Filed under: Tech, Crossovers/CUVs, Acura, First Drive
2008 Acura RDX - A sports car in a CUV costume
Click the RDX for a high res gallery from the track
What's pictured above looks like a stylish, if conventional, compact crossover utility vehicle. As is so often the case, however, appearances are deceiving. While the vehicle has four doors and a tailgate, this is indeed a sports car. Acura gave us an opportunity to thoroughly flog the RDX compact CUV at the Waterford Hills racetrack and it acquitted itself astoundingly well.
The RDX is equipped with Acura's Super Handling-All Wheel Drive system which, combined with a well tuned suspension, makes for a thoroughly tossable unit. The RDX has a 2.3L turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the first of its type in a North American vehicle from Honda. The responsive powerplant turns out 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque with minimal turbo lag.
Gallery: 2008 Acura RDX at the track
The torque peak comes at 4500 rpm and a 5-speed automatic transmission manual shifting capability is the only one available. With a base curb weight of 3,924 lbs, it's no lightweight, so it doesn't leap off the line. Once underway, however, the RDX won't embarrass itself when you're getting into the throttle, and pulls well coming off the corners.
The best part of the RDX, however, is the hardware between the transmission and wheels. The SH-AWD features an electronically controlled clutch pack on either side of the rear differential. In slippery conditions the clutches transfer torque to the wheels that have the most traction. When the inertial, steering and throttle settings indicate that directional changes are in order, torque is transferred to the wheels in a way that helps it follow the drivers intended path. If understeer is detected, more torque goes to the outside rear wheel to help bring the back end around.
The end result is that a nose-heavy vehicle that would normally plow through a turn becomes much more neutral. You can do a nice four-wheel drift through a high speed corner like the one at the end of the back straight, and a right-left-right series of turns at Waterford Hills showed the RDX to have resistance to changing direction. Having the AWD pitch in for this control instead of relying so much on brake intervention meant no loss of momentum during hard driving. Body roll was kept to a minimum and the RDX never felt like it wanted to go wheels-up. In spite of the vehicles coming into the pits at the end of each run with smoke pouring off the stock brake pads, fade was kept to a minimum. If you need seating for four or five and some storage space, but you still love to drive hard, this is definitely one to check out.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
SherbornSean 8:35AM (9/05/2007)
We'll see a lot of these PR pieces about Acura this year, because they don't have any new product. In fact, Acura is in real trouble for 2008 because their sedans are outclassed in a lot of ways by the all new Accord.
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Almost... 9:27AM (9/05/2007)
I love how people think that HP numbers automatically = a better car.
I'm a Honda fan... have been for a long time. I've owned 13 or so Honda cars in my life time. I currently one two Honda products and an Acura product.
That being said, the new Accord is ugly as hell and I would never buy one.
Ivy League Educated 8:43AM (9/05/2007)
Acura is not in trouble. You WISH they were in trouble. Now GM, they're in trouble!
=)
Gotta love the RDX. 240 HP out of a 4 banger with sports car handling in a sexy CUV package with tech galore!
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Justin 11:09AM (9/05/2007)
All that education and still time to sit on autoblog all day...how droll.
Mark 11:13AM (9/05/2007)
haha, looks like someone got tired of all the jabs at his name and dropped the "e" in Ivey. You're such a tool. Proper spelling still doesn't make us believe you're an intellectual fool.
Don 4:02PM (9/05/2007)
So stupid he originally went with "Ivey" League Educated...great stuff, nimrod!
MikeW 6:07PM (9/05/2007)
No. GM has all the right part, though they may not put them together as well as they should.
Honda does not have variable valve timing on any of their V6s. VTEC is cam switching. Honda still used eEGR.
Honda is doing its own thing with transmissions. Granted they may be above average in terms of efficiency, but they only have 5 speeds. (6,7,8 is the name of the game now)
SH-awd is a part time system, how much power goes to the rear at 100, 125, 150mph.
Gardiner Westbound 8:45AM (9/05/2007)
Counting down until the next Acura puff piece. 10, 9, 8, 7, ....
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John R 9:00AM (9/05/2007)
Honda needs to put that motor in the TSX, dagnabbit!
