Acura is late to the EV party — but its first electric SUV looks like a winner

• Acura has revealed its very first electric vehicle, the ZDX SUV.
• It touts up to 500 horsepower and 325 miles of range for a starting price of $60,000.

Acura has waltzed in fashionably late to the electric-vehicle party, but its first EV effort looks like a winner — on paper at least.

Honda's luxury brand has bided its time while rivals like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes rolled out multiple new EV models, all aiming to snag a piece of the pie that Elon Musk's Tesla baked. On Thursday, Acura revealed its very first EV to the world: the 2024 ZDX.

The SUV hits the scene with sharp styling and the kind of performance that should make it a true competitor to today's best EVs.

Range is estimated at a respectable 325 miles for a more efficient, rear-wheel-drive version, and 315 miles for an all-wheel-drive variant. Acura says a high-performance Type S model will crank out up to 500 horsepower, which is sure to result in the dizzying quickness EV drivers love to show off to friends.

A maximum charging rate of 190 kilowatts will allow ZDX owners to recoup 81 miles of range in 10 minutes, Acura says. Not too shabby.

The ZDX shares its underlying technology and therefore lots of its key specs with the Cadillac Lyriq. General Motors and Honda are working together on EV tech, and the ZDX will be built on a GM platform at a GM factory.

Acura went the safe route with a premium interior design that looks basically like a regular gas car's. No minimalism or TV-sized screens in here. The cockpit isn't exactly forward-thinking, but some buyers will surely appreciate the familiarity.

The SUV will come equipped with tech like built-in Google Maps and a hands-free driving feature that will work (under supervision) on 400,000 miles of approved roads.

Acura says the ZDX will start at around $60,000, with the Type S commanding more like $70,000. That's a pretty penny, but practically all EVs cost a lot more than their gas counterparts in these early days.

Not all new entrants are nearly as compelling. Lexus's recently-launched first EV, the RZ450e, costs nearly $60,000 but offers a paltry 220 miles of range and slower charging speeds.

Just a few short years ago, Tesla was the main game in town. Now deep-pocketed buyers have their pick of appealing electric sedans and SUVs from many of their favorite premium brands. Acura is just the latest to enter the fray.

All that means unprecedented competition for Tesla, which has dropped prices several times this year — most recently on Tuesday — in an apparent attempt to boost demand.

The ZDX is set to go on sale in early 2024.