CONFIRMED: 2010 RDX peeks out on Acura website

2010 Acura RDX - Click above for image gallery
Last week, we showed you a few photos of what looked to be the 2010 Acura RDX that had begun floating around the interwebs. A subsequent call to Acura confirmed that they were, in fact, the real deal. Now, without any fanfare, the updated compact crossover has appeared on the company's website, complete with specification changes and pricing.
As shown earlier, the RDX is indeed on the receiving end of the corporate shield grille rhinoplasty, and also gets new fog lamps and air inlets. The rear end has been cleaned up as well, with new hexagonal exhaust inlets with stylized cutouts and a mesh insert in the fascia's lower reaches.
The big news for 2010 is the availability of a front-drive version, which helps shed weight and parasitic drag to increase fuel economy. At an EPA estimated 19 miles-per-gallon city and 24 highway, the RDX still strikes us as behind the curve, but perhaps not as much as the (unchanged) 17/22 figures of the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) version.
Predictably, this least-complex RDX is also the cheapest, ringing up at $32,520 plus delivery. If you do want the foul-weather security of all-wheel drive, you'll have to pay a minimum of $34,520. Plump for the technology package (which includes traffic- and weather-linked sat-nav, premium Acura/ELS surround sound, and so on), you're looking at $35,620 in front-drive guise, and $37,620 for all-wheel drive.
We see no mention of streaming audio as hinted at earlier, but Bluetooth telephony is still part of the mix. Further, a rearview camera will come standard, even if one doesn't pony up for the Technology pack with navigation.
No matter which model you choose, the RDX continues to be motivated by the same turbocharged, intercooled 2.3-liter four-cylinder, giving 240 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm.
We'll keep our eyes peeled for an official press release and a full complement of high-res images, but for now, enjoy our screencap'd gallery below. Thanks for the tip, Trevor!
Gallery: 2010 Acura RDX
[Source: Acura]












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Venom 10:30AM (7/24/2009)
It looks as ugly as the current one.
Sigh.
I remember when Acura made good looking cars.
The Legend was still the best looking Acura to this day.
Reply
Polly Prissy Pants 10:57PM (7/24/2009)
Yeah, makes you wonder if they're oblivious to the repulsiveness of that nasty beak or if it was just too late in the design process to fix it. I'm sorry but that's just awful.
Aloysius Vampa 10:31AM (7/24/2009)
"No matter which model you choose, the RDX continues to be motivated by the same turbocharged, intercooled 2.3-liter four-cylinder, giving 240 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm."
That's really weak.
Reply
Affalterbach 10:44AM (7/24/2009)
No kidding. Their competitors make gasoline cars with peak torque as low as 2,000 rpm and much better fuel economy.
5AT in a world of 7/8-speed dual clutch doesn't help either.
jv2k 1:18PM (7/24/2009)
Are you complaining about honda torque?
Aloysius Vampa 3:25PM (7/25/2009)
No, I'm just complaining about Honda's engines... which is something I shouldn't ever have to complain about.
monkeykat2 10:32AM (7/24/2009)
I think this is the first time I'm not completely appalled by the new Acura beak.
Reply
Protzenegger 10:57AM (7/24/2009)
That's because the rest is ugly enough that it looks less severe.
Cypher09 12:25PM (7/24/2009)
The overall ugliness kind of softens the visual blow of that hideous beak.
AndrewNoNumbers 4:33PM (7/24/2009)
This one looks much better than the outgoing one imo.
Judgeman 10:45AM (7/24/2009)
I passed an old Legend on the highway today. I thought to myself "what a great design". After seeing this thing I'm reminded how far Acuras designs have fallen. This thing looks awful.
Reply
freckles 12:17PM (7/24/2009)
there's one that i park next to every morning and it's one of the cleanest ones in town. i believe it's owned by a doctor.
Judgeman 12:33PM (7/24/2009)
The design of the car was very classy. It's one of those cars that has aged very well.
fmwso 4:19PM (7/24/2009)
which Legend? First or second gen? I agree with you, their current offerings are pretty ugly...
MemphisNET 10:39AM (7/24/2009)
I really hope Honda can get their act together on this car. Girlfriend's mother has a Turbo, and the thing is buzzy, jittery and loud at city speeds, let alone hwy. Yes it handles great, and more than enough power on tap -- but overall I just don't get the appeal.
Oh and the paddle shifting sucks -- the delay between shifts is as bad as a Chrysler 4speed manumatic (or, a Chrysler 4speed manumatic is as good as this setup).
Reply
Mike P. 11:25AM (7/24/2009)
Not to mention the fuel economy. My friend's never goes under 13.0-14.0L/100km--horrendous for mixed cycle driving. The RAV4 V6 gets better fuel economy and has better performance. The "4-cylinder" is purely for marketing purposes.
Affalterbach 10:41AM (7/24/2009)
So Honda doesn't want Acura to become a premium brand and make competitive products. They don't want to go back to their enthusiast cars mantra, and want to make the ugliest cars on sale in US.
Seriously, do they even listen to their customers? At a time when everyone wants discrete and personal luxury, they come out with bulbous monsters. Name one Acura today that is a strong contender in its class/segment, leave alone winner.
Grow up AHM. Decide whether you want to make a range if gussied-up Accords or some truly innovative products that people actually buy.
Reply
fenrir 2:27AM (7/25/2009)
The Acura MDX is still a standout, best seller in its class in Canada, 2nd in the US after Lexus' RX. Pretty good hp, good looks (the shield actually looks good), good offroadability (among its luxury counterparts, save the range rovers obviously). Pretty good handling, i believe its 2nd to only the BMW X5, and great price, seats 7. What more can you ask for?
D3LM3L 10:45AM (7/24/2009)
Way to copy the X6 with the bottom half of the entire front end! That beak is definitely not working. The only car it looks decent on is the TSX, but that's because it's the Euro Accord and can't look bad.
Reply
Mike 10:48AM (7/24/2009)
So this "SUV" has a turbo 4 and all they can get out of it is 16/22 with AWD. The peak power and torque numbers are also way up in the rev range, this doesn't bode well for a vehicle that's meant to carry lots of people and stuff.
I wonder if people like LSx will think that this fuel economy is OK since he ripped on the ecoboost Flex (which is much bigger, has over 100 more HP and 90 more lb-ft of torque) for getting similar numbers and claiming that it gets lousy V6 economy. Apparently it gets lousy 4 cylinder fuel economy if your comparing it to this mess.
Reply