2007 Acura RDX Review discusses a strong first crossover utility vehicle offering from Acura.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

2007 Acura RDX Review

The Acura RDX represents a lot of firsts for Honda's luxury label. The RDX is its first compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV) and uses Acura's first turbocharged engine, the four cylinder, 2.3-L K23A1. It's a small, luxurious, car-based SUV that is predicated on the widely-recognized fact that the majority of SUV owners don't use their vehicles for heavy-duty towing or hauling. The RDX is built on a unique platform designed to handle its advanced Super-Handling all-wheel drive system.

The BuyingAdvice Team Says:

The Acura RDX is an SUV built for the city. Car-like handling and its impressive safety rating make it ideal for the urban jungle. This is not an SUV to take off road or tow your cabin cruiser to the lake, but if you are looking for SUV cargo space, a smooth ride and maneuverability in city traffic, the RDX offers an attractive new option in the compact SUV class.

What's New For 2007:

The RDX is all-new for the 2007 model year and is a turbo-charged, crossover utility vehicle with a 240-horsepower 2.3-liter DOHC engine. Plenty of technology gilds the Acura RDX's interior and plenty of it runs through the RDX's mechanics as well. The engine has Acura's i-VTEC variable valve timing and variable flow turbocharger, which help to bolster the 4-cylinder engine's performance. Leather and seat heaters are standard on all RDX models; so is a premium audio system with 3 months of satellite radio, a CD changer, and an MP3 auxiliary input jack. The Acura RDX is available in essentially one trim, with the option to add a technology package for about $3,500. The addition of the luxury package includes a navigation system (with live traffic updates for 30 major cities), a rearview camera, and Bluetooth connectivity.

What is the Predicted Reliability:

Reliability information is not yet available for this brand new model. However, based on Acura's other SUVs and cars, the RDX should have at least average, if not above average, reliability. Drivers so far have not reported any reliability concerns. Acura offers a 4-year, 50,000 mile basic warranty.

Analysis Of Safety Ratings And Features:

The RDX earned unheard of perfect scores in crash tests performed both by the government and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and four out of five stars in government rollover tests performed by the National Highway Transporation Safety Administration. The IIHS named the RDX one of its top safety picks for 2007, which is nothing to scoff at. To protect drivers and passengers, the RDX has the following safety features: Anti-lock brakes with brake assist, traction and stability control, front-mounted side airbags, head side airbags, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a rollover sensor. The RDX's frame was constructed with Advanced Compatibility Engineering, designed to absorb the energy of a crash. There have been no recalls for the 2007 Acura RDX SUV.

Pros and Cons:

Pros
+ Perfect crash test scores
+ Plenty of standard features
+ Well priced

Cons
- Minimal off-roading capability
- Lower payload/towing capacity than competition
- Unknown first-year reliability

Head-To-Head Competition:

The Acura RDX is a great vehicle with a low price. For instance, the Audi Q7 costs almost $7,000 more than the RDX, while not really offering that much more. The Audi Q7 does have a larger, more powerful engine (3.6-L, 6-cylinder, with 40 more horsepower) and a DVD player, but lacks the Acura's CD changer and standard leather seats. The Infiniti FX35 is very similar, with a larger engine, along with an extra $6,000 on the price tag. The closest competitor to the RDX is the Subaru B9 Tribeca Limited, which costs about the same, but features a 3-liter, 6-cylinder engine.

What Others Are Saying:

"The hip, urban environment of one of California's coolest cities was an ideal place for Acura to unveil the compact RDX to automotive writers. Preliminary driving impressions, gleaned from a drive on the twisting ribbons of road in Sonoma County, are that Acura's newest crossover SUV drives like a sports sedan, hauls like an SUV and coddles like a luxury car." - The Family Car

"Have you ever noticed that the Acura logo looks somewhat similar to that of Star Trek? Of course, this could be just pure coincidence, but is it? Just take a look at their new 2007 Acura RDX entry-luxury SUV/Crossover vehicle. I think that there might be one or two sci-fi enthusiasts behind this design." - Auto123.com

"Acura says the RDX combines sports-car handling, serious performance and practical utility. A Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system quickly sends power to the wheels that need it." - Forbes

Read more about the 2007 Acura RDX at the Acura manufacturer web site.

Published on Sunday, March 11, 2007 - Email to a friend

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