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Tony C 9:11AM (9/05/2007)
I guess since this was a track day, there was no need to log the RDX's fuel sipping? I'd dearly love to buy an RDX because I very much appreciate the design, concept and Acura's execution of the luxury compact sport-ute. Even though there's a lot less "ute" to it than its peers, except for maybe the forthcoming EX35 with an even more abbreviated cargo area.
However, the bit that almost drives the nail into the coffin for me is its abysmal performance at the pump. Not only does it require the ingestion of premium fuel, but this should-be-fuel-thrifty-four-banger rates an abominable 17/22 and tends to get much, much less in real world driving. I've heard horror stories of half those figures sans lead foot and it definitely gives a potential buyer pause for thought.
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Jason 9:23AM (9/05/2007)
I love how people bitch about the cost of premium gas vs regular gas. It's like $3 more per fill-up for a 15 gallon tank. Get a Speedy Rewards Card or fill up with Shell V-Power on Tuesdays and the price drops to $2 more per tank. You'll make up for that with the added mileage over a more sloppily built V6 that makes the same (or less) horsepower.
Tony C 10:08AM (9/05/2007)
Yes, I know premium is only about 20 cents more a gallon, but when a COMPACT class four-cylinder sport utility gets an average of 11-12 MPG, that's a whole lot of money siphoning out of your wallet. My primary complaint was the RDX's gas guzzling abilities.
By the way -- my 269HP, regular unleaded sipping, V6-powered RAV4 gets an average of 20-25MPG in real-world driving (EPA rated 19/26).
Doogs 10:29AM (9/05/2007)
Right on, Tony.
My wife and I have our first child on the way, are are looking around for something a bit more suitable than her Mustang. She loved the RDX...until she heard about it's fuel economy. Or lack thereof.
Now, we're trying to decide between the BMW X3 and Honda CR-V.
Meanwhile, the wife gripes at the lack of fuel-sipping compact luxury SUVs, and Acura loses a potential customer.
Jason 10:38AM (9/05/2007)
If you're going for fuel economy, a turbocharged vehicle isn't really an intelligent choice. Since when would a turbocharged engine use less fuel than a similarly sized NA one? More (forced) air = more fuel.
Want something that gets good fuel economy? Don't get an SUV - get a sedan or a wagon... a normally aspirated one.
Tony C 12:44PM (9/05/2007)
Mazda CX-7, turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder, 244HP, EPA rated 18/24 in AWD trim, gets a little over 20MPG in real world driving.
Saab 9-5, turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder, 260HP, EPA rated 19/29 with an autoshifter.
Saab 9-3, turbocharged 2.0L four, 210HP, EPA rated 21/30 with an auto.
Subaru Forester, turbocharged 2.5L four, 224HP, EPA 18/23 with auto.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI, turbocharged 2.5L four, 293HP, EPA 19/25.
I haven't heard any of the same mileage concerns with the above vehicles as with the RDX.
Richard 9:17AM (9/05/2007)
Oh! For goodness sake!
These things are not sports cars, not are they GT cars. Let's take one out on the track against...well, the aforementioned TSX or a Subaru Legacy GT or even an Acura RS.
CUV's don't turn, or go or stop as well. Because they are higher up in the air they give you less of a sensation of traveling at speed, which is stupid because their limits at speed are lower and their ability to recover from crossing the limit is much lower. You can add all the electro gizmos you want, but you aren't going to beat Newton (Sir Isaac) PERIOD.
If you want a car, get one. If you like the feeling that sitting up high gives you, that's fine, but don't drive like you are in a sports car. If you want the middle ground, get an Outback and put some good VR rated tires on it.
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Jason 9:20AM (9/05/2007)
I take it you've never driven an RDX before...
PChang 9:26AM (9/05/2007)
what is an Acura RS?
Richard 9:27AM (9/05/2007)
Yep! I have. And the X3. They're great, but they are what they are.
Have you driven an A4/ 3xi/ Legacy GT/ Mazda Speed6 or even and Acura RL in comparison...or even a turbo or 6-cyl Outback?
Richard 9:29AM (9/05/2007)
PChang,
Sorry. I meant RL.