Our first extended test drive of the 2016 Acura RDX luxury crossover SUV illuminates the vast differences in performance, refinement, and features these vehicles offer compared to one another.
With regard to styling, many have said that in the last decade Acuras had become less distinctive in their look, with little to really set it apart from the crowd. The RDX here was all new in 2013 and one of the first models to bring back sharper lines and more visual drama.
And, for 2016 it received a number of styling updates that further make it more distinctive. One of them is the new LED “Jewel Eye” headlamps that I really do like. They’re found across the Acura lineup now from the ILX to the NSX super car, now becoming their signature look.
There’s a new grille design with more three-dimensional depth so it doesn’t look like a sticker anymore. The rear view remains largely the same save for some new LED tail lamps. Looking at the rear fascia, Acura doesn’t brandish big exhaust tips to emphasize performance, instead using trim elements that mimic them.
The rear lift gate is power operated, a standard feature even on the base model. And that brings me to what we have here, which is a top-of-the-line Advance AWD. This means it has all of the features of the Technology Package and the AcuraWatch Plus Package, plus a few other things and gives it a sticker price of $44,360.
Inside that means power heated and ventilated seats up front with leather trim in leiu of leatherette. The driver has memory settings and there’s a power sunroof which is nice, but no panoramic roof is available here.
As you look around the interior, there are some updated trims for 2016 including an aluminum finished plastic that looks real enough to forgive it not being the real thing. Leather is found on the steering wheel and thickly padded stitched soft trims line the door panels.
What a number of other competitors offer for the rear seat is a sliding lower cushion and a reclining back adjustment as well as heated seats. This might not be important if this is a personal vehicle most of the time, but if you have a lot of passengers or kids, they might grouse about the lack of amenities back here.
The seats do fold down in a 60/40 split though, and they do it pretty easily with quick release levers at the rear cargo hold or on the seat backs themselves. Its nice you don’t have to remove the headrests to fold them but note they don’t fold entirely flat for a level cargo floor.
Under that floor I found a full sized and pretty heavy duty looking temporary spare tire, which always wins points since many vehicles are eliminating them. With that, scoring the interior was pretty easy as there was very little to fault.
Fit and finish were exemplary I thought, the design was clean a purposeful yet warm and inviting. Best of all there’s comfort to be had no matter where you sit. It earns a perfect score at 5 of 5 stars.
Under the hood of the RDX is a standard 3.5 liter V6 which has 279 horsepower for 2016. It’s still of the single-overhead cam variety but offers a lot of modern technology like variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation.
This means it can run on three or four of its six cylinders when the extra power isn’t needed which contributes to its fuel-economy and it comes with a six-speed automatic transmission still, instead of a CVT or a nine-speed.
The cylinder deactivation feature is seamless, I never really noticed it taking place at all. This helps it earn and EPA rating of 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. In my week with it, I achieved 23 mpg combined which is slightly more than expected.
Let me point out that’s virtually the same mpg as competitors have who only offer a four-cylinder turbo that they claim gives better mpg. But with the V6 you get more smoothness and refinement I think expected in a luxury vehicle. I like it, it gets 5 of 5 stars.
The chassis of the Acura RDX is much identical to most of its competitors. It has MacPherson struts up front, a multi-link independent rear suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes. It’s all the expected stuff, at least on paper.
I was pretty impressed with how this thing drives. To mention BMW again, the RDX just has a very BMW-like sharpness and precision in how it feels no matter where its driven. And some BMW’s don’t even have that that any more. It gets 5 of 5 stars in the chassis department.
I’m kind of jumping around here having touched on the technologies a little bit earlier with the infotainment system. Fact is, the driver-assistance and crash avoidance systems are obviously a big part of the topic.
And the conversation wouldn’t be complete without the rear view camera which has three different viewing angles. One gives you a 175 degree view that’s good for backing out of a space, and the lines swing with your steering. It’s excellent, but still isn’t a 360 degree view like an increasing number of competitors offer now.
All of this is combined with an infotainment system that while it has a moderate learning curve, works exceptionally. It’s just well thought out, and the audio quality is phenomenal. The technology score for the RDX is 5 of 5 stars.
The last and most important measure here is quality. I look at the gaps between body panels and interior trims for their fit, especially with a luxury brand. I slam the doors and listen, and listen as well for rattles. And to be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve come across a vehicle this flawless. 5 of 5 stars for quality feel.
With a top value score at 5 of 5 stars due to is top of class quality for its price, it earns a total test drive score at 5 of 5 stars. This is the first vehicle we’ve tested in 2016 and the first to make our “Id Buy It” list.
