Story and photos by Russell Purcell
Overview Five-passenger, premium compact SUV.
Pros Plenty of power, now more fuel efficient, updated design both inside and out.
Cons Premium fuel is recommended, no touch screen, Navigation system is dated.
Value for money Fair
What would I change? Needs a navigation upgrade, as the current system is far too complicated.
The Acura RDX is the Japanese company’s entry into the premium compact SUV market, and for 2015 the model has undergone a significant redesign.
For the last few years Acura has been fighting a losing battle in the styling department, as an overabundance of bright trim and odd exterior styling cues had given many of the vehicles in its lineup an appearance that seemed to put many customers off. With the redesign of the RDX this has been corrected, as the vehicle’s styling has been cleaned up, and the resulting design is much more refined.
The turbocharged 4-cylinder that used to reside in the RDX’s engine bay has been replaced by a 3.5-litre V6 engine that produces 273-horsepower and 251 foot-pounds of torque. While many manufacturers are going in the other direction and moving towards smaller engines, Acura has managed to engineer the V6 so that it actually gets better mileage than the smaller unit it replaced. This will be appreciated by most consumers as the RDX sips premium fuel.
This improvement in fuel efficiency is the result of clever cylinder management which will allow the engine to operate in 3-, 4-, or 6-cylinder mode depending on load requirements. I was surprised to see that the engine does not have direct fuel injection, as a multi-port design is still in play for this application.
The gauge cluster is simple and elegant. Black-faced gauges with white markings are making a comeback.
Russell Purcell, Driving
There are two RDX models available for 2015 – RDX and RDX Tech – and both come fitted with a 6-speed automatic transmission which is also equipped with Sequential Sportshift steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters. The RDX delivers a pretty sporty ride for a near two ton vehicle, especially when the driver chooses to make his or her own gear selections using the paddles. The RDX will hustle to 100 km/h in about 6.5 seconds.
Acceleration is brisk, but without drama, and the power train is very well suited to this application. When using the paddle shift option the driver is able to hold a gear and maintain a higher rev limit, which can be useful when executing a passing maneuver on the highway, or shooting up a steep grade with a load of passengers and gear.
The RDX features all-wheel-drive, but the system has been engineered to default to a front-wheel-drive mode of operation unless it detects wheel slippage or hostile road conditions. Acura calls this the Intelligent Control System because when this occurs, the system is able to direct as much as 50 per cent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels to help the driver reestablish traction and get out of trouble. The system is solely traction based, so there is no independent dial or control available for the driver to select its mode of operation. Hill Start Assist is also on hand to help keep the RDX moving forward as intended.
The RDX features a fully independent suspension system which proved very responsive to driver inputs and quite dynamic when pushed. The overall ride quality is quite firm, which is good for communication purposes as it better