March 19, 2025

Riding up and down the coast of San Diego is therapeutic for the soul – I don’t make the rules!

In early March, I descended upon one of my favorite California destinations to join Acura during a media drive for their Acura ADX, the luxury manufacturer’s gateway SUV for the next generation. With the stunning Alila Marea Beachfront Resort as our home base, the experience was the perfect blend of luxury, performance, and pure West Coast vibes.

As Acura's newest compact luxury-adjacent SUV, the vehicle is designed to be an accessible step into the premium car world. It combines high-end features with everyday practicality, making it the perfect “grown-up” car for millennial and Gen Z drivers seeking style, tech, and performance while ditching the full luxury price tag.

I am what one would call a seasoned millennial, so I understand that we all hit that point where it’s time to level up. Whether that’s through career moves, lifestyle shifts (the girlies are getting married and starting families), or, if you’re anything like me, you may be preparing to say goodbye to the first car you purchased with your hard-earned coins that are holding on by a thread.

Enter the 2025 Acura ADX, the perfect “I’m grown, but still making smart money decisions” luxury adjacent ride.

Acura said let’s give the people premium without the stress, and honestly? They delivered.

Here are my thoughts on what makes this baby one of the vehicles of the year that’ll be sure to turn heads.

The Sound Systems Gives You The Chance To Put On A Full-Blown Car Concert With Your Faves.

If you’ve been keeping up with my thoughts here on As Told BY SLY, you know that I live for a good experience, and Acura understood the assignment with the 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system.

My standout feature is the Beosonic Tone & Surround wheel, allowing you to adjust the speaker system to your presence through options like Bright, Energetic, Warm, and Relaxed.

Since I set off during the sunrise drive at 5 AM, I began my drive on Relaxed to align with the sounds of Cleo Sound and similar artists, thanks to my latest favorite station on Pandora. By the end of my drive, however, I moved the wheel to match my energetic mood provided by Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, an album that has gotten a spin in my rotation since it first dropped in November 2024.

Immense Energy in a Compact, City-Friendly Package

Nothing beats a whip that fits your lifestyle! For me, that’s something smooth enough to glide through the city but still has that edge when you hit the highway.

Thanks to the turbocharged 1.5L VTEC engine, the Acura ADX is punchy without being over-the-top, and the sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels ensure you feel every bit of that Acura performance.

Lastly, there was a running joke that I was the “worst parker” during our funny high school superlatives, but that is because I did not have the multiview camera system, equipped with front and rear sensors, to help guide me into parking spaces with ease—as an adult behind the ADX, I put those folks to shame by sliding into spots like a pro!

A Soft Life SUV with Features You’ll Actually Use

I’m just a girl, and although I grew up in a household with a diesel mechanic and within a family entire of some of the best service members North of the Mississippi, I do not always utilize all of the features (or are even aware) that my cars have come equipped with.

But baby, let me tell you, the heated steering wheel was in full use for nearly four hours, so I got to drive and play around with the ADX. Talk about a blessing, whether you’re dealing with the cool, crispy weather on the East Coast that I’m accustomed to or the abnormally low temperatures that we experienced in San Diego during the last of the winter in early March.

The hands-free power tailgate is clutch for my parents, who like to load their groceries into the crib in one trip.

And the panoramic moonroof just screams Main Character Energy for every drive!

Final Verdict? The Acura ADX Appears To Be A Solid Move for First-Time Luxe Buyers.

With an MSRP, or Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, of $42,000 ($46K with AWF and upgrades), the ADX is a no-brainer if you’re a buyer looking to step into a more premium space without overcommitting to a full luxury price tag (Chile, how in this economy?).

It’s stylish, smart, and packed with features that actually enhance your everyday life, so if you’re looking for a sign to make your next grown–up purchase, this just might be it—tell ‘em SLY sent you!