One Rear-Seat Detail Cost the 2025 Acura ADX IIHS’s Highest Safety Rating

So Close to the Plus

The 2025 Acura ADX fell short of earning the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest Top Safety Pick+ rating, a distinction achieved by its platform sibling, the Honda HR-V. Instead, the ADX received the Top Safety Pick award, which still reflects a strong overall performance in crash testing.

To qualify for the coveted Top Safety Pick+ designation, a vehicle must earn “Good” ratings in all three crashworthiness tests (the small overlap front, updated moderate overlap front, and side impact tests), while also scoring at least “Acceptable” in front crash prevention (pedestrian/vehicle-to-vehicle) and headlight evaluations. While Acura’s newest subcompact crossover scored “Good” in both the small overlap front and side tests, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the updated moderate overlap front test, preventing it from securing the higher accolade.

Digging Into the Details

A closer look at the IIHS report shows that the ADX performed well in most areas of the moderate overlap front evaluation. It received “Good” scores across nearly all assessment categories, with the lone exception being rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics, which were rated “Marginal,” the second-lowest score ahead of “Poor.” This criterion evaluates how effectively the rear seatbelt system manages occupant movement during a crash, including belt pretensioning and the rear-seat crash-test dummy’s motion and restraint during impact.

It is worth noting that the moderate overlap front test was updated in 2022 to include a rear-seat dummy, placing greater emphasis on second-row occupant protection.

In terms of crash avoidance and mitigation, the ADX earned “Good” ratings for both headlights and front crash prevention for pedestrians. However, it received an “Acceptable” score for front crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle scenarios. Much of this evaluation centers on AcuraWatch, the brand’s SAE Level 2 driver-assistance suite, which is comparable to Ford’s BlueCruise. The AcuraWatch offers partial driving automation through features such as lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and collision-mitigation braking.

A Newcomer That Holds Its Own

Additional IIHS evaluations awarded the ADX a “Good” rating for seat belt reminders, while LATCH ease of use was graded as “Acceptable.” According to the report, the tether anchors were difficult to locate, and some nearby hardware could be mistaken for anchor points.

Aside from the Honda HR-V, other 2025 model-year subcompact crossovers that achieved the Top Safety Pick+ designation include the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30.

Acura offers the ADX with a starting price of $35,000, and it comes standard with AcuraWatch and 10 airbags, including next-generation front driver and passenger airbags designed to help reduce head rotation during a collision.