As a luxury division of the Honda Motor Company, Acura boasts an exceptional lineup of cars and SUVs built to deliver ultimate comfort and impressive performance. Acura is the first Japanese automotive luxury brand and has released some great cars since its inception. The Acura MDX was the first all-original SUV produced and immediately became a hit with its rugged engine and prime features.
Focusing on the RDX, the company's first luxury crossover SUV, the vehicle has been around since 2006 and has seen great upgrades and designs applied to it. While there's so much to love about the new RDX, there are also some grey areas. Here we look at some features we love about the 2022 Acura RDX and some things that aren't so cool.
10 We Love: Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive
Designed to give the driver the smoothest of rides, the SUV is equipped with an all-wheel-drive system unlike any regular AWD you'd find in most SUVs. It is engineered to give a solid grip on difficult road conditions.
The amount of torque received by both the front and rear wheels of the vehicle are equally regulated by the Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system, thereby improving maneuverability in difficult situations.
9 We Love: Premium Interior
The SUV is installed with Ultrasuede trimmed seats with orchid leather accents, giving you an ultimate feeling of comfort. A perfectly placed True Touch Interface at the center brings the whole cabin together and highlights its design.
Fitted with 16 speakers courtesy of Acura/ELS Studio 3D systems and designed by Elliot Scheiner, a grammy award winner, the RDX is a great place for all music lovers to be. Also, note that the leathered seats provide utmost comfort to the driver, giving them a delightful feeling.
8 We Love: Sufficient Space For Passenger And Luggage
Hoping to fill the cabin of your vehicle with passengers and still have ample space for luggage? You can count on the 2022 Acura RDX to satisfy that dream, as it is designed to give maximum sitting comfort and luggage space despite its compact size. The SUV is built with two spacious rows and can seat five passengers comfortably.
Not to worry about cargo space as the vehicle has a maximum cargo volume of 79.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Acura RDX stands tall in the space department compared to its competitors.
7 We Love: Fuel Economy
Another great thing about the RDX is that it's not a gas-guzzler. The crossover has competitive fuel ratings that dwell in the mid-20s. Acura's all-wheel-drive RDX achieves an impressive 21 mpg for city roads and 27 mpg on the highway.
On the other hand, both numbers are up by an extra one mpg on the front driver. The A-Spec Package further drops both estimates by 1 mpg. These estimates are better than the fuel rating of the Porsche Macan.
6 We Love: Optional Technology Package
The new Acura RDX offers a more high-tech technology package. This model's impressive and highly desirable updates comprise a highly effective sound system with 12 powerful speakers. Driver aids like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors are some features available in the RDX.
Passengers at the back can enjoy the available two extra USB charging ports in addition to the standard ones in the front. This kind of attention to detail puts the SUV in an advantaged position compared with its rivals.
5 We Love: Infotainment And Connectivity
For infotainment, the manufacturer provided a 10.2-inch high-definition screen positioned at the center for easy visibility. Of course, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all RDX trim levels. Drivers can integrate their smartphones with the media screen and view their apps, music, and emails on the screen.
Acura's True Touchpad Interface can control the media screen located on the center console. Wi-Fi availability and data plans are standard. There's also AcuraLink– a mobile app where drivers can get information on their cars.
4 We Love: Good Crash Test Score
When choosing a car, safety is an important factor that should be considered. Well, the 2022 Acura RDX got nice crash test scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), so it's a safe car. The RDX was 'good' for most points under crashworthiness during the test. They also got a 'superior' rating for their headlights under the crash avoidance and mitigation category. The SUV performed so well that it was announced a Top Safety Pick for 2021.
It is equipped with features such as the Blind Spot Information and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), which autonomously engages the brakes if it detects an oncoming pedestrian or vehicle. Furthermore, Crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also rate the RDX favorably.
3 We Love: Sleek Exterior Styling Options
There are many color options to choose from for your RDX which will complement the uniqueness of its interior. Available colors include Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Fathom Blue Pearl, and Platinum White Pearl.
Also equipped with unique wheels that highlight the beautiful craftsmanship in the design, the SUV sports 19-inch Glitter Silver Wheels on the standard package, 19-inch Pewter Gray Metallic Wheels on the technology package, and more. Opting for the A-spec package, customers can enjoy additional exterior features like; black window trim, dark chrome, lighting details, etc.
2 We Hate: Poor Towing Capacity And Lack Of Engine Options
Amidst the mouth-watering features of the 2022 Acura RDX, there are some downfalls to the SUV, with one being the lack of engine options. The only available engine installed on the vehicle is a turbocharged 2.0-liter unit developing 272 hp. The engine will still give an amazing performance, but without any more powerful engine options, drivers that love to push the boundaries of performance will not be impressed.
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Also, the single-engine option affects the SUV towing capacity, which is limited to 1500 pounds compared to the 5000 pounds that can be towed by the Acura MDX and some of its competitors.
1 We Hate: Transmission Problems
Acura's 2021 RDX model is matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission with sequential SportShift paddle shifters. The gear selector and transmission are electronically controlled, and it all sounds good, but then there are problems.
Drivers already have complaints of gear shift lagging, jumpy motions during acceleration, whistling noises, and even a burning smell from underneath the hood. While these are not everyday issues, they are still important. These transmission problems can affect the drive quality of the car and decrease fuel economy.