The Japanese EV With The Highest Driving Range In 2024 – TopSpeed

The undisputed stumbling block to widespread electric car adoption is driving range, and driving range is dictated by electricity-storage capacity, which dictates the size of the onboard battery – the larger the battery, the more energy it can store; the more energy it can store, the farther your EV can go – and that is dictated by vehicle size.

Theoretically, larger EVs will be able to go longer distances without recharging, but then there is the human element – people don’t just want to sit in cars to get somewhere, they want space to take along stuff to while away the journey, and longer journeys usually require more stuff. And, ambient temperature and driving speed also work against driving range, though good infrastructure could mean endless EV range.

As you can see, there are a lot of “ands” to the developing technology, and it’s a fine balancing act that EV designers constantly struggle with. Japanese companies especially struggle with the realities of long-distance EV use, since their country is smaller, their public transportation is more efficient, and their cars are mainly geared toward short journeys at low speeds. Having to market cars around the world, though, traditionally reliable Japanese EV makers have considered the benefits of extending the range in their vehicles, and this particular EV stands out for its superior driving range on a single charge.

The Acura ZDX Has The Longest Range Of Any Japanese EV At 313 Miles

Boasting an impressive EPA-estimated range of 313 miles, the Acura ZDX stands out as the Japanese EV with the longest driving range to date. Its larger size allows Acura to fit it with a larger onboard battery, allowing its users to go farther than competitors like Honda’s Prologue, the Lexus RZ, the Toyota bZ4X, and the Nissan Ariya.

Batteries add the biggest cost to the bottom line of an EV, and the Acura ZDX is better able to justify the expenditure because it is a luxury model that’s expected to be fitted with the finest materials and leading-edge technology. It was Acura’s first all-electric SUV and currently its only offering.

The Acura ZDX Goes 313 Miles Without A Recharge

The Acura ZDX’s EPA-rated range of 313 miles is a primary result of the large 102 kWh battery, and advanced energy management that optimizes the use of power, particularly in eco-driving modes. The car’s relatively lightweight design and aerodynamic body help reduce energy consumption at higher speeds, and made the Acura ZDX a widely-anticipated EV.

Reviews from media outlets suggest that real-world driving is not too far removed from advertised and computer-modeled ranges, with the Acura ZDX traveling between 310 and 320 miles on a single charge, when best driving practices are used.

However, not every EV can attain the computer-generated predictions because of real-world outside forces, such as driver input and weather, and some reviews show a real-world range of between 270 and 290 miles in colder weather, and about 260 miles during more aggressive driving.

The Acura ZDX Performance Goes Beyond EV Efficiency

One of the contributing factors to the Acura ZDX’s impressive range is the vehicle’s aerodynamic efficiency, aided by its arrow-like shape and features like active grille shutters. Aerodynamic efficiency is uber-important to EVs because it helps reduce drag and maximize range. Additionally, driving modes, including a sport setting that allows optimized acceleration and handling based on driver preference.

The Acura ZDX Makes Nearly 500 Horses

Honda has long been a leader in automotive innovation, with an electrification legacy that includes early ventures into hybrid and fuel cell technologies. The Acura ZDX plays an important role in Honda’s worldwide EV strategy as it aims to change over its model offerings to 100% EV by 2040.

Acura ZDX Specifications

The Acura ZDX offers impressive performance specs, mostly due to its high-capacity lithium-ion battery that grants the luxury crossover a range in excess of 300 miles. The combination of electric motors also makes upwards of 350 hp and nearly 500, while impressive low-end torque gets the ZDX off the line quickly and help it break five seconds for the 0-60 mph sprint.

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How The Acura ZDX Works

The Acura ZDX is one of several crossovers that use Ultium architecture – a flexible electric vehicle platform of advanced modular batteries and motors co-developed by General Motors and Honda. Others using the platform are the Honda Prologue, and a bunch of GM models including the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer EV, and GMC Hummer EV, to name a few.

It’s the scalable battery capacity, which ties the Acura ZDX and Cadillac Lyriq most closely, that is primarily responsible for the ZDX’s 313-mile range. However, both GM and Honda agreed to terminate the working arrangement and future Honda EVs will be built on a dedicated Honda EV platform.

Honda, Lexus, And Nissan EVs Also Offer Long Driving Ranges

Japanese companies have a strong history with EVs, with Honda an early modern-day pioneer with its 1997 EV Plus, and Nissan making EVs mainstream with the 2010 introduction of the Nissan Leaf, which is now almost overlooked in light of EV proliferation. Toyota got into the EV market late, waiting until 2022, but has several successful products in Toyota and Lexus stables.

Nissan Ariya vs. Honda Prologue. Lexus RZ Specifications

The 2024 Nissan Ariya comes closest to matching the Acura ZDX’s range, capable of achieving 304 miles on a full charge. Although Ariya has the upper hand in purchase point, it can’t match the ZDX in power and, as a result, acceleration. Nor does it have the advanced driving technologies and premium materials that come with a luxury crossover.

Built on the same Ultium platform, the 2024 Honda Prologue is mostly an Acura ZDX wrapped up in a more traditional bodyshell and sporting fewer upscale features. It also has a slightly smaller battery, which is why it doesn’t quite match the 313-mile range of the ZDX. Prologue also dials back the performance figures for a more balanced driving experience.

The 2024 Lexus RZ is probably closest in overall intent to the Acura ZDX in this small group, but it trails the latter with an overall range that, at its best, falls almost 50 miles short, and power that is almost 200 hp lower. However, the Lexus probably gets the upper hand on the Acura with its combination of premium features and state-of-the-art user-friendly technology.

The Acura ZDX Has A Role In The Future Of Luxury EVs

The Acura ZDX stands out today as the Japanese EV with the longest range, boasting an EPA-estimated 313 miles on a full charge, and positioning it at the forefront of long-distance Japanese electric vehicles. As Honda pushes toward full electrification, the lessons learned from the ZDX and its Honda Prologue fraternal-twin will help with planned smaller EVs.

Range anxiety continues to be the one major hurdle to widespread EV acceptance, and it’s something that doesn’t simply have to be addressed by individual carmakers. Consistent charging infrastructure can go a long way to alleviate nervousness, as can future battery development involving solid state batteries. Solid-state batteries promise higher energy density and faster charging, but could also improve driving range by as much as 50%, which would extend a 313-mile range to a potential 475 miles.