2021 Acura RDX

2021 RDX Photos
Stylish, quick, and heavy with tech, the 2021 Acura RDX is a compelling option in a segment crowded with talented contenders.

The 2021 model doesn't receive major updates, but there will be a limited batch of models getting what Acura calls the PMC treatment. Short for Performance Manufacturing Center, the PMC is hand-assembled in the same Ohio plant that screws together the NSX. In the case of the RDX, exclusive Thermal Orange paint and black accents will set it apart from its mass-produced brethren. It borrows the sporty equipment from the A-Spec trim and all the tech of the Advanced model and should be priced between $50,000 and $55,000.

Every RDX including the PMC will come with a 2.0-liter turbo-4 making 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, which is a bit down versus the Honda Civic Type R that it also does duty in. A 10-speed automatic takes care of power delivery, which gets sent to just the front wheels or to all four via Acura's torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system.

Most versions of the RDX are rated at 22 mpg city, 28 highway, 24 combined. The A-Spec cuts 1 mpg off the highway figure. All-wheel-drive models come in at 21/27/23 mpg, with once again a single mile per gallon hit for the A-Spec.

Acura builds every RDX with safety equipment such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams and active lane control. Blind-spot monitors aren't offered on the base trim but come on every other model. A surround-view camera system is standard with the fancy Advance trim.

The RDX gets the nod from both major crash-test agencies, earning five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. Oddly, the IIHS prefers the LED headlights on the lower-trim models versus those found on the Advance.
Full Review

Stylish, quick, and heavy with tech, the 2021 Acura RDX is a compelling option in a segment crowded with talented contenders.

The 2021 model doesn't receive major updates, but there will be a limited batch of models getting what Acura calls the PMC treatment. Short for Performance Manufacturing Center, the PMC is hand-assembled in the same Ohio plant that screws together the NSX. In the case of the RDX, exclusive Thermal Orange paint and black accents will set it apart from its mass-produced brethren. It borrows the sporty equipment from the A-Spec trim and all the tech of the Advanced model and should be priced between $50,000 and $55,000.

Every RDX including the PMC will come with a 2.0-liter turbo-4 making 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, which is a bit down versus the Honda Civic Type R that it also does duty in. A 10-speed automatic takes care of power delivery, which gets sent to just the front wheels or to all four via Acura's torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system.

Most versions of the RDX are rated at 22 mpg city, 28 highway, 24 combined. The A-Spec cuts 1 mpg off the highway figure. All-wheel-drive models come in at 21/27/23 mpg, with once again a single mile per gallon hit for the A-Spec.

Acura builds every RDX with safety equipment such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams and active lane control. Blind-spot monitors aren't offered on the base trim but come on every other model. A surround-view camera system is standard with the fancy Advance trim.

The RDX gets the nod from both major crash-test agencies, earning five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. Oddly, the IIHS prefers the LED headlights on the lower-trim models versus those found on the Advance.
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Retail Price

$38,400 - $51,000 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine 2.0L I-4
MPG Up to 22 city / 28 highway
Seating 5 Passengers
Transmission 10-spd auto w/OD
Power 272 @ 6500 rpm
Drivetrain SH-AWD all wheel, front-wheel
Curb Weight 3,783 - 4,068 lbs
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