Acura’s first mass-produced electric car, the ZDX crossover, was a flop. Based on the same electric architecture as the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Honda Prologue and built by General Motors, it survived a little over a year in production before Acura pulled the plug on it.
In 2024 and 2025 combined, the American automaker sold fewer than 20,000 ZDX EVs in the United States, which couldn't have been very profitable. With the $7,500 tax credit ending and GM and Honda's EV partnership looking like a dead end, it was time to call it. But Acura’s EV dreams are not over yet.
Despite a disappointing start, the American premium brand is set to debut an all-new, homegrown electric crossover this year that promises to right all the wrongs of the ZDX.
Dubbed the Acura RSX, the EV will be based on an all-new, bespoke platform developed in-house by Honda, known as the 0 Series. Honda will also build two models on the same architecture–the 0 Series SUV and 0 Series Saloon–but Acura has first dibs with the RSX, which will start rolling off the assembly line this year and arrive before either Honda.
All three models will be built at Honda’s EV hub in Ohio, making them the automaker's first U.S.-built EVs. In other words, they’re a pretty big deal. So let’s see what the Acura RSX is all about.
A new, ultra-efficient platform and a lot of tech goodies
Just like its Honda relatives, the Acura RSX will ride on the Japanese automaker’s new 0 Series platform, which was developed in-house. By using lightweight materials and mega casting technology during assembly and structural battery packs, Acura’s parent company says its new EVs should offer longer driving ranges and higher energy efficiency than the previous generation models.
A lot of aerodynamic work has also been done to make sure that the cars, including the Acura RSX, can go the extra mile. To this effect, the American electric crossover has a pretty sleek body, with muscular accents and a coupe-like profile similar to the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y.
All this being said, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the RSX. Honda said the 0 Series platform can accommodate 800-volt battery packs, but it’s unclear if the first models to debut will have this technology. With an 800V battery, EVs can charge faster at compatible DC fast chargers because they require lower currents compared to 400V EVs, and thus create less heat. But the company has hinted that this might not come to early vehicles on the platform.
Inside, the Acura RSX is expected to greet the driver and passengers with a lot of screens and an all-new, AI-enabled infotainment system called Asimo OS. That harks back to Honda’s legendary robot, so expectations are high. Honda promises its new EVs will be capable of receiving true over-the-air software updates while delivering a modern user experience. But AI will be pretty central to the experience, the brand says.
There are no photos of the interior yet, and there are only a handful of official exterior shots showing prototypes.
Performance
The Acura RSX will come standard with dual-motor all-wheel drive, but we don’t know how much power the EV will have when it hits dealerships later this year. When our own Kevin Williams went to Japan to test two 0 Series test mules, Honda said the most powerful version of its new electric drive unit would deliver 241 horsepower (180 kilowatts). If that applies to Acura, it would mean the most powerful version of the RSX could deliver a combined 482 hp, which is more than adequate. But typically combined output figures are lower than the additive total of their two motors, as power supply can be the limiting factor.
Brembo front brakes and double-wishbone front suspension are also on the menu for Acura’s new electric crossover, which is a good sign for driving enthusiasts, but other details are yet to be revealed. This includes battery capacity, estimated range and acceleration times.
The new underpinnings will also support vehicle-to-load (V2L), enabling owners to export energy from the main battery to power tools and appliances. A native Tesla-style NACS charging port will also be fitted from the factory.
Competitors
The discontinued Acura ZDX was bigger than the Tesla Model Y–and more expensive–but the upcoming RSX could take things down a notch in both these categories. With a slightly smaller footprint, the Acura RSX should be closer in size to the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, which are its biggest competitors. The Cadillac Optiq is also on the list, along with the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volvo EX60.
Availability and pricing
The Acura RSX will start rolling off assembly lines at Honda’s Ohio EV hub this year, with sales expected to kick off in the second half of 2026. The car was originally supposed to roll off the assembly line in 2025, but Honda and Acura delayed the rollout of their next-generation EVs.
The RSX will debut first, followed by the Honda 0 Series SUV toward the end of the year. The Honda 0 Series Saloon, meanwhile, was pushed to 2027.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but we can make an educated guess based on what Honda has said in the past. The company mentioned that the 0 Series Saloon will be positioned right below the Tesla Model S, which starts at around $87,000. Meanwhile, the 0 Series SUV and Acura RSX are expected to be more affordable. The ZDX’s starting price was around $66,000, so we hope the RSX will slot below that.
Gallery: Acura RSX EV Prototype: First Look
