SUVS ARE PRACTICAL, BUT THEY CAN BE SPORTY, TOO
Brian Harper: Love performance cars, but find yourself in a family situation that requires more sensible transportation, such as something with a usable back seat and decent luggage space? Well, because more and more consumers are turning to SUVS anyway, consider something that has some sport to it. Mega-horsepower often comes with a frightening price tag, so let's dial it down and consider some with a more reasonable sticker — say, around $50,000.
Ford upped the Ontario-built, mid-size Edge's street rep last year with its own ST version, fitted with a specially tuned 335-horsepower (on 93 octane), 2.7-litre Ecoboost V6 and sport suspension. Surprisingly close in size and with a definite energetic vibe is Acura's third-generation RDX; doll it up with the A- Spec package and it's quite the looker. You might think the Acura is outgunned in the power department, with just a turbocharged 2.0-L DOHC four-cylinder, but it's also about 230 kilograms lighter than the Edge. I think this is an honest matchup.
Nick Tragianis: Under the skin, the RDX A- Spec is identical to all other RDXES — the 2.0-L turbo-four delivers 272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission that powers all four wheels. It's a decent combination: the RDX is quick, the 10-speed responsive and smart, and bumping it into Sport and Sport+ modes wakes everything up considerably. That being said, the steering is fairly light even in Sport+, and the turbo-four doesn't sound particularly good when you're flogging it. The Edge ST'S easy power is definitely more appealing.
BH: Yeah, I rather enjoyed the previous generation RDX'S V6, but the current turbo-four sacrifices a little power for a lot more torque. The Edge ST, meanwhile, makes good use of the additional displacement, extra turbocharger, and 380 lb-ft of torque. The ST has an eight-speed automatic with a Sport mode to get the quickest shifts out of the sport ute, but the upshifts were occasionally clunky in this drive mode. Getting out of Sport smoothed out the shifts considerably.
While making use of either crossover's appreciable performance bona fides was fun, the more practical side to the ST'S “edge” in power is far more towing capability — 1,587 kilograms versus 680 for the RDX.
NT: The RDX A- Spec is definitely lighter on its feet compared to the Edge ST. Sport mode helps, but it doesn't save the Edge ST. It's fairly laid-back without it — arguably what you want for mindless commuting or eating up highway miles — but the throttle is almost too jumpy, so you can forget about using Sport all the time.
In terms of ride comfort, I'd say the RDX and Edge are pretty much on par. Both filter out bumps and rough pavement quite well, and both do an excellent job minimizing wind and road noise on the highway. That said, the RDX is much prettier inside.
BH: It certainly is. The tester's red-on-black seats absolutely pop. What a refreshing change of pace from the all-black that too many designers think pass as sporty. Beyond that, however, it really comes down to the fact the Edge is an older design, the current generation having been out since 2015, while this generation of RDX was brand new for the 2019 model year.
So, the Acura's 10.2-inch centre screen is larger and with better graphics, the instrument gauges are brighter and clearer, the buttons and switchgear more clearly marked. Unfortunately the touchpad is far too sensitive and often requires you to take your eyes off the road to see if you're accessing the right program.
NT: The ELS Studio sound system in the RDX is lovely, but it doesn't make up for the infotainment, though it isn't as bad as what you'd find in a Lexus. The Edge's eightinch touch screen might be smaller, but Sync 3 is much easier to use than the Acura's dumb touchpad.
If this test was about practicality only, the Edge ST would win. It boasts at least two inches more rear headroom and legroom than the RDX, and there's much more cargo space all around — 1,110 L with the rear seats up and about 2,078 with the seats down in the Ford, versus 835 and about 1,668 in the Acura. If you're all about stuffing as much as you can into the back of your sporty-ish tworow crossover, the Edge ST is your best bet.
It's not a clear-cut win for either. It all comes down to personal preference.
BH: Agreed. Personally, because my wife and I are empty nesters, I'd put the RDX in my driveway. I really like its looks and handling, and we don't need the extra room. But for a family with a couple of kids, the ST is a surprisingly peppy addition to the Edge lineup and makes a better case.