For buyers looking for a well-priced and competent compact premium crossover, the Acura RDX is a sound choice. It's a useful size that features a lot of equipment for the money and a quality feel. Competitors may have more style, but the RDX majors on lots of standard equipment. It's aggressively priced, too, starting off at $35,000, or what many mainstream competitors' top trim levels cost.
The RDX, introduced in its current form for 2013, is unchanged for 2015.
Acura's strict option packaging means there are only four ways to equip an RDX: front or all-wheel drive, with or without the Technology Package. All RDXs get the 3.5-liter V6 found in numerous Honda and Acura models, here with 273 horsepower and a six-speed automatic.
While some rivals offer eight or nine-speed automatics, the Acura's six-speed unit still gives it competitive fuel economy numbers; 20/28 mpg for front-wheel drive models and 19/27 mpg on all-wheel drive cars, which cost an extra $1,400.
For less than $36,000 buyers get leather upholstery on an RDX's two rows of seats, heated and powered front seats, keyless access and push-button start, a power moonroof, a 360-watt audio system with USB input and Pandora connectivity, active noise cancellation and a backup camera.
People who are wowed by in-car technology will be lured by the Technology Package. The RDX's lone group of options adds navigation with real-time traffic and weather and a 60-gigabyte hard drive storage system, a GPS-linked dual-zone automatic climate control system, HID headlamps with front fog lights, a power tailgate and an Acura/ELS surround sound system. Even an all-wheel drive RDX with Technology Package comes in under $41,000.
If you can live without in-dash navigation and the upgraded audio system, it's worth skipping the Technology Package and saving $2,400. Acura's in-car tech isn't quite as breathtaking as systems offered by Audi and BMW. And it's unfortunate Acura insists on using this one option package to bundle useful features like a power tailgate and fog lights. But doing without those convenience features nets one great bargain among premium compact crossovers.
