4-Cylinder Turbocharged Motor Returns
By Nauman Farooq
The first generation model of the Acura RDX (2007 to 2012) was well ahead of its time! It was an entry-level, luxury SUV that offered intelligent all-wheel drive and a turbocharged engine, years before anyone else came out with the formula, and now, pretty much everyone offers a vehicle with these features.
The second generation model (2013 to 2018), went off towards a more conventional route, ditching the turbocharged four-cylinder motor in favour of a V6. It also grew in size, and adopted a softer personality – so, it was no longer a vehicle for a driving enthusiast.
For 2019, Acura has looked at the past, and created an RDX that should be closer to the original in terms of personality. Has it worked? Let’s find out!
Styling: In terms of styling, the third-gen 2019 RDX has evolved nicely from the second generation model – you can tell it’s an RDX, despite every body panel being new. It is a handsome looking SUV, but by no means the prettiest vehicle in its segment. I’m not a fan of the front grille, or the ‘lobster claw’ rear lights.
Interior: This is where things aren’t great regarding the new RDX. Sure, there is plenty of space for five people and their cargo, but the functionality isn’t great! Let me explain – you see, nowadays, the front of the cabin in any vehicle is largely based around the infotainment system, and most manufacturers try very hard to make the infotainment system as easy and simple to use. Acura has tried to do something new, and in the process has made the most annoying and frustrating system I’ve ever come across. Lexus and Mitsubishi have been using the ‘track pad’ style controller for their infotainment systems, and have been heavily criticized for it being hard to use. Compared to the one in the new RDX, the Lexus and Mitsubishi units could actually be considered user friendly!
What makes the RDX’s unit so annoying is that you have to perform each function in a single swipe and press down on the trackpad, rather than being able to leave a cursor on any point on the screen. This makes it very
hard and distracting to use, especially while driving. I have come across many infotainment systems in my life, and I can honestly say, this new RDX has the worst system I’ve ever used – I just hope it doesn’t make an appearance in any other Acura or Honda product.
The rest of the interior has its issues, too. Right in the middle of the dashboard, you’ll see a big knob. Most people will think it is an oversized volume or frequency tuning knob, but it is actually for its Dynamic Drive Modes. A feature of this prominence makes sense in a driver’s car like the Acura NSX, but in an SUV, not really!
Is there anything about this interior that I like? Yes, the seats are comfortable, and there is very little outside noise in the cabin – so a very smooth vehicle.
Powertrain: It’s under the hood where the 2019 RDX goes back towards its roots! Gone is the V6 from the second-gen model, and we see a return of the four-cylinder turbocharged motor. Displacing just 2.0L, this direct injected unit develops 272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Power is fed to all-wheels via a 10 speed automatic gearbox. This transmission is smooth, but not quick when using the paddle shifters to engage gears – best to just leave it in “D” and let the computers sort it out!
Driving Dynamics: Like most modern vehicles, the RDX has some pre-set drive modes, for the type of driving you have in mind. There is ‘eco’ mode for when you want to conserve fuel, a ‘sport’ mode for when you want to have some fun, and ‘normal’ for regular driving. In ‘sport’ it tries to be too aggressive, but given this is not a sporting vehicle, it just makes a lot of noise, but the actual performance and very soft suspension means that it isn’t fun to drive, so you will very quickly switch back to the ‘normal’ and drive it casually. If you’re looking for a family SUV that can sometimes act like a sports car, this isn’t it.
Fuel Economy: In my test cycle (170 km of highway driving + 130 km of city driving), the 2019 Acura RDX averaged 11.0L/100km. That is a lot higher than what I expected from a vehicle that has a 2.0L engine and a 10 speed gearbox – given that it prefers premium grade fuel, running costs are not low. Acura’s own numbers (as published on their website) gives a combined average of 9.9L/100km, but trust me, these numbers are not feasible in the real world for most people and driving under normal circumstances.
Pricing: The 2019 Acura RDX has a base price of $43,990. Given its size, it is priced fairly well, so if all the things that annoy me regarding this vehicle don’t bother you, this new RDX could be on your shopping list.
Verdict: In my view, the 2019 Acura RDX is not the prettiest vehicle in its segment, nor has the best interior, has the most annoying infotainment controller fitted to any production car, is not fun to drive, and drinks more premium fuel than it should – so, it’s not for me. Given the number of these I’ve already seen on the road, there are plenty of people who disagree with me, and that is fine – after all, different strokes for different folks!