2021 Acura RDX review: The fast and the frugal

The 3rd-technology Acura RDX made a quite powerful initial impression when it debuted in 2018. There was a large amount to enjoy about this little top quality SUV, from the sharp, angular A-Spec styling to its nimble all-wheel-push functionality. For the 2021 design calendar year, the RDX is mainly the exact as it ever was, this means you will find even now a total large amount to enjoy. 

AcuraLink cabin tech

The RDX’s dashboard is property to a seriously fantastic infotainment suite that is to some degree hindered at initial by its Correct Touchpad Interface controller. Entrance and center you’ll obtain a 10.two-inch Hd dual-content principal display screen, which takes advantage of a break up-display screen interface to showcase the major infotainment functions. 

Consumers navigate by swiping and tapping on the little touchpad at the base of the center stack to make on-display screen options. This Correct Touchpad is related to, but also various from, the one on your laptop. It takes advantage of absolute positioning, so putting your finger in the lower left or center of the display screen, for instance, immediately selects products equally positioned on the display screen. This would make it straightforward to promptly go all over the RDX’s menus after you study wherever anything is.

To the ideal of the principal touchpad place is a scroll bar that lets end users to promptly toggle the content displayed on that sidebar. So I am ready to, for instance, put the at present actively playing audio supply on the ideal 3rd of the display screen along with the optional 3D See Navigation on the principal display screen place. A multitasking button earlier mentioned the touchpad lets content to be swapped concerning the two panes with a single faucet, in this case, preserving the map obvious in the sidebar whilst I decide on yet another radio station or audio supply.

There are also actual physical buttons for Again and Residence located close to the touchpad and, overall, it can be reasonably straightforward to go via the interface — after you get employed to it. The dilemma is that the understanding curve can be a steep one. Acura’s True Touchpad is a quite little surface, demanding much more precise actions to make good options, such as textual content entry. This can be primarily tough for ideal-seat passengers who have to use their left hand. For location entry, probably stick to the reasonably fantastic natural-language voice recognition.

Apple CarPlay connectivity is conventional, and Android Auto has lastly joined the occasion, as well. Interacting with them working with the Correct Touchpad isn’t really quite as natural as the relaxation of the interface, but I am glad to see each systems existing, bringing 1000’s of apps for audio streaming, navigation and much more to the driver’s fingertips.

All round, I choose this technique to the related Remote Touchpad you’ll obtain in modern day Lexus cars. Lexus Enform takes advantage of a fiddly cursor dot for options that is straightforward to lose observe of and demands even much more precise positioning to operate. Meanwhile, the Acura infotainment application takes advantage of significant, straightforward-to-goal collection bins for most elements of the interface, making it a lot less difficult to use and demanding considerably less visual notice whilst driving.

The RDX’s cabin tech isn’t really confined to the center stack. Forward of the driver is a seven-inch color multi-information display screen tucked concerning the RDX’s two actual physical gauges — in this article, showcasing A-Spec-particular red illumination. The RDX’s weather controls are GPS-connected, using into account the sun’s situation relative to the car or truck and its influence on the interior temperature when metering out heating and air conditioning concerning its cabin zones. Decide for the Advance trim and a significant, 10.five-inch head-up display screen will set appropriate information ideal in the driver’s line of sight. 

AcuraWatch driver-support tech

The 3rd-technology RDX comes conventional with the automaker’s AcuraWatch suite of driver-support systems. That indicates even the base design rolls out with ahead-collision warning with collision mitigation braking help, full-velocity adaptive cruise manage that functions in cease-and-go targeted traffic, and lane-preserving steering help with road-departure mitigation. Not precisely an lively safety attribute, but all RDX types also come conventional with Acura’s seven-section Jewel Eye LED headlights and LED taillights, bringing brilliant, however specifically aimed illumination when driving right after dim.

That’s previously a sound loadout, but there are a several extras you can increase. Stepping up to the Engineering deal ($two,900) provides front and rear parking sensors, blind-location checking and rear cross-targeted traffic inform. The leading-tier Advance deal upgrades to a surround-check out digital camera technique and provides a washer to the conventional rear digital camera.

Visual appearance-Spec

The Engineering deal is seriously the sweet location in the Acura RDX lineup, bringing important safety characteristics, beneficial cabin systems and fantastic onboard navigation to the RDX’s previously sound conventional record of devices. The Advance deal kicks the creature comforts to greatest and boosts literal convenience with its adaptive-damping suspension and acoustic facet glass. The A-Spec deal lives in the middle, preserving all of the Engineering upgrades, but investing Advance convenience for a sportier visual appeal.

Out back, the A-Spec characteristics dual exhaust outlets, and filling the wheel arches are dim-finish, twenty-inch alloy wheels shod with 255/45R20 all-season tires. The all-seasons are most likely the greatest indicator that this is an visual appeal deal only, not a correct sport improve. There are no tweaks to the suspension or powertrain that make the A-Spec conduct improved than or come to feel any sharper than the conventional RDX. At the very least it appears to be like sharper. 

The RDX A-Spec characteristics shiny black exterior trim, such as a exceptional rear spoiler. The protect-formed front grille has a neat Black Diamond style and color. The internals of the headlamps and taillights are also darker, incorporating to the meaner look. Of study course, there are A-Spec badges scattered all over the exterior and through the cabin, as effectively as dim headlamp and taillight internals.

Within, you’ll obtain leather-based-trimmed sport seats — mine look wonderful in red — with UltraSuede inserts and heated and ventilated surfaces. Additional UltraSuede can be located trimming a variety of bits all over the cabin. Purple accent lights and sport pedals finish the A-Spec visual upgrades.

