moon window and glass panel on the tailgate offer better visibility than expected. The rear three-quarter view is almost nonexistent, as TheCarConnection.com's editors observe. Popular Mechanics observes that the "restrictive C-pillars...block rearward visibility," while USA Today says that "fat rear roof pillars and a horizontal crossbar partway down the tailgate's glass panel" also limit the view out the back of the ZDX. These criticisms lead Popular Mechanics to argue that "blind-spot detection should come standard at every trim level," but unfortunately only those ZDXes equipped with the Advanced Package will get the blind spot monitoring and "rear camera with selectable views," according to USA Today. ConclusionThe 2010 Acura ZDX has lots of standard safety gear, but no crash-test scores as of yet-and needs all the rearview help it can get. 2010 ACURA ZDX STYLING | [7 out of 10] CNET: "A mash-up of sedan, SUV, and sports coupe" USA Today: "ZDX looks far less exciting in photos than on the road" Popular Mechanics: "Interior lives up to the aesthetically ambitious exterior" What is it? You might ask the same question at ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

With its upscale price and features and its unusual blend of coupe and SUV, the 2010 Acura ZDX has few peers in the car world. It's closest to the new BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo and BMW X6 in mission; the X6 has a higher pricetag and slightly more usable room than the ZDX, while the Gran Turismo has a very spacious backseat, a tall roofline, and a flexible cargo area that puts function first. The Infiniti FX sport-ute possesses a jazzy style all its own, with tight rear seats and not much cargo space. Best of all is the new Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, a five-door hatchback with longer rear doors than the CTS sedan; it has good cargo space, very good rear-seat room and access, and a compelling shape that's distinct from its four-door cousin, along with an option for all-wheel drive.

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See the Acura ZDX in Other Years:

2011 | 2010

Comments (2 total)

  1. By Tom #1, Posted: 10/13/2009

    Torque vectoring all wheel drive and a Helmholtz resonator? No fooling? Acura turns-up the wick to bring you the ultimate Pontiac Aztek - from the looks of things.
    I can see it now... with all his bases seemingly covered and not a care in the world, Pops guns it pulling out of the lot at Sun Valley or Winter Park or wherever and finds a vector right into the ditch across the snow-covered street. No matter how totted-up they are, they still don't drive themselves.
    No thanks. I'll keep my '99 Grand Cherokee Limited in reserve until something better comes along. Might even throw the old Jeep in low range and pull a few of these ZDX things out of the ditches they're sure to find themselves in.

  2. By Tom #2, Posted: 10/13/2009

    Torque vectoring all wheel drive and a Helmholtz resonator? No fooling? Acura turns-up the wick to bring you the ultimate Pontiac Aztek - from the looks of things.
    I can see it now... with all his bases seemingly covered and not a care in the world, Pops guns it pulling out of the lot at Sun Valley or Winter Park or wherever and finds a vector right into the ditch across the snow-covered street. No matter how totted-up they are, they still don't drive themselves.
    No thanks. I'll keep my '99 Grand Cherokee Limited in reserve until something better comes along. Might even throw the old Jeep in low range and pull a few of these ZDX things out of the ditches they're sure to find themselves in.

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