Acura RDX engages the heart

[Acura News]

Another new SUV? Isn't the sport-utility market collapsing as buyers turn away from gas-guzzling sport-utes? What's Acura's gambit with the all-new RDX?

It's pretty simple, actually. The luxury SUV market had grown and diversified to the point that there's room for a much greater variety of vehicles. The RDX is just cool enough that we suspect Acura just couldn't resist building it.

It may be counted with the SUVs, but what this really is, is an all-weather sports wagon with a tall body. The RDX has a look that's not too different from the rest of the Acura family.

Up front there's a handsome, compact stacked grille, and unseen to the casual onlooker is an internal hood scoop, designed to feed air to the turbocharger
THE ACURA LOOK: Up front the RDX is handsome with a compact stacked grille, and the long nose and stubby tail gives the RDX a tall-wagon look that won't turn off SUV-phobic car buyers.
and intercooler without an unsightly hole in the hood. The long nose and stubby tail give the RDX a tall-wagon look.

One glance and it's obvious that the RDX was never intended to go off-road, with its dual exhaust and big 18-inch wheels. Mirror-mounted turn signals are an upscale touch. The oversized wheels reduce the visual size, so it manages to look svelte. There aren't any brush bars or skid plates, but a plastic tailgate panel is ding-resistant, and plastic lower panels ring the car to absorb suburban mishaps.

Inside, the cockpit is more sport than utility, with comfortable leather seating for four and soft-touch surfaces. Acura takes full advantage of this tall wagon's increased interior room, offering a large center console and a cargo area that will hold mountain bikes with ease.

Side-curtain airbags, high-intensity discharge headlamps and a six-CD changer are standard. The optional "Technology" package gets a slew of cool stuff, including a 10-speaker surround sound system, a Bluetooth-enabled hands-free phone system, XM satellite radio, and a navigation system with Acura's real-time traffic navigation.

Under the hood, there's a 2.3 liter iVTEC turbo four-cylinder engine. It's the first turbo for Acura, and the first US-built turbocharger for Honda. It's an intercooled variable-flow turbocharger that helps the RDX produce 240 horsepower. The 2.3's basic construction is shared with the Acura TSX sedan, with a stronger block and connecting rods to handle the extra power. The turbo provides variable boost throughout the engine's range, improving the turbo's typically weak low-speed engine response.

Other manufacturers have attacked this problem with twin turbochargers, but the RDX's setup is simpler, using an inlet valve to regulate exhaust flow and the turbocharger's speed. The turbo isn't a subtle one, and power is preceded by a distinct whoosh, but the RDX's power output is comparable to that of a six-cylinder sedan.

The turbo powertrain means towing is limited to a modest 1,500 pounds, and a five-speed automatic transmission is the only gearbox offered.

Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive is standard, and provides optimal torque distribution. Power is split not only to keep the power going to the ground, but also to affect the car's attitude.

The RDX's suspension is taut enough to satisfy sports sedan buyers, though its height results in some uncomfortable head-toss. MacPherson struts are used up front, with an independent rear, and floating rear subframe bushings help to isolate the cabin from the drivetrain.

The RDX feels taller than a standard sports wagon, and when the handling gets wobbly, the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) stability control and standard anti-lock brakes are there to help.

Acura RDX pricing is reasonable considering the long list of standard equipment. It starts at $32,995, and goes up to $36,495 for the Tech package.

Chris Jackson is a free-lance automotive writer who lives in Wayne, Michigan.

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[All Wheels Go]

I bought mine w/o the tech package to save a few bucks and I still love it.

[JMJ3rd]

I got a great deal on on w/o the tech pkg. I love it too. It was a "used" 2007. A lady bought it, then returned it because it was not large enough to run her business. My gain!

[WashUJon]

Holy crap. I bet you got a fantastic discount! That's a total steal.

Welcome to the site and come say hi to the rest: http://www.rdxforum.com/showthread.php?p=215#post215

[CriminL57]

I got a great deal on on w/o the tech pkg. I love it too. It was a "used" 2007. A lady bought it, then returned it because it was not large enough to run her business. My gain!

[KevRDX]

I can't believe how many people buy them and ditch them so fast!