Sunday Drive: 2026 Acura ADX AWD A-Spec Advance — A Southern California soundtrack
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- Rolling in style: The A-Spec package upgrades the ADX to these striking 19-inch Shark Gray alloy wheels. They don’t just look the part; they provide a planted, confident feel wherever we choose to venture in Southern California.
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- Step into the “Acura Precision Cockpit.” The driver-centric interior features a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a flat-bottom steering wheel that made every mile of our SoCal adventure feel like a lap on the track.
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- Sporty from every angle: The rear of the ADX A-Spec features a standard tailgate spoiler and dual exhaust finishers that highlight its performance-inspired DNA. Whether we were navigating coastal traffic or looking for a parking spot at the pier, the ADX stood out in the crowd
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- Comfort meets craftsmanship. Our test model featured the A-Spec’s exclusive seating with perforated microsuede inserts and contrast stitching. Even after hours in California’s infamous stop-and-go traffic, the ventilated seats kept us cool and collected.
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- Punching above its weight: Powered by a 190-horsepower VTEC® Turbo engine, the 2026 Acura ADX A-Spec proved to be the perfect companion for a week of exploration. From the beach to the boulevard, it’s a small SUV with a very big personality.
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- The 2026 Acura ADX A-Spec looks right at home under the Southern California sun. With its bold Diamond Pentagon Grille and “Chicane” LED daytime running lights, Acura’s newest compact SUV brings a sharp, aggressive presence to our Southern California trip.
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Rolling in style: The A-Spec package upgrades the ADX to these striking 19-inch Shark Gray alloy wheels. They don't just look the part; they provide a planted, confident feel wherever we choose to venture in Southern California.
It is always great to have an awesome vehicle waiting for us when we go on vacation, and our four days in Southern California with the all-new 2026 Acura ADX AWD A-Spec Advance proved to be the perfect combination.
Finished in eye-catching Milano Red, the ADX was our companion while attending the annual National Association of Musical Merchants, or NAMM, show at the Anaheim Convention Center and enjoying a little well-earned rest and relaxation squeezed in between long conference days. From congested freeways to ocean breezes and even a crawl along Hollywood Boulevard, Acura’s newest compact luxury SUV got the proper workout.
The ADX is an important vehicle for Acura. Slotting below the RDX, it’s designed to attract younger buyers, empty nesters and anyone who wants Acura style and performance in a more compact, city-friendly package. After several days navigating Southern California traffic and side trips, we came away convinced Acura has hit a very sweet spot.
First impressions count
Milano Red Pearl is one of those colors that looks good everywhere, but it felt especially at home under the Southern California sun. The ADX wears Acura’s latest design language well, with a bold pentagon grille, sharp LED lighting and crisp body lines that give it a sportier stance than you might expect from a compact SUV.
Courtesy photo
Step into the "Acura Precision Cockpit." The driver-centric interior features a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a flat-bottom steering wheel that made every mile of our SoCal adventure feel like a lap on the track.
The A-Spec Advance trim adds blacked-out accents, larger alloy wheels and subtle badging that hint this isn’t just a commuter appliance. Parked at our hotel near Anaheim, it stood out among a sea of rental cars and rideshares — a small thing, perhaps, but one that matters when you’re living with a vehicle for a few days.
Comfortable command center
Inside, the ADX continued Acura’s reputation for thoughtful, driver-focused interiors. The A-Spec Advance trim brought sport seats with Ultrasuede inserts, contrast stitching and plenty of bolstering without being overly aggressive. After long days on our feet at NAMM, sliding into those seats felt more like settling into a comfortable chair than dropping into a compact SUV.
The cabin design was clean and modern, with physical buttons where they made sense and a central touchscreen that was intuitive to use. Acura’s digital gauge cluster provided clear information at a glance, and was especially welcome while navigating unfamiliar roads.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto worked flawlessly, letting us keep maps, music and calls seamlessly connected. With NAMM being all about music, the premium audio system got plenty of use, delivering rich sound whether we were streaming playlists or catching up on podcasts between events.
