2021 Acura RDX Review

　　

2021 Acura RDX Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　The 2021 Acura RDX proves you don't have to spend a ton of money to get a well-rounded small luxury SUV. This is one of the least expensive models in its class, yet it comes with more features than base versions of competitors. Even a fully loaded RDX is reasonably priced.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Acura RDX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$191/mo  for RDX Base

　　RDX Base

　　4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $38,400 MSRP4dr SUV w/Technology Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $41,300 MSRP4dr SUV w/A-Spec Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $44,300 MSRP4dr SUV w/Advance Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $46,200 MSRPSH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $40,400 MSRPSH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Technology Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) (Most Popular) - $43,300 MSRPSH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/A-Spec Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $46,300 MSRPSH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Advance Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $48,200 MSRPSH-AWD PMC Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $51,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　You don't give up much either. The spacious cabin features a design similar to Acura's NSX supercar and is trimmed in high-quality materials. Ride and seat comfort is excellent. It's also quite fun to drive, especially when you equip it with all-wheel drive. Rival SUVs do offer more powertrain choices and individual options. But if you can do without a deep customization program, the Acura RDX should surpass your expectations for a luxury SUV.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the RDX drive? Overall, the RDX is a solid performer. Its turbocharged engine provides strong power at low rpm to get you away from stoplights quickly, and the transmission is adept at picking the right gear for the situation. In zzdcar testing, we recorded a 0-60 mph time of 7 seconds. That's a little slower than some other top competitors, but it's respectable. The brakes inspire confidence thanks to predictable engagement and good feel.

　　When you drive around turns, there's not much body roll. You'll definitely want SH-AWD to maximize the RDX's sporting potential since it helps the RDX power out of turns. The steering is nicely tuned. It's light and makes for easy maneuvering in parking lots but also firms up appropriately at higher speeds to give you a feeling of control.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the RDX? The stylish heated and cooled front seats will accommodate a wide variety of drivers in comfort. They're also supportive to keep you secure when turning. The suspension does a respectable job of keeping you comfortable when driving over a variety of surfaces. The RDX shrugs off potholes and is well controlled over highway undulations.

　　Cabin noise is reasonably well muted, and there's minimal wind noise at freeway speeds. Some engine noise comes through, but it's never obnoxious. The climate control system doesn't have any issues regulating cabin temperature, but a lot of airflow is aimed at the driver's hands, which you may not like.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The RDX has a mix of friendly basic ergonomics and some rather different, if not polarizing, ideas for how things should be done. In particular, the shifter arrangement, touchpad infotainment controller and small climate control buttons might fluster the driver. In terms of visibility, the front roof pillars are a bit on the thick side and can block some visibility when cornering. Rear visibility is compromised by the rear hatch's power-operated hinges.

　　On a more positive note, there's plenty of room for front and rear passengers. A wide range of drivers should be able to find a comfortable driving position, and rear headroom is more than sufficient for average-size adults.

　　

Technology

8.5/10

　　How’s the tech? This tech is the tour de force of the RDX. With an intriguing new touchpad interface, the infotainment system should appeal to the tech-savvy buyer, just as the impressive audio system will appeal to the dedicated audiophile. But the learning curve required to get accustomed to the new system could prove a deal-breaker for buyers who don't like picking up new tech.

　　Apply CarPlay is standard, but Android Auto is not yet available (Acura says it's coming and capability will be available to existing cars). Acura's suite of driver aids is standard, including adaptive cruise control, which is a notable strength in a class where such features are often pricey extras.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? Acura really has interior packaging figured out, and the RDX is yet another showcase of space efficiency. From a generous cargo area to flexible interior storage solutions, the RDX makes carrying a lot of stuff easier than it should be.

　　At 31.1 cubic feet of storage behind the back seats, the RDX offers more space than most competitors, and there's an abundance of storage options up front thanks to the tiered center console. Car seat anchors are clearly marked, and the large back seat means there's plenty of room for car seats.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? Rated at 24 mpg combined with FWD or 23 mpg combined with AWD, the RDX returns lower mileage than the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. All three require premium fuel. On our 119-mile evaluation loop, our test RDX only returned a bit more than 20 mpg. Other fill-ups were below that number too. A light foot might be required to hit 23 mpg.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the RDX a good value? Luxury SUVs are supposed to be well built and packed with features. The RDX does that while undercutting the popular competitors by thousands of dollars, even when fully loaded. Build quality is excellent inside and out, and the RDX offers something a little different from competitors in terms of interior design and ergonomics.

　　It's not as refined or efficient as competitors, but it's a solid value for buyers looking for something outside the usual German luxury box. Unfortunately, the RDX doesn't offer any particular advantages in terms of warranty coverage or ownership compared to rivals.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　If the aggressively angular exterior design doesn't give it away, the tech-forward interior certainly will. The RDX is about providing a distinctive and modern driving experience. It's certainly a distinctive offering in the compact luxury SUV class. Unfortunately, while the SH-AWD holds the promise of a bit of physics-defying handling, you only sense the full effect of that technology when exiting certain medium-speed corners.

　　

Which RDX does zzdcar recommend?

We think it's at least worth adding the Technology package to your RDX. It's reasonably priced and adds features we'd expect for a luxury SUV, such as leather seating, an upgraded audio system and a blind-spot monitor. The all-wheel-drive system is also worth a look since it makes the RDX a little more fun to drive.

　　

2021 Acura RDX models

Like all Acuras, the RDX is not offered in trim levels per se but in a single base level with three options packages: Technology, A-Spec and Advance. There's also the new PMC Edition that Acura will build just 360 of.

　　All are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (272 horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque) paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, but you can opt for all-wheel drive (Acura calls it SH-AWD) for increased traction and sportier driving dynamics.

　　Base

　　Standard equipment on the RDX include:

　　19-inch wheels Panoramic sunroof Keyless entry and ignition Auto-dimming rearview mirror Dual-zone automatic climate control Heated front seats Simulated leather upholstery 10.2-inch central display with touchpad controller Nine-speaker audio system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Onboard Wi-Fi hotspotEvery RDX also comes with:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Acura and the car in front) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)Technology

　　The Technology package adds some appealing upgrades and safety features, such as:

　　Leather upholstery Navigation system Two charge-only USB ports in the back row 12-speaker premium audio system Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse) Front and rear parking sensors (alerts you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking)A-Spec

　　The A-Spec is the sport-themed RDX with:

　　All the features from the Technology package 20-inch wheels Restyled bumpers Black-painted exterior trim Ventilated front seats Leather and simulated suede upholstery 16-speaker audio systemAdvance

　　The range-topping Advance package adds the following to the RDX:

　　All the features from the Technology package Adaptive suspension dampers (enhance ride comfort and handling) Hands-free liftgate Sound-reducing front side glass Wood cabin trim Heated steering wheel Thigh extension and side bolster adjustment for front seats Ventilated front seats Heated rear seats Head-up display 16-speaker audio system Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the RDX and its surroundings for tight parking situations)PMC Edition

　　This limited-edition RDX combines the visual enhancements of the A-Spec with the extra features of the Advance. It also has:

　　Exclusive Thermal Orange paint Gloss black treatment for the wheels, roof, grille, wheels, side mirrors and exhaust tips Orange seat stitching

　　

2021 RDX Highlights

Trim: BaseSH-AWDSH-AWD PMC EditionBase

　　

Base MSRP	$38,400
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$191/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	31.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles