Our Opinion - 2024 Acura RDX Review The 2024 Acura RDX isn’t at the top of the list for people who want a standout small luxury SUV. Its Acura logo on its unique nose is smaller than those on more flashy competitors like the BMW X3, Porsche Macan, or Mercedes-Benz GLC. However, the RDX is still a great choice for people who want a fancier Honda CR-V because it’s much cheaper and comes with a lot of nice features. The 272-hp turbo four-cylinder Acura RDX is a fun car to drive, even though the brake pedal doesn’t work in a straight line, and the transmission acts a little strangely. Dynamic all-wheel drive from Acura makes the fun even greater. People who can look past the confusing infotainment touchscreen and the fact that the interior doesn’t have as many high-end materials as some competitors will find comfortable seats and a useful storage room. The fast Type S model that comes on other Acuras is also missing, but the A-Spec trim adds some personality, even if it’s just for looks. Because of this, the 2024 RDX is best for people who value strong value over weak status. What's New? For 2024, the only big change to the RDX range is that all of them now come with all-wheel drive instead of front-wheel drive as standard. The newly released ZDX has a 500-hp Type S model and an expected range of up to 325 miles. It could be a good choice for people who want an Acura SUV with an electric engine. Pros and Cons Pros Great all-wheel drive ability is now standard. A lot of things in common. Beautiful and useful home decor. Cons Infotainment needs to be rethought. Limited ability to see backward. Not a very quiet place. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in every RDX makes 272 horsepower. Along with an automatic transmission with ten speeds, it has all-wheel drive, or “SH-AWD,” as Acura calls it. We tried the A-Spec model, which went from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, which put it in the middle of the pack for small luxury SUVs. At low speeds, the RDX’s throttle is quick, and most drivers will be able to use enough force to get the car moving again after stopping. When the driver uses the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, downshifting from the transmission gets done faster. The RDX’s turbocharged engine makes a high-pitched roar when accelerating quickly, just like the NSX’s does, but most of that noise is made by people and gets into the car through the speakers of the audio system. We tested the RDX, which has big 20-inch wheels and available adaptive dampers that let you change how the ride feels. Even though it wasn’t strong enough to keep the inside safe from hard hits on the roughest roads, our test car was never uncomfortable or loud. The torque-vectoring SH-AWD technology made the RDX’s handling feel more accurate and made it easy to change directions quickly. The RDX was very stable, but it leaned a little when we got close to an on-ramp to the freeway. Unfortunately, the trip wasn’t as fun because the brake pedal wasn’t always firm and responsive. Safety All models come with a number of tools that help with driving, but the Technology package adds even more. Some of these are blind spot recognition, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors in the front and back. Check out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) webpages to learn more about the RDX’s crash test scores. Some important safety factors are: Emergency brakes that work on their own and regular forward crash warnings. Regular help staying in your lane and a warning when you leave your lane. It comes with adaptive speed control. Internal and External Cargo Capacity There are a lot of buttons, a touchpad, and a big rotary drive mode selection on the middle stack, which is pretty busy. The test model had the eye-catching red seats from the A-Spec option, along with a few other style features that made it stand out. People really liked how well the RDX was put together and how many nice features came with it, like heated and power-adjustable front seats and dual-zone climate control. But the car could look more luxurious. Although both cars are exciting to drive, the Acura is definitely the most thrilling option. The driving position is flexible enough to please people who like cars and high enough to please people who like SUVs, and everything looks good and good. The back row can be folded flat by lifting the handles on the seats on either side. You can also use the secondary releases to take the seatbacks out of the luggage area. The holes are big enough to fit eight carry-on bags or 22 folded carry-on bags. The RDX also has a big passthrough storage tray under its center console that floats. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The RDX gets good gas mileage ratings from the EPA, coming in around the mid-20s. With all-wheel drive, it gets 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The second guess is off by one when used with an A-Spec trim level RDX. We put that setup through its paces on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route as part of our thorough testing process. It got exactly 26 mpg, as the EPA said it would. Infotainment and Connectivity A 10.2-inch tablet is mounted high on the dashboard of every RDX. You can also use the touchpad on the center panel to control it. Even though Acura says the controller is easy to use, it took us a while to get used to it. A Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are all built into the RDX as standard features. The Technology package, which is optional, comes with an ELS Studio music system with 12 speakers, USB ports in the backseat, and built-in navigation. Price and How to Choose The RDX only comes in one trim level from Acura, but it has a lot of unique features that make it stand out. We wouldn’t buy the A-Spec version because it’s expensive and doesn’t give us any big speed gains. You should buy the Technology package, which comes with extras like a seat covered in leather, GPS, and a better sound system. The Advance package costs a lot, but it’s the only one with a head-up display and customizable dampers.
