Introduction

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. 

Lineup

Priced at $39,225 after destination charges, the RDX undercuts some competitors without sacrificing features. Standard amenities include 19-inch wheels, a panoramic roof, 12-way power seats, dual-zone climate control, synthetic upholstery, and keyless entry. Every RDX also gets a 10.2-inch infotainment display screen equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The $42,425 Technology is technically a $3,200 package, but is for all intents and purposes a separate trim. Opting for it brings about leather upholstery, navigation, a premium audio system, two rear USB ports, and 19-inch gray wheels. Blind-spot monitors and parking sensors are also standard here. 

For $45,125, the RDX A-Spec gets a more sinister look by adopting black exterior accents, 20-inch wheels, more aggressively styled bumpers, dual exhaust, and LED fog lights. Moving into this model requires getting the Technology package. 

The priciest and best-equipped RDX is the $49,025 Advanced. On top of all the equipment included with the Technology, the Advanced gets adaptive dampers, rain-sensing wipers, a hands-free tailgate, Milano leather upholstery, wood trim, heated and cooled seats with 16-way power adjustment, and a heated steering wheel. Additional tech includes a 10.5-inch head-up display, 16-speaker audio, and a surround-view camera system. 

Walkaround

Acura spent most of the 2010s trying to find its stylistic groove, but with the RDX the brand seems to have finally settled on a design language that will dictate future aesthetic direction. In our eyes, the tasteful, stylish body of the RDX is a happy step forward. 

The best improvement is seen up front, where a tasteful grille recalls travelling at warp speed in a 'Star Wars'? movie. Flanking the grille are headlights that bring a serious, discerning attitude to the RDX's visage. Elegant body lines sculpt the body into a flowing, organic shape that naturally leads to the rear end. From all angles the RDX looks like the edgy, stylish, mildly-sporty crossover it endeavors to be. 

Interior

Acura might be built by Honda, but their interiors won't let you know that. The RDX's wholly unique cabin is not shared with anything sold under the parent company, and the level of craftsmanship that the interior is built to gives the assemblers piecing together the PMC model a lofty standard to measure up to. The stylish and functional cabin is made that much more convincing by the high quality of materials and assembly. 

Atop the dash of every RDX is a 10.2-inch screen that is manipulated by a touchpad in the center console. Acura loves to tout the efficacy of the touchpad, but we found it a cumbersome thing to work with. As is expected these days, the infotainment system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on all trims. 

Base models make do with synthetic leather upholstery, but the rest of the lineup gets genuine leather. The Advance trim is made extra-special with its perforated Milano leather. The real hides are more sumptuous than the fake stuff, but all RDX models don't lack for comfort. Front seats are at least 10-way power adjustable and can move up to 16 ways in the Advanced model. The extra bolstering and heated and cooled functionality of the Advanced's seats give it the edge for all-day driving comfort. 

The back seat isn't quite as nice as the front row but is certainly no penalty box. Leg room measures out to a fixed 38 inches due to the unadjustable nature of the bench seat. Luckily, the space it affords is plenty. 

Cargo space starts off at just under 30 cubic feet, but folding down the rear seats opens up 59 cubic feet of work with. An additional two-cube cubby hides under the load floor as a more stealthy storage option. 

Driving Impression

You can't build a reputation for sportiness with staid moves and sluggish acceleration. Lucky for Acura, the RDX's eager engine and zippy handling give this crossover the moves of a sports sedan.
That's especially true when equipped with the brand's all-wheel drive. The extra traction of this system is nice, but what really makes the difference is its torque-vectoring tech, which allows for up to 100 percent of the power that's directed rearward to be sent to one of the rear wheels. Considering the all-wheel-drive RDX can send 70 percent of its power to the rear, this means conditions are ripe for taking sharp corners with zest and zeal. To put it more simply: let it off the leash and the RDX will dance. 

With 272 hp, the turbo-4 employed in the RDX is one of the most potent in its class. The extra juice is felt not only during passing maneuvers and hill climbs but also in outright acceleration. The 0-60 mph dash happens in around six seconds, which puts it in the same realm of performance as the Germanic competition. 

The 10-speed automatic happily finagles this power into useful spurts of acceleration. It isn't afraid of jumping down a few gears at once when drivers kick into the throttle. Twisting the big drive-mode control knob into its most sporty mode further sharpens the response of the transmission and effectively locks out the highest two cogs in an attempt to keep the engine on boil. Off-road modes aren't to be found, but a snow mode adjusts everything for winter traction. 

When driven a bit more sanely, the RDX has a compliant and composed ride that is never affected by the 19-inch wheels worn by most models. The 20-inch wheels make things a touch more brittle, but it's hard to notice this unless driven back to back with a model wearing the 19s. On Advance models, adaptive dampers provide a better balance of handling and comfort, but not enough to necessitate upgrading. 

Summary

Like every contemporary crossover, the 2021 Acura RDX tries to straddle opposing values: sport and comfort, style and practicality, price and features. Acura pulls it off, delivering handsome looks and competitive features for a reasonable price. Our tastes run to the Technology trim, though the A-Spec's slick styling is certainly tempting as well. 

 

-by Anthony Sophinos with driving impressions by The Car Connection.