Acura RDX
The Acura RDX is Acura’s first compact luxury crossover SUV, taking over from the MDX as Acura's entry-level crossover SUV, as the MDX grew in size and price. Originally, the RDX was built upon the same platform Honda uses for their Civic and CR-V passenger cars. However starting from its third generation, the Acura RDX is built on its own platform according to Acura.
First generation (TB1/2; 2006)
Originally previewed as the Acura RD-X concept car, the production RDX had its debut at the 2006 New York Auto Show and went on sale on August 11, 2006. A facelifted 2010 model went on sale in August 2009, adopting Acura's power plenum grille seen on its sedan models. Front-wheel drive was also added.Engine
The first generation RDX is powered by turbocharged gasoline engines; at the time, this was uncommon among Honda vehicles. The 2.3-litre straight-4 K23A1 engine has all-aluminum construction, an i-VTEC head, and dual balance shafts. It was also one of the only four-cylinder powered luxury SUVs of its generation. Honda's variable flow turbocharger reduces turbo lag by using a valve to narrow the exhaust passage at low rpm, increasing the velocity of the exhaust flow and keeping the turbine spinning rapidly. At higher rpm, the valve opens to allow more exhaust flow for increased boost. The engine also features a top-mounted intercooler which receives air from the grille, channeled by ducting under the hood. The Acura RDX engine is rated at at 6,000 rpm with a torque peak of at 4,500 rpm. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated fuel mileage is city and highway miles per gallon. Driving style and the terrain plays an important part in this Vehicle's fuel economy. Uphill driving, frequent lane changes and sudden accelerations can increase turbo usage to increase torque output to the SH-AWD system and thus cause much higher fuel consumption. New more recent EPA mileage estimates as of February 2007 are city and highway. The required fuel is premium 91 octane unleaded.Drivetrain
The Acura RDX comes standard with a five-speed automatic transmission with Acura's SportShift sequential manual shift capability, activated by paddles mounted on the steering wheel. The paddles can be used in Drive to make a gear change with the transmission returning to automatic mode as soon as the vehicle resumes a steady-cruise state. The Sport setting has higher shift points and quicker downshifts, and using a paddle in “Sport” immediately puts the transmission in full manual mode. The RDX also has a version of Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, first seen on the flagship RL sedan. The system can vary the front/rear torque distribution from 90/10 to 30/70, depending on whether the vehicle is accelerating, cruising, hill climbing, taking a curve, or encountering poor road conditions. When taking a curve, a pair of magnetic flux clutches in the rear differential can transfer as much as 100% of the available rear torque to the outside wheel. That torque transfer, combined with a 1.7% rear over-rotation of the rear wheel helps rotate the RDX through a turn. The first generation RDX all use a timing chain, whereas subsequent years all use timing belts due to the 4-cylinder engine being replaced with a 6-cylinder engine.Interior
The RDX seats five and comes standard with leather seating, a moonroof, automatic climate control, and all the expected power features. The RDX 7-speaker audio system features an in-dash 6-CD changer, which is capable of playing standard Audio CDs, and Data-CDs burned with either MP3 or WMA files, it also plays DVD-A type CDs. The RDX's sound system also includes XM Satellite Radio with a complimentary 3-month subscription.Much of the interior technology introduced in the RL sedan is found in the optional "Technology Package". This package includes the latest version of Acura's navigation system, complete with a rear view camera, XM Nav-Traffic real-time traffic monitoring, and Zagat restaurant reviews. The package also features a 10-speaker ELS Surround audio system with DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound. The audio system plays DVD-Audio discs as well. Both stereos come with a 1/8" auxiliary input jack, which may be used to plug in external sources such as iPods. For 2007, Acura also offered an iPod adapter for the RDX, which was wired into the glove box, and allowed the iPod to be controlled through the RDX's sound system interface. Due to hardware incompatibilities the Honda/Acura iPod musiclink has been discontinued as of model year 2008. 2010+ models come standard with a USB connection that interfaces with Apple iPod players and other USB mass storage devices, such as flash drives that contain MP3, WMA6 or AAC music files while being stored in the center console.
Almost all of the ELS sound system's operations can be activated by voice command, as can most of the operations for the navigation and climate control systems. In addition, the vehicle will interact with most Bluetooth-equipped cell phones. The driver can initiate or receive calls through verbal command. During the call, the sound system will mute and channel the call through the speakers while caller and signal information is displayed on the instrument cluster.
The tailgate opens over six-feet high and 60/40 rear seatbacks fold down for a flat cargo area. A hard cargo cover can fit flush on the floor when not needed and is reversible to carry wet or dirty cargo. The cabin includes several storage areas including a lockable center console that can hold a standard size laptop computer. The cargo hold is small size compared to most rivals and does not have the adjustable cargo tracks or a rear parcel shelf.
