2010 Acura ZDX vs 2010 BMW X6 November 18, 2009 AUTORIVALS.NET

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The introduction of the BMW X6 has introduced a whole new niche. BMW tries to call it a Sports Activity Coupe but it's really just an SUV with a sloping rear end effectively combining the worst of two worlds. It has the reduced cargo capacity of a coupe combined with the poorer traits such as handling, maneuverability, and fuel mileage of an SUV. So what's the point? One reason and one reason only, vanity style. The X6 brings a new look to the SUV world and admittedly, it looks good. It's had a year to see how it would do and the people have spoken, they like it. Sales have been good and Acura has noticed. Rather than letting the X6 steal all the attention, they've created their own atrocity fastback SUV, the ZDX. 2010 Acura ZDX vs 2010 BMW X6 The ZDX continues Acura's new styling direction of part futuristic, part Decepticon. The ZDX looks better than other iterations of Acura's styling but the stance is a little wide and a little low giving off a slight wagon appearance. The X6 starts off with an X5 front end with a revised front fascia. Its extremely aggressive with a tall stance and nicely chiseled hood. The bumper design is styled well to match the assertiveness of the rest of the vehicle. Things start to take different shape at this angle. The sloping rear is visible which makes both vehicles look disproportioned. Acura incorporated a few differentiating features on the ZDX. Notice the ZDX's trick door handles that are placed by the window instead on the door. It tries to enhance the coupe-like design but nothing will ever make an SUV look like a coupe. The ZDX's windows also suffer by going for the coupe look with them being too short, especially the rear sides. The BMW keeps the windows large (except for the rear) for good proportions and driver visibility. The ZDX includes a full panoramic roof which tapers in slightly toward the rear. It creates a flat rear quarter panel high above the wheels (best seen in the rear view). Both rear's look tall but the ZDX offsets the look with a tinted window. The rear window is only limited to a small slit in the X6 which greatly impairs driver visibility. The ZDX integrates a dark tinted slit into its trunk similar to how the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius do to help visibility. The ZDX's tail lights have a nice form but aren't as polished as the X6's. Also, the reflectors on the bottom look out of place and unfinished at the bottom. They're integrated next to the exhaust pipes which is unique but not as nice as the bold exhaust pipes on the X6. BMW's familiar interior design from other models is also thrown into the X6. It looks more luxurious than the ZDX with a nice combination of materials and colors. The ZDX's center stack layout is a bit better though with a high placed center screen and better button designs compared to the 1990s look of the X6.

SPECIFICATIONS PRICE: $45,495 (Base) ENGINE: 3.7L V6 HORSEPOWER: 300 hp TORQUE: 270 lb-ft SIZE (L x W x H): 192.4 x 78.5 x 62.8 in. WEIGHT: 4421 - 4500 lb 0-60 MPH: 6.4 sec 1/4 MILE: 14.9 sec @ 95 mph TOP SPEED:   127 mph FUEL (CITY/HWY): 16 / 22 Share SPECIFICATIONS PRICE: $55,900 - $66,650 ENGINE: 3.0L I6 Twin-Turbocharged - 4.4L V8 Twin-Turbocharged HORSEPOWER: 300 - 400 hp TORQUE: 300 - 450 lb-ft SIZE (L x W x H): 192.1 x 78.1 x 66.5 in. WEIGHT: 4894 - 5269 lbs 0-60 MPH: 5.1 - 5.9 sec 1/4 MILE: 13.8 sec @ 102 mph - 14.6 sec @ 95 mph TOP SPEED:   157 mph FUEL (CITY/HWY): 12-15/18-20 mpg RECAP RECAP PROS +Trick door handles +Panoramic roof +Rear tinted window helps visibility CONS -It's pointless -Looks unfinished -Exhaust pipes/reflectors PROS +Muscular design +Nicely integrated tail pipes +Richer looking interior Cons -It's pointless -Hugely impaired rear driver visibility

Video Source: YouTube via AutolineDaily.com Video Source: YouTube via Cars.com

NOTES So what's the point exactly? The regular X5 SUV manages to get 14-15/19-21 mpg. Granted it's not as quick but does it need to be? The ZDX on the other hand, has less cargo space than a Honda Fit while only being able to tow as much as a Honda CR-V. This new segment recalls what happened when the Ford Explorer was first introduced. Time magazine put the Explorer on their "The 50 Worst Cars of All Time" list. They describe the SUV phenomenon the best: "In its very success, the Ford Explorer is responsible for setting this country on the spiral of vehicular obesity that we are still contending with today. People, particularly women drivers, discovered that they liked sitting up high. Even though more fuel-efficient minivans do the kid- and cargo-hauling duties better, people came to prefer the outdoorsy, go-anywhere image of SUVs. In other words, people became addicted to the pose. And, as vehicles got bigger and heavier, buyers sought out even bigger vehicles to make themselves feel safe. Helloooo Hummer. All of that we can lay at the overachieving feet of the Explorer." - Time We (and especially Al Gore) can only hope this same trend doesn't happen again.