Luxury without the price tag
If you’re on the hunt for a new luxury crossover, odds are the 2025 Acura RDX isn’t on your radar. The Acura badge won’t impress friends and family as much as other, often more expensive alternatives. That puts it in a tough spot, especially in such a competitive segment. With an impressive spec sheet and an affordable price, however, the Acura RDX might be a true sleeper among premium crossovers.
The Acura RDX gets a bit of a styling update in the form of a new grille design for the 2025 model year, including some new wheel designs on the docket and a more spacious center console. The wireless smartphone charging pad has also been moved. A couple of Acura RDX trims get upgraded to leather upholstery and enhanced ambient interior lighting.
Reason to love it #1: Available from $44,700
Premium luxury crossovers are typically associated with a badge that carries some prestige, but if you can look past the badge, the 2025 Acura RDX is a bargain in its segment. Available from $44,700, the RDX is a luxury model that offers a similar-but-not-identical ownership experience to more expensive competitors. The Lexus RX, Acura’s primary Japanese competitor, starts at $50,475. On the German side, the BMW X4 starts at over $55,000, while the South Korean 2026 Genesis GV70 starts at $47,985.
Reason to love it #2: Standard 272-horsepower engine
Performance isn’t usually the name of the game in the premium crossover segment, but it is a pretty important factor to consider. The 2025 Acura RDX rolls out with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. Super Handling all-wheel drive (SH-AWD) comes standard across the range.
Reason to love it #3: A plethora of packages
The Acura RDX comes with a handful of packages designed to better meet the wants and needs of consumers. With the Technology package, the RDX gets an ELS Studio premium audio system, wireless charging pad, and Acura navigation system, among other amenities. The A-Spec package is essentially a sport appearance package that gives the RDX a slicker style. The Advance package provides a more luxurious experience with upgrades like ventilated and heated front seats, a head-up display, and an adaptive damper system. Lastly, the A-Spec Advance package combines the sleek styling and premium amenities of both offerings.
Reason to love it #4: Spacious cabin and cargo area
The Acura RDX puts an emphasis on practicality, with up to 79.8 cu ft. of cargo and 104 cu ft. of passenger space. The cargo area also includes an underfloor storage area. The Lexus RX falls short, topping out at 46.2 cu ft. of cargo space. The Genesis GV70 offers comparable passenger space, up to 103.6 cu ft., but can’t compete when it comes to cargo, offering just 56.9 cu ft. of space.
Reason to think twice #1: More luxurious competition
There’s no denying that the Acura RDX is a premium crossover, but it’s still made by Honda and is priced lower than most of its competitors. As a result, practicality reigns supreme, and the RDX is missing some refinement offered by other models. While Acura’s premium crossover offers an upscale look inside and out, it doesn’t quite match up to models like the Lexus RX.
It’s the minor things that add up and make all the difference between the Acura RDX and Lexus RX. For example, the Lexus RX features a 12-speaker premium sound system, whereas the RDX comes with nine speakers. The RX also comes with standard LED fog lights, a feature that isn’t available on the RDX’s base trim.
Reason to think twice #2: Lackluster fuel economy
The 2025 Acura RDX comes equipped with a pretty peppy 272-horsepower engine, topping many of its competitors. The premium crossover pays for that performance in the form of fuel economy, though, as the latest RDX earns up to 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg in combined driving.
The Genesis GV70 has a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and earns 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. The Lexus RX also has a 275-horsepower engine and is rated for 24 mpg combined city/highway driving.
Reason to think twice #3: No engine upgrade
While the Acura RDX comes equipped with a pretty spunky 272-horsepower engine, some competitors manage to match its performance at the base level. Other competitors, like the Genesis GV70, offer an optional engine upgrade. If you want an RDX with more power, you’re out of luck. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is the only powerhouse available.
Final thoughts
There’s no doubt the 2025 Acura RDX is a premium crossover from start to finish, especially at its price point. Available with plenty of packages to choose from, the RDX manages to appeal to a wide array of consumers. Even so, make sure to check out other luxury crossovers, like the Lexus RX and Genesis GV70, before making your final decision!
About the author
Joseph Pudlewski
Contributing Writer, Autoblog