Safety
The Acura RDX is the second Acura vehicle to feature the Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure which is designed to absorb energy from a collision. The RDX comes standard with six airbags, including dual front airbags, front side airbags and dual side curtain airbags. The front airbags use a dual-threshold, dual-stage technology that can adjust the timing and speed of each airbag deployment depending on the degree of impact and the driver's or front passenger's seat belt usage. If sensors deem the front passenger too small, the front airbag is designed not to deploy. The front passenger's side airbag is also designed to shut off if a child or small-statured adult is leaning into the airbag's deployment path. In the event of a sufficient side impact or roll-over, the side curtain airbag deploys from above the door frames of the affected side, with coverage for both the front and rear occupants on that side, and stays inflated longer than if there were a collision.Front seats have active head restraints and their seat belts are equipped with pre-tensioners and force-limiters. As of November 2006 the RDX was crash tested by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, resulting in a perfect "5 Star" rating for driver and passenger frontal crashes, and front and rear side impacts, along with "4 Stars" for rollover.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute gave the 2007-12 RDX the grade of Good "G" for moderate overlap front test and side impact test. The grade of Marginal "M" was given for roof strength evaluation.
Second generation (TB3/4; 2012)
The second generation RDX was revealed during January 2012 at the North American International Auto Show going on sale in April. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine was replaced by a 3.5-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic, improving gas mileage to an EPA estimated 20/28/23 mpg by using variable displacement. The SH-AWD system was replaced with a simpler and less costly AWD setup.A 5-inch display, tri-angle rear-view backup camera are standard, as well as keyless entry with push button start. Also, standard Bluetooth hands-free calling and Pandora music can be streamed wirelessly into the audio system. When upgrading to the Technology package, a power tailgate is included, along with an upgraded 60-gigabyte hard disc based navigation system with 8-inch screen, this system enables 15GB of music to be stored.
In China, the RDX is offered with two engines. A 3.0-liter SOHC V6 produces at 6700 rpm and of torque at 4600 rpm, while the 3.5-liter SOHC V6 produces at 6500 rpm and at 4400 rpm. Both engine choices come with either FWD or AWD.
2016 Facelift
The refreshed 2016 RDX was introduced at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show, sales began in mid-April. The updated RDX uses a slightly more powerful revised 3.5-liter SOHC V6 that produces and of torque. The exterior adds LED headlamps and LED taillamps. Additionally, the 2016 RDX includes several driver assists in the AcuraWatch package including Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist System. AWD was also updated to send up to 50% torque to rear wheels opposed to up to 25% in the previous model.Marketing
Acura and Marvel Entertainment, LLC, announced a joint promotional campaign with Marvel's The Avengers movie. Throughout Marvel's The Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents drive various Acura vehicles, including the MDX, ZDX, and TL models; the completely redesigned 2013 RDX was to make a cameo appearance in the movie but the scene did not make it in the final movie. However, the Acura NSX concept convertible sports car made an appearance in the movie.Safety
| Overall: | |
| Frontal Driver: | |
| Frontal Passenger: | |
| Side Driver: | |
| Side Passenger: | |
| Side Pole Driver: | |
| Rollover FWD: | / 16.4% |
| Rollover AWD: | / 15.5% |
| Moderate overlap frontal offset | Good |
| Small overlap frontal offset | not tested |
| Small overlap frontal offset | Good1 |
| Side impact | Good |
| Roof strength | Good2 |
Third generation (TC1/2; 2018)
Acura debuted the 2019 RDX Prototype, on 15 January 2018, at the North American International Auto Show. The 2019 model arrived at dealerships across North America on June 1, 2018. An A-Spec trim offered which adds aggressive body modifications, metal paddle shifters, larger rims, and optional red leather interior with black alcantara inserts. A one-off RDX will make a run at Pike's Peak in Colorado featuring a engine. This was the first RDX, and the first Acura ever, to feature the company's new True Touch Pad Interface infotainment system which features a 10.2 inch widescreen HD display. It is operated by a touchpad which operates differently from a traditional touchpad. The touchpad uses absolute positioning, which would mean that the finger placement corresponds with the position of the screen.New features include Active Damper system using continuously adjustable valving within the struts, 360-degree surround-view exterior cameras, panoramic glass moonroof, acoustic front door glass, automotive head-up display and 4-way power lumbar front seats, and 16-way power front seats.
Engine
The 2019 RDX is powered by a direct-injected 16-Valve, DOHC VTEC turbo 2.0-liter engine, producing and of torque. The 2019 RDX is more efficient with the front-wheel drive model receiving an EPA fuel economy rating of 22 city / 28 highway / 24 combined mpg, while the SH-AWD® model did nearly as well, receiving a 21 / 27 / 23 mpg rating.Transmission
The 2019 Acura RDX is equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission. According to Honda this allows the RDX to take the turbocharged engine to its maximum capabilities during low-end torque. There are wheel-mounted paddle shifters.SH-AWD
The 2019 Acura RDX can be equipped with Acura's SH-AWD system. Acura had dropped the SH-AWD system in the second generation RDX for a non-torque vectoring AWD system. With the upgraded system 70% of torque can be sent to the rear wheels with up to 100% of that torque applied to either rear wheel.