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2026 Acura RDX.

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2026 Acura RDX illustration.

The current generation Acura RDX has been in production for just over 6 years. it received a very mild facelift for the 2022 model year.

2018 and 2019 were very good years for the “then new” RDX with over 62,000 of them sold each year. However, things have been getting worse every year since. All the way down to 24,749 units sold in 2022. I guess the 2022 facelift somehow was enough to bring sales back up to over 39,000 last year

Still, we are talking about a 6-year-old model that isn’t Tesla, it’s due for a new design.

Acura will soon be very busy with an all-new model, the smaller ADX Crossover. Which will probably be very closely related to the Honda HR-V. However, back in January, Acura had confirmed that both the MDX and RDX would soon be receiving “updates”. While the 2025 MDX just came out with a few changes, it didn’t need more after just a few years.

I doubt the RDX will just be getting another mid-cycle refresh. As it really needs more. It is still a compelling choice but after 6 years, it’s time to retire the design.

The illustration above shows a relatively conservative redesign of the RDX. Which is probably what will happen. Unless Acura decides to go nuts and come up with much more modern.

We will be getting a look at what that could look like soon.

Conversation 4 comments

  1. Wow, I had entirely forgotten about the coming ADX! I think you’re right about the RDX though. It’ll get an MDX-like refresh: some minor cosmetics on the outside (headlights, taillights, grill and plastic fascias); they’ll tweek the 2.0t-10AT drivetrain a bit; they’ll update the interior’s center stack to remove the Acura TrueTouch interface and add a touchscreen with new software; and they’ll probably add some seating features and a new all-digital display. End of story. I always thought the RDX’s Precision interior design was its biggest weakness – trendy but low functionality. This soldier will carry on largely because Acura is now at a loss for what to do. Electrics aren’t the big surge they had committed to, and I doubt if Acura’s even ready if it were. Having said that, its only real issue is fuel economy.

  2. After seeing Honda decide to facelift the existing MDX instead of moving it to the new Pilot platform, it looks like they will be doing the same with the RDX. Wonder if they’ll pull an ILX and skip joining the current Pilot and CR-V generations altogether?

  3. @zoomer – if I recall correctly, there is enough difference between the CRV (last gen) structure and the RDX due to modifications of the bracing and supports to make it unique. So I doubt it will be moved onto the current CRV architecture. The RDX was Acura’s target for their first home grown electric. Since we aren’t supposed to see those until 2026 or later. And it tracks. Honda (and Acura) have always been in a battle with Toyota/Lexus, mostly because Mr Honda hated Toyota so much that its become part of the company culture. And Lexus has the RZ (an electric RX). That puts the RDX, not the ZDX, into the framework to compete against it. The ZDX contract with GM ends in 2027. That’s when the RDX will get an all new structure, and it’ll be electric-capable.

  4. (Honda)Acura needs to get going on the better gas mileage for the acura. I have a 2020 Honda CR-V and I tell ya I am getting close to 38 mpg combined then I bought an MDX advanced trim and barely getting 20 mpg… I loved at the rdx and that’s much smaller however gas mileage still sucks! Maybe acura should put a hybrid in the mdx. I might have to get back into a CR-V….

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