Design Breakthrough: Acura ZDX

Between the unusual mocha leather and futuristic styling cues, the interior of the all-new Acura ZDX leaves Ward's editors pleasantly surprised and hopeful that future Acuras will carry on the ZDX's interior DNA.

Replete with unusual and visionary touches, including leather-wrapped concave instrument-panel trim and shield-shaped center stack that is convex, rising to a peak at its middle, the overall feel of the 5-passenger CUV's interior is — dare we say — otherworldly, and matches well its angular exterior styling.

“It felt like I was sitting in a giant Transformer,” Ward's Associate Editor Byron Pope writes.

Ward's tested a $56,855 '10 ZDX offering a voice-activated navigation system, perforated leather seats and blind-spot detection system.

The eye naturally is drawn to the center stack, which starts with a protruding brow over the navigation/infotainment screen and extends down to the large dial controller for many of the screen's functions.

The convex shield-shape of the lower center stack is fetching, and the audio and HVAC controls within the space are clean and contemporary.

With the radio off, the buttons appear black, with no typeface. But when the audio system is turned on, the buttons illuminate with a crisp white light.

Such attention to detail can be found throughout the ZDX. Notably, its cargo area boasts thoughtful touches, such as a strut-assisted lid for an under-floor bin.

In the center console, sliding, tensioned doors hide a power outlet and cupholder, the latter's door an extension of the armrest.

A second console cupholder is hidden beneath a louvered manually operated door that matches the patterned, silver carbon-fiber trim surrounding the shifter and used as accent trim throughout.

A panoramic sunroof, with windows over the front- and rear-passenger seats, lets the sun shine in on the brown and dark gray color scheme.

Ward's judges appreciate the high-quality materials employed in the ZDX, including deeply grained leathers, suede-like headliner, looped carpeting and cushy material swathing the upper instrument panel.

The execution also is supreme, as the soft-touch upper IP is one continuous piece with no visible seams.

The ZDX showcases unique thinking in interiors and, more importantly, goes a long way toward establishing an identity for Acura.