Courtesy photo
Sporty from every angle: The rear of the ADX A-Spec features a standard tailgate spoiler and dual exhaust finishers that highlight its performance-inspired DNA. Whether we were navigating coastal traffic or looking for a parking spot at the pier, the ADX stood out in the crowd
NAMM days and freeway nights
Our primary mission was attending the NAMM show at the Anaheim Convention Center, which meant plenty of early mornings and late nights navigating packed freeways. Southern California traffic is nothing if not demanding, and the ADX handled it with ease.
Power came from a turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. It was not a rocket ship, but it delivered smooth, confident acceleration that’s perfectly suited for merging onto crowded interstates or darting into gaps in traffic. The transmission shifted unobtrusively, and the powertrain never felt strained, even with a full day’s worth of gear stashed in the cargo area.
Adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist took some of the stress out of stop-and-go traffic, and we appreciated how naturally these systems worked together. Acura has refined its driver-assist technology to the point where it supports the driver without feeling intrusive — a big plus when we were already juggling directions and deadlines.
Finding time to relax
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Comfort meets craftsmanship. Our test model featured the A-Spec’s exclusive seating with perforated microsuede inserts and contrast stitching. Even after hours in California’s infamous stop-and-go traffic, the ventilated seats kept us cool and collected.
Between conference sessions, we carved out time to enjoy what Southern California does best. A quick drive to the coast reminded us why people flock here year-round. The ADX was perfectly sized for weaving through beach town streets and finding parking near the sand.
Driving along the coast, the ADX felt composed and confident. The suspension stuck a nice balance between comfort and control, soaking up rough pavement while still feeling connected in sweeping curves. It’s the kind of tuning that encourages you to take the scenic route — even if it adds a few minutes to the drive.
Hollywood reality check
No trip to Southern California is complete without at least one moment of traffic-induced frustration, and ours came courtesy of Hollywood Boulevard. What looks glamorous on screen quickly turns into a slow crawl of tour buses, pedestrians, and stoplights that seem timed to test your patience.
Here again, the ADX proved itself a good travel companion. Excellent outward visibility and a responsive steering feel made it easier to navigate the chaos. The surround-view camera system was especially helpful in tight spots, and the quiet cabin helped keep stress levels in check as we inched along.
Courtesy photo
Punching above its weight: Powered by a 190-horsepower VTEC® Turbo engine, the 2026 Acura ADX A-Spec proved to be the perfect companion for a week of exploration. From the beach to the boulevard, it’s a small SUV with a very big personality.
The irony wasn’t lost on us — surrounded by iconic landmarks, yet moving at a walking pace. Still, it was one of those experiences you almost have to endure once, and doing so in a comfortable, well-equipped vehicle made it far more tolerable.
Safety and tech confidence
Acura has equipped the ADX with a comprehensive suite of safety features, and over four busy days we came to trust them. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and collision mitigation braking all worked seamlessly in the background.
What stood out most was how natural everything felt during our drives. Alerts were clear without being overly aggressive, and the systems never felt like they were fighting us for control. For a vehicle aimed at a wide range of drivers, that balance is crucial.
At the end of the trip
Courtesy photo
The 2026 Acura ADX A-Spec looks right at home under the Southern California sun. With its bold Diamond Pentagon Grille and "Chicane" LED daytime running lights, Acura’s newest compact SUV brings a sharp, aggressive presence to our Southern California trip.
By the time we returned the 2026 Acura ADX AWD A-Spec Advance, it felt like we’d spent more than just four days together. It had been our mobile office, our relaxation shuttle and our shield against Southern California traffic.
Acura has successfully created a compact luxury SUV that did not feel compromised. The ADX offered a style and technology buyers expect, along with a driving experience that proved both engaging and comfortable. For us it was easy to imagine this vehicle fitting just as well into daily life in Utah County as it did navigating Anaheim, the coast, and Hollywood.
Base price: $44,000
Destination charge: $1,450
Price as driven: $45,450
