2023 Acura RDX

Clever use of space. At least there are some areas where Acura’s individual approach to car design pays dividends. Witness the trilogy of uniquely sized storage compartments tucked beneath an otherwise flat trunk floor. There are almost 30 cubic feet of storage back here, doubling when the relatively firm rear seats are dropped. This is more of a four-seater than a five-seater, and passengers may wish for additional support, though it’s hard to argue with 38 inches of rear legroom. Every model has power-adjustable front seats, which gain heating and ventilation as you move up the trim levels; buyers of mid-range A-Spec models will find the front seats are heavily bolstered.

A two-section panoramic roof brightens up an interior whose relatively high rear doors cut down on what would otherwise be a naturally airy environment. Unlike rivals from Audi and BMW, Acura offers light leather and contrasting fabric colors to further improve the cabin ambiance, with a choice of aluminum or wood alongside real or synthetic hides. If you can forgive the profusion of buttons, this is a thoroughly pleasant place to spend time.

Impressive road manners. So far, the RDX is shaping up nicely, and impressions become even more positive once you fire up the 272 hp turbocharged gas engine borrowed from Honda’s manic Civic Type-R. It’s an altogether less frenetic affair here, mated to a smooth ten-speed automatic transmission. Regardless of which of the three driving modes you select, progress is smooth, with a general air of refinement bolstered by the introduction for this model year of active noise cancellation.

While the larger 20-inch wheels inevitably have an impact on ride quality, they’re not far behind the standard 19-inchers in providing a pliant enough ride. If you favor larger wheels, bear in mind that premium Advance models have adaptive dampers which offer additional comfort. And while you may not plan on venturing far off the beaten track, available AWD can generate a 70/30 rear bias before distributing power individually to each back wheel. It’s just a shame the RDX’s relatively low stance doesn’t make the most of this tremendous grip. Fuel economy isn’t terrible, but combined figures of 24 MPG won’t have environmentalists dancing in the aisles; A-Spec and AWD models see this figure fall further to 23.

Safe and well-equipped. There are two main safety concerns with the RDX. Firstly, rear visibility is poor and blind-spot monitoring is missing from the cheapest model. Secondly, this isn’t the best vehicle to have a front-impact crash in. Otherwise, it’s good news all the way – top marks from the NHTSA and IIHS overall, automatic emergency braking on every model and fully wireless smartphone mirroring through the impressively large 10.2-inch infotainment screen.

If you’re looking at the base model, the $2,650 Technology Package is a near-essential upgrade, adding navigation and a superior stereo alongside blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors. When you consider that the cheapest RDX costs $42,545, it’s a struggle to justify an additional $12,000 for A-Spec Advance’s adaptive dampers and ventilated seats, especially as every model benefits from a four-year, 50,000-mile warranty and two years of free maintenance.

Final thoughts. If you’re the sort of person who skim-reads reviews, the four section headings above might suggest Acura has hit the bullseye with the RDX. That’s not really the case. There’s lots to like about this luxury crossover, but there are also key areas where it falls short of its European competitors. Seat comfort is one, across-the-range safety equipment is another, and dashboard ergonomics are a third. We’d struggle to live with the awkward touchpad controller on a daily basis, and this car certainly isn’t cheap.

On a more positive note, the RDX does many things very well. It’s enjoyable to drive, with tenacious grip and communicative steering, benefiting from a great engine and transmission pairing. There’s plenty of space underneath that handsome bodyshell, the warranty is generous, safety and standard equipment are fine once you progress beyond the base model, and the cabin has enough character and textures to at least be interesting. With some relatively minor tweaks, the RDX could become a compelling proposition.

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