Our Opinion - 2023 Acura RDX Review If you can do without the badge environment that BMWs and Porsches offer as standard, the 2023 Acura RDX is one of the best luxury SUVs for the money. It’s also lovely to look at and fun to drive. The RDX has a powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and the car turns well. However, the 10-speed automatic transmission and brake pedal could be better. Even though the Acura has the same amount of standard technology and convenience features as the Volvo XC60 and Genesis GV70, the inside could be more lovely. Even though it has some problems, the RDX is a good (if unusual) choice among compact SUVs because it is practical, fun to drive, and priced reasonably. What's New? The only changes to the RDX for the 2023 model year are a new free maintenance plan for two years and 24,000 miles, and three years of free access to the AcuraLink connection plan. There are no changes to the car’s looks, features, or engine. Pros and Cons Pros: Rapid acceleration Several things are the same Enough room for people and their things Good enough for the class Cons: Touchpad for entertainment that gets in the way The interior design isn’t as luxurious as some of the competition. Engine, Transmission, and Performance Every RDX has a 272-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive (or “SH-AWD” in Acura-speak). It took the A-Spec version 6.2 seconds on our test track to reach 60 mph. This puts it in the middle of the pack for small luxury SUVs. Most drivers can pull away quickly enough from stop lights in the RDX, and the throttle is responsive at low speeds. When the driver uses the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, the transmission may shift down more quickly. When the RDX’s turbocharged engine is pushed hard, it makes a high-pitched roar similar to that of the NSX. However, much of that noise is made artificially and goes into the cabin by the audio system’s speakers. Even though it couldn’t keep the inside safe from hard hits on the roughest roads, our test vehicle was never uncomfortable or loud. The RDX also changed direction quickly thanks to its torque-vectoring SH-AWD technology and precise steering. The only time the RDX started to tilt was when we got close to a highway on-ramp. Other than that, it was perfectly balanced. Unfortunately, the ride was less fun because the brake pedal was only sometimes firm or responsive. Safety A lot of driver-assistance technology is built into every model, but the Technology package adds a lot more. Some of them are a rear cross-traffic alert, a blind spot monitor, and parking sensors in the front and back. Among the most critical safety features are the following: Automatic emergency braking and a warning of a possible front-end collision are standard. As well as the usual lane-departure sign, it has a system that helps you stay in your lane. Standard adaptive cruise control Internal and External Cargo Capacity There are a lot of buttons, a touchpad, and a big rotary drive-mode selector on the top and middle of the center stack. The car we tested had unique design features, like the red seats from the A-Spec package, which stood out. Even though the RDX is well made and has some excellent standard features, it doesn’t feel like a luxury car (ambient lighting, power-adjustable, heated front seats, dual-zone temperature control). Compared to cars like the Honda CR-V, driving an Acura is more like driving a sports car. The center is high enough for SUV fans and can be adjusted sufficiently for driving fans, and nothing looks cheap or chintzy. The back row can be made flat by pulling a handle on one of the seats on edge. The seatbacks can also be taken out of the cargo hold by using the secondary releases. When the seats were up, we could fit eight carry-on bags; when the seats were down, we could provide 22. The floating center console of the RDX hides a large storage tray that goes through the car. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The EPA says that the RDX has good fuel economy in the mid-20s, with the front-drive model getting slightly better estimates for city and highway driving than the all-wheel-drive model. When all-wheel drive is used, the city mileage drops to 22 mpg, and the highway mileage drops to 28 mpg. If the A-Spec equipment is chosen, the estimate for the front-wheel-drive vehicle drops to 27 mpg on the highway, and the forecast for the SH-AWD vehicle drops to 26 mpg. During our extensive testing, we drove an RDX A-Spec SH-AWD at 75 mph on a highway fuel economy route and got 26 mpg, the same as the EPA rating. Infotainment and Connectivity The dashboard of every RDX has a 10.2-inch touchscreen that is easy to see. You can also use a touchpad on the center console to control it. Even though Acura says the controller is easy to use, we had trouble getting used to it. The RDX has a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto built in as standard features. The optional Technology package comes with a 12-speaker ELS Studio sound system, USB ports for the back seats, and other features. Price and How to Choose Acura only has one trim level for the RDX, but it can be customized with several different packages. All-wheel drive costs $2,000 more than front-wheel drive, which is what comes standard. We wouldn’t buy it because the A-Spec version is expensive and doesn’t improve performance. But we recommend getting the Technology package, which has a better sound system, navigation, and the most comfortable leather seats. The Advance option is needed if you want adjustable dampers and a head-up display, but it adds a lot to the price.
