Is the Acura ADX Good for Tall People?MotorTrend - MotorTrend (MotorTrend - MotorTrend)The Acura ADX is small, fitting into the luxury subcompact SUV category. I am tall, deep into the decimal places for the 99th height percentile. When I was tapped to chaperone the ADX during its stay in our long-term review fleet, the first question to answer was if my 6-foot-10 self would fit. I do—at least, enough to take the assignment. More space would be nice, but Acura's smallest SUV shows how layout and packaging matter at least as much as outright size for comfort behind the wheel.Across the many vehicles I drive, fit is inconsistent and unpredictable. A spec sheet lends little indication about how much space I'll have (or won't). Measurements never tell the whole story; truth only comes from getting inside.For example, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a huge SUV, but I feel terribly cramped in it—its upright, chairlike seating position provides little legroom, elevates my head toward the ceiling, and puts the steering wheel basically in my lap. Meanwhile, the Porsche 911 is low and sleek, yet it stands out as a near-perfect fit. Its driving position feels spacious, it's supportive across the back and thighs, and it situates the steering wheel for an assertive grip.MotorTrend - MotorTrend (MotorTrend - MotorTrend)In that spectrum, the ADX fortunately works more like the 911 than the G-Class. That's because of how my body works in the driver's seat—not because it gives me abundant space to sprawl out but because of the way it locates my feet, hips, hands, head, and the connections between them.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt starts with getting in. The door aperture is large enough that I can just slide inside without having to duck or crouch much. Once there, I find myself basically at the limit of what space the ADX provides. Better believe that seat is all the way back and all the way down. My head clears the ceiling, barely. But it's all enough for me to feel like I legitimately fit, not like I'm folding or contorting myself for the chance to drive it. There are some cars I'd happily do that with—I like the ADX well enough, but it's not one of those.MotorTrend - MotorTrend (MotorTrend - MotorTrend)What's crucial is the angles, particularly the bend in my elbows. Sometimes, to get headroom I need to lean a seat very far back. This subsequently moves my shoulders away, so when I reach to the steering wheel, my elbows are locked. Not so in the ADX. It keeps a bend in my arms while providing enough headroom to sit mostly upright. That also relates to how well-placed the ADX's dashboard knobs and buttons are, all within easy reach.The knee angle, too, is good. Once I slide the seat back, I then adjust the rake of the cushion so it's higher at the front than at the rear. This gives me decent support beneath my legs given how far my knees are off the floor, distributing my body weight well. Simultaneously, my feet extend forward enough to have sufficient legroom.MotorTrend - MotorTrend (MotorTrend - MotorTrend)Still, I'm a tall person in a small vehicle—it's not perfect. The cushion isn't nearly as long as my legs, leaving inches between the front of the seat and back of my knees, creating pressure points after a few hours. The headrest doesn't adjust fore and aft, so even with the headroom I have, it doesn't support my neck; I might get an aftermarket cushion to fill that gap. Legroom is fine, but I've learned to slide my feet past the pedals when I use cruise control to get a few extra inches.AdvertisementAdvertisementPerhaps predictably, the back seat is less commodious for me. Headroom is sufficient, but legroom gets scarce if anyone above average height tries to adjust the front seats for themselves.Less predictably, the ADX has a big cargo area when the second-row seats are folded down. My huge custom-sized bicycle fits back there without removing a wheel, an uncommon feat.MotorTrend - MotorTrend (MotorTrend - MotorTrend)If I fit in the ADX, pretty much anyone will. But rather than declaring that the ADX will be a good choice for tall people, the broader point here is to convey that bigger vehicles don't necessarily fit tall occupants better. The ADX works because Acura seemed to take an informed, human-centric approach to the seating position and cabin layout. That, in my experience, is far more important than size alone. And thanks to this savvy packaging, I'll continue comfortably in the ADX for a few more months.More On Our Long-Term 2025 Acura ADX:Luxury on Training Wheels?Did We Get It Wrong at SUV of the Year?A CVT Automatic with Paddle Shifters—Why?Don't Politicize Engine Start-Stop TechThe Best and Worst Things About the Acura ADX
