Acura RDX - Review, Specs, Pricing, Features, Videos and More

AutoGuide.com Staff
by AutoGuide.com Staff
Find everything you need to know about the Acura RDX here, along with expert reviews, specs, photos, videos and more.
Our Rating3.9/5
Price$41,350-$53,350
Engine2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder
Power272 hp
Torque280 lb-ft
DrivetrainFWD / AWD

Pros

Fun to drive, relatively spacious, lots of standard kit

Cons

Awkward infotainment, only one engine choice, fussy cabin design

Bottom Line

The Acura RDX is the most engaging compact luxury SUV to drive, if you don't count the Germans ... or the Italians ... or the Korean. It's fun, but can struggle to feel special enough when you're not caning it.

2022 Acura RDX Review: Steady As She Goes

Remember those spot-the-difference images on the backs of cereal boxes? Acura does.

This is the facelifted 2022 Acura RDX, but I’m betting anybody who doesn’t cash cheques from Honda Motor Co. will have a hard time telling as much. Not that there was, or is, anything wrong with the look of Acura’s sharp-suited SUV.

In the face of numerous updates and introductions in the compact luxury crossover segment, Acura has very subtly updated its third-generation RDX, which launched for the 2019 model year. The changes are subtle, and mostly under the skin, yet reinforce the RDX’s inherent strengths: value, performance, and space.

As I was saying, there’s not a lot to visually mark out a 2022 RDX from a 2021. Acura has cleaned up the front bumper design, with vertical side intakes similar to the new-for-2022 MDX. While this A-Spec model has round exhaust tips, others get new rectangular outlets.

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2022 Acura RDX vs 2022 Lincoln Corsair Comparison

What we have here are two ends of the luxury compact SUV spectrum. It’s the Acura RDX vs Lincoln Corsair comparison.

Every automaker has an entry in this segment. Some aim more for traditional luxury, prioritizing smooth progress and effortless waftability. Others go sporty, with powerful engines and aggressive styling.

We’ve collected an example from each approach here. The Acura RDX has one of the strongest four-cylinder engines in this space, with a dramatic interior that makes no bones about its focus. On the other hand is the Lincoln Corsair, which promises the sort of fuss-free roadtrip attitude that makes the Navigator such an appealing package, only three sizes smaller.

Managing Editor Mike Schlee and I kicked off the new year with a week in both. What we found were two SUVs with distinct strengths—and two SUVs that bucked our expectations.

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Lexus NX vs Acura RDX and Rivals: How Does it Stack Up?

Lexus has finally revealed the 2022 NX crossover, and it looks like a far more serious competitor in a ruthless segment.

Not that the current model wasn’t a sales success. Even in its twilight years, and in the middle of a pandemic, the NX racked up 55,784 sales in America through 2020, and an additional 6,954 examples in Canada. That puts it right near the top of the class on either side of the border, and makes the NX a very important model for Lexus.

To that end, Lexus hasn’t rocked the boat with the design of the second-gen NX. More important are the changes under the hood and in the cabin. Lexus will be offering no less than four different engine options for the 2022 NX, including a more powerful turbo motor and the brand’s first plug-in hybrid. Meanwhile, the NX will feature an expanded suite of driver assists and a wholly revamped infotainment setup, with a massive 14-inch touchscreen available. You can dive into all the juicy details in Chris Tonn’s in-depth 2022 Lexus NX preview article.

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Detailed Specs

Price$41,350-$53,350
Engine2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder
Power272 hp
Torque280 lb-ft
DrivetrainFWD / AWD
Transmission10AT
Fuel Economy (city/hwy)21–22 mpg / 26–28 mpg
Cargo Capacity29.5 cu ft


Our Final Verdict

Acura RDX

Overall

3.9

Performance9.0
Features7.0
Comfort8.0
Quality and Styling7.0
Value8.0
AutoGuide.com Staff
AutoGuide.com Staff

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