The Acura RDX was nearly considered a joke by many expert reviewers in its earliest model years. It was literally an SUV built on the Honda CR-V platform. But the Acura RDX has grown up a lot in the intervening years, and since the 2016 model year it is recognized for its reliability and luxury features.
It’s not an off-road vehicle by any stretch of the imagination, but the Acura RDX specs provide everything else that you could want in a small luxury SUV.
What Acura RDX specs should you know about?
- All-around athletic performance
- Futuristic yet thoughtful luxury interior features
- Consistently high safety ratings
One more thing that’s really notable about the Acura RDX is that while it’s undoubtedly a luxury vehicle, it doesn’t come with the luxury price tag of some of its rivals. It’s a vehicle that allows you to indulge yourself without feeling like a totally reckless spender. The 2019 Acura RDX, for example, has many of the same features and perks that you’ll find in a BMW X3, but with a price tag that’s about $14,000 lower.
Acura RDX Engine Specs
Honda has never tried to complicate things with a variety of engine types across different trim levels with the Acura RDX. If you look at any specific Acura RDX model year, every trim version will have the same engine. From model year 2007 through 2018, the RDX features a six-cylinder engine with 279 horsepower that gets 22 to 23 MPG in gas mileage.
Starting in model year 2019, every trim version was upgraded to a four-cylinder turbo engine with 272 horsepower and 23 to 24 MPG (slightly less power, slightly better gas mileage). The big change in the upgrade was that the turbo engine provides a solid boost to the vehicle’s torque. The older versions provide 252 lb-ft., compared to 280 in the turbo engine.
No matter what model year of RDX you purchase, the engine provides solid, reliable performance on the road. It features robust acceleration and easy handling in freeway traffic, and many owner reviews simply describe the Acura RDX as “fun” to drive.
Acura RDX Interior Specs
The interior of the Acura RDX is what really stands out about this vehicle. The features range from simple luxury in the earliest model years to eye-popping futuristic “wow” features in the more recent versions. For every model year, the base trim level offers the simplest features and the advanced trim offers the most.
From the heated leather steering wheel to leather seats to rear passenger air conditioning ducts, the Acura RDX crams almost every luxury item you could imagine into the vehicle.
The genuine wood and leatherette instrument panels, door inserts and interior trims are all extremely nice and modernized when compared to a non-luxury ride. Stereo systems will range from a 7-speaker setup in the 2007 Acura RDX up to a 16-speaker Bluetooth or satellite radio option in more recent model years.
The cabin of the Acura RDX contains a bevy of electronic features every year, but without the complexity of some of its rivals. Honda obviously puts a lot of thought into the placement, operation and ease-of-use of its luxury options.
Here’s just one example: Starting in 2019, the Acura RDX includes a head’s up display that projects road hazards onto the windshield. It’s not the least bit obtrusive and the first time that it happens, you’ll probably think, “I didn’t realize cars could do that yet!”
Here’s the Kelley Blue Book review of the 2019 Acura RDX to give you a sense of just how cool this vehicle really is.
Acura RDX Safety Specs
Every model year of the Acura RDX has achieved the highest possible five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While that rating has more to do with the design of the vehicle and how it holds up in crash tests, the Acura RDX is also known for a bevy of driver assistance safety features. This helps to prevent a crash in the first place, obviously.
AcuraWatch is the most recent iteration of the RDX’s safety package, since the 2018 model year. It includes a lane-departure assist for the driver, a robust forward-collision warning system and automatic emergency braking. An adaptive cruise control system and other features make it an especially safe and enjoyable vehicle to drive.
Acura RDX Pros & Cons
While the Acura RDX is a spectacular luxury vehicle for the price, it may not be the right vehicle for everyone. Many of its rivals do in fact offer more and better features in some areas, but sometimes at a significant price increase. Here’s a look at some of the major pros and cons of the Acura RDX to consider before making a purchase.
Pros:
- Solid vehicle performance all around
- Extremely high safety ratings & features
- Truly luxurious cabin with futuristic perks
- Retains resale value very well long-term
Cons:
- One choice of engine for each model year
- Tow rating of 1,500 lbs. lags behind many competitors
- Lacks the fuel economy of many hybrid rivals
- Don’t even consider off-roading in an RDX
Run a Vehicle History Check on an Acura RDX
You never truly know what a previous owner has put a vehicle through without doing some serious research. Despite its solid longevity and reliability, you should always run a Vehicle History check on a used Acura RDX before making your final buying decision. Running a check here will take most of the heavy lifting out of your car-buying research!
