Acura RDX review.
Last Updated:
Since it came out back in 2018, I’ve driven the Acura RDX a few times. It is rumored to be canceled at the end of next year, and I thought it would be interesting to drive it one more time in 2025.
I personally think the design has aged very well. However, I never got used to the huge, plasticky grille. Sales have been pretty good for Acura, and the RDX was even more popular last year than in 2023, with 43,000 units sold.
The car I drove for a week has an “A-Spec Advance” trim for a total of $56,400. Not cheap, but truly loaded.
For 2025, the console has been very slightly revised. My test car came with a pretty ghastly red and black interior. Something I am really not a fan of.
Everything feels very solid and of high quality. But the main problem remains: the dreadful track pad for the infotainment system. Acura has fixed it by replacing it with a touch screen in the 2025 MDX, but not in the RDX. Which is truly a shame. It is as hard and frustrating to use as ever. I guess it’s something many might get used to after a while.
Otherwise, the sound system is still fantastic. The seats are also very comfortable.
I also noticed the gauges on the A-Spec trim are silver with red letters. And that, unfortunately, is one of the worst combos to read quickly while you’re driving.
As usual, the rear seat is very roomy and there is tons of space in the cargo area, even with the rear seats up.
I was surprised by how light the steering felt. I didn’t remember it being that light. The Sport mode helps a bit, but not by much. Which is a bit confusing since the A-Spec trim goes to such efforts to make the Acura RDX look sportier, inside and out.
The suspension is always very smooth and comfortable. Which again, might not be what you’d expect from the sportier trim. But it sure makes traveling a pleasure.
The RDX is officially rated at 21 City/26 Hwy. While 26HWy is easy to get, the best I got around town was 18MPG. While being very, very careful.
While I think over $56,000 is quite pricey for a trim that doesn’t really add much. The RDX starts at $44,700 with AWD standard. A panoramic sunroof is also standard. If you want an excellent sound system, you’ll have to get the Technology Package for an extra $2600. Which also includes leather and the slow sharing pad. Which I think is the best deal on the RDX.
However, these are probably very reliable, and there are plenty of slightly used models out there for much less.
Either way, the Acura RDX is still an excellent choice, and you’ll end up with a great SUV. But you’ll also have to deal with that dreadful trackpad…
When we bought our last car, we drove the RDX. I loved the exterior but hated in the interior: typical Acura tacky, with the trackpad, that decades-past center stack, and terrible gauges. Acura could have easily given this the same digital gauge cluster as the Integra and modified the center stack, making this a better package. I cannot understand why they never did that or why there’s no TypeS.
For what it was, we bought a loaded CRV instead.