RDX gives Acura seat at luxury SUV table
Model bigger, better with quicker, smoother engine
Quick and sleek, the 2019 Acura RDX SUV is a major step forward for Honda’s long-suffering luxury brand.
The RDX parlays a new platform and a new design theme into a good-looking, high-value SUV that gives Acura its first serious player in a white-hot market segment.
The new RDX is bigger, more sophisticated and more comfortable than Acura’s previous small five-passenger SUV. The 2019 model’s switch to a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and 10speed transmission is a big improvement from the old model’s sleepy V-6 and six-speed.
The interior design and materials set a new standard for Acura, with plenty of room, low-gloss wood and real metal trim. The jury’s still out on a new controller that relies on a touchpad for navigation and other features, though.
The RDX competes with compact five-passenger luxury SUVs such as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Buick Envision, Land Rover Velar, Mercedes GLC 300 and Porsche Macan and is at the larger end of the class.
Prices for a front-drive RDX start at $37,000. I tested a top-of-the-line Advance model, with features including heated and ventilated front seats, navigation, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, panoramic sunroof, lane departure and road departure alert and assist, blind-spot and cross-traffic alerts and 20-inch wheels.
The RDX costs less than comparably equipped alternatives, frequently by thousands of dollars. My test vehicle stickered at $47,400, before destination charges.
The RDX’s styling creates a graceful new template for Acuras. A five-sided black grille replaces the garish snout that dominated previous models. A long hood, fast windshield rising beltline and falling roof create a dynamic profile.
Blacked-out windows and pillars create an appearance of room the interior delivers.
There’s plenty of storage space, including a large front-seat center bin and under-floor storage in the cargo compartment. The 2.6-inch longer wheelbase and 1.1-inch-wider body provide good head and passenger room.
The materials look good, particularly the Advance package’s open-pore olive ash wood and metal accents.
The 2-liter turbocharged engine produces less horsepower than the 2018 model’s 3.5-liter V-6, but it feels faster thanks to considerably higher torque for quick throttle response. The new 10speed automatic transmission is quick and smooth. The steering is quick and nicely weighted.
The RDX’s ride is smooth, but there’s plenty of body roll in quick maneuvers.
While the 2019 RDX is quick off the line, it scored the same EPA fuel economy rating as the 2018 model despite its modern new engine and transmission.
The AWD RDX Advance I drove rated 21 miles per gallon in the city, 27 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg combined.
The verdict: Value and power put the RDX in the game versus leading compact luxury SUVs, but its fuel economy keeps the new Acura from leadership.