2022 Acura RDX

The Acura RDX is Acura’s first compact luxury crossover SUV. The RDX was initially built upon the same platform Honda uses for its Civic and CR-V passenger cars. However starting from its third generation, the Acura RDX is built on its own platform according to Acura. Originally previewed as the Acura RD-X concept car, the production RDX had its debut at the 2006 New York Auto Show and went on sale on August 11, 2006. A face-lifted 2010 model went on sale in August 2009, which featured the addition Acura’s “power plenum” grille and a Front-wheel drive option.

Those seeking a compact SUV with a premium badge and an athletic chassis will find the 2022 Acura RDX fits that brief and doesn’t require Porsche Macan or Mercedes-Benz GLC-class money. Sure, it’s not as deluxe as those German nameplates—nor does it carry the same cachet among the one percent—but the RDX’s perky turbocharged four-cylinder is similarly perky and similarly tech-heavy. The complaints we have center on the RDX’s less-than-luxurious cabin environs and a 10-speed automatic that is sometimes infuriatingly slow to downshift to spool up the turbo to its boiling point. Those issues aside, the RDX is a roomy, practical, fun-to-drive, and comprehensively equipped compact SUV that is largely satisfactory.

Engine

The first-generation RDX is powered by a 2.3-litre straight-4 turbocharged gasoline engine, rated at 240 bhp (179 kW; 243 PS) at 6,000 rpm with a torque peak of 260 ft⋅lbf (350 N⋅m) at 4,500 rpm. At the time, this was uncommon among Honda vehicles.

The K23A1 engine has all-aluminum construction, an i-VTEC head, and dual balance shafts. It was also one of the only four-cylinder powered luxury SUVs of its generation. Honda’s variable flow turbocharger reduces turbo lag by using a valve to narrow the exhaust passage at low rpm, increasing the velocity of the exhaust flow and keeping the turbine spinning rapidly. At higher rpm, the valve opens to allow more exhaust flow for increased boost. The engine also features a top-mounted intercooler which receives air from the grille, channeled by ducting under the hood.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated fuel mileage is 19 mpg_‑US (12 L/100 km; 23 mpg_‑imp) city and 23 mpg_‑US (10 L/100 km; 28 mpg_‑imp) highway miles per gallon. An updated EPA mileage estimate in February 2007 rated the RDX at 17 mpg_‑US (14 L/100 km; 20 mpg_‑imp) city and 22 mpg_‑US (11 L/100 km; 26 mpg_‑imp) highway.

Drivetrain

The first-generation RDX featured a version of Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and a five-speed automatic transmission with Acura’s SportShift sequential shift capability, activated by paddles mounted on the steering wheel for 2007-2009 models (additionally FWD was offered in some trims for 2010-2012 models). The paddles can be used in Drive (D) to make a gear change with the transmission returning to automatic mode as soon as the vehicle resumes a steady-cruise state. The Sport (S) setting has higher shift points and quicker downshifts, and using a paddle in “Sport” immediately puts the transmission in fully-manual mode. The four-cylinder engines in the first-generation RDX all use a timing chain, whereas the V6 installed in subsequent years (2013-2018) all use timing belts.

Interior

The vehicle’s interior includes standard leather seating, a moonroof, automatic climate control, and all the expected power features. The RDX 7-speaker audio system features XM Satellite Radio, along with an in-dash 6-CD changer, which is capable of playing standard Audio CDs, and Data-CDs burned with either MP3 or WMA files, it also plays DVD-A type CDs.

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Much of the interior technology originally introduced in the RL sedan was equipped in the optional “Technology Package”. This package included Acura’s navigation system, a backup camera, XM Nav-Traffic real-time traffic monitoring, and Zagat restaurant reviews. The package also featured a 10-speaker ELS Surround audio system with DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound. Both stereos included a 1/8″ (a 3.5mm) auxiliary input jack used to plug in external sources such as iPods. For 2007, Acura also offered an iPod adapter for the RDX, which was wired into the glove box, and allowed the iPod to be controlled through the RDX’s sound system interface. Due to hardware incompatibilities, the Honda/Acura iPod music link was discontinued for the 2008 model year. The 2010-12 models featured a USB connection that interfaces with iPods and other USB mass storage devices, such as flash drives that contain MP3, WMA6, or AAC music files while being stored in the center console.

Safety

The first-generation RDX was the second Acura vehicle to feature the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, which is designed to absorb energy from a collision. Standard safety features include six airbags, including dual front airbags, front side airbags, and dual-side curtain airbags. The front airbags use a dual-threshold, dual-stage technology that can adjust the timing and speed of each airbag deployment depending on the degree of impact and the driver’s or front passenger’s seat belt usage. If sensors deem the front passenger is too small (less than 65 lb (29 kg)), the front airbag is designed not to deploy. The front passenger’s side airbag is also designed to shut off if a child or small-statured adult is leaning into the airbag’s deployment path. In the event of a sufficient side impact or roll-over, the side curtain airbag deploys from above the door frames of the affected side, with coverage for both the front and rear occupants on that side, and stays inflated longer than if there were a collision.

Front seats feature active head restraints and their seat belts are equipped with pre-tensioners and force limiters. In November 2006, the RDX was crash-tested by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, resulting in a perfect “5 Star” rating for driver and passenger frontal crashes, and front and rear side impacts, along with “4 Stars” for rollover.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI) gave the 2007-12 RDX the grade of Good “G” for moderate overlap front test and side impact test. The grade of Marginal “M” was given for roof strength evaluation

Specifications