Tremendous-Dealing with All-Wheel Generate

Ok, the A-Spec isn’t really any a lot quicker than the conventional RDX, but the conventional mechanical configuration isn’t really so lousy. The motor bay is property to a two.-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder motor that peaks at 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The ability plant is mated to a 10-velocity automatic transmission with an electronic equipment selector on the center console and paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

Motorists have a little bit of manage around the RDX’s functionality with a massive Dynamic Method collection knob close to the base of the center stack. Twisting toggles concerning Comfort and ease, Snow, Activity and Activity As well as modes influences the throttle response, traction manage and enhances the motor observe for the sportier configurations. My sole complaint is that the selector appears to be like and is positioned a large amount like a huge, ol’ volume knob. My passengers and I typically accidentally pop the SUV into Activity manner when striving to crank up our preferred music.

Entrance-wheel push is conventional, but you’ll undoubtedly want Acura’s fourth-technology Tremendous-Dealing with All-Wheel Generate (SH-AWD) improve. Normally, I only seriously advocate all-wheel push for locations with lots of bad climate — even then, appropriate tires most likely have a even bigger result on safety — but SH-AWD is also a functionality improve, which would make it beneficial and even enjoyable when the streets are dry. It really is undoubtedly value the $two,000 top quality.

SH-AWD can send out up to 70{36a394957233d72e39ae9c6059652940c987f134ee85c6741bc5f1e7246491e6} of the engine’s obtainable torque to the rear wheels on demand (the previous technology could only control a fifty/fifty break up), which aids in ability distribution when launching from a cease. The technique also now characteristics one hundred{36a394957233d72e39ae9c6059652940c987f134ee85c6741bc5f1e7246491e6} torque vectoring on the rear axle to support in cornering balance. When you steer into a corner and the vehicle’s fat begins to shift, SH-AWD will actively send out ability to the rear outdoors wheel to assist steer into the corner. This new technology can shuffle ability all over thirty{36a394957233d72e39ae9c6059652940c987f134ee85c6741bc5f1e7246491e6} more quickly, which also would make the torque transfer come to feel much more seamless on the road. Chucking the RDX via a collection of mid-velocity S-turns or a fast established of sweeping bends, the SUV behaves and feels like a a lot more compact car or truck.

However, there are even now people pesky laws of physics to contend with. SH-AWD depends on the throttle to support in rotation, so it won’t assist a lot in the course of slow, off-throttle corners, such as tight switchbacks, leaving the SUV sensation considerably less dynamic the slower you go. As well as, the RDX is a tall SUV with a convenience-oriented suspension, so you will find only so a lot velocity that you can have via a fast flip in advance of SH-AWD basically can’t assist. Luckily, the changeover concerning “slaloming heroically” and “whoops, as well fast” is easy and straightforward to catch. The RDX is an SUV that encourages you to push it properly.

Get the throttle software and steering just ideal and the RDX can be an absolute treat on the ideal road. Of study course, this is not a sports activities auto, so I am dealing with the pleasure that SH-AWD provides less than the ideal problems as a reward professional, alternatively than its constraints as con. Close to city, the conventional MacPherson strut front and multilink rear suspension is at ease and responsive, the electric powered ability steering is pleasant and linear and the twelve-inch disc brakes at all 4 corners are straightforward to modulate and do a good career hauling the 4,105-pound SUV to a cease promptly and predictably.

With SH-AWD, the EPA and Acura estimate the RDX is fantastic for 23 mixed miles for each gallon (21 mpg town and 26 mpg highway) when working with the suggested ninety one-octane fuel. For the duration of my 7 days of screening — expended mostly in the hills exploring Activity manner — I only achieved 19.one mpg. Entrance-wheel-push examples fare a little bit improved at an approximated 24 mpg mixed, 22 town mpg and 28 highway mpg.

Pricing and competitors

The 2021 Acura RDX begins at $39,225 such as its $one,025 location demand for the base front-push configuration. As I stated, you undoubtedly want the $two,000 SH-AWD improve for the added traction in bad problems and improved driving pleasure when it can be dry. The $two,900 Engineering deal is also a worthwhile improve provided the added safety tech, navigation and other characteristics it provides to the occasion. As I described earlier, the Engineering deal is seriously the sweet location, wherever I believe most buyers would be delighted with the worth made available. 

From there, the improve route forks with possibly the A-Spec or Advanced deal being the upcoming move up you can’t have each. The A-Spec deal won’t increase any functionality, but does deliver a sporty design and style to the RDX encounter. I enjoy the look, but whether or not it can be value the $3,000 improve around the Engineering deal is a subjective decision you’ll have to make for on your own. That heading with the A-Spec blocks the improve to the much more powerful Advance deal with its supplemental top quality characteristics really should also be regarded for buyers looking to choose the most high-class route. As tested, you might be looking at $47,one hundred twenty five for this SH-AWD A-Spec.

The Audi Q5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC contend hotly for the gold conventional in this compact top quality SUV course. The RDX is not quite as high-class as the Germans but even now quite effectively appointed and, comparably outfitted, charges noticeably considerably less. As well as with SH-AWD, the Acura is just a skosh much more enjoyable to push.

Also heading tête-à-tête with the Acura are the Lexus RX and Volvo’s XC60. The Acura is a improved worth than the comparably priced and outfitted RX 350 and XC60 T5, and would be my own decide at this price. However, it is promptly outclassed by these vehicles’ much more strong functionality and much more economical hybrid specs, leaving RDX enthusiasts looking to go upmarket with considerably less home to improve. Maybe a potential RDX Style S with true functionality upgrades is in buy? I am going to preserve my fingers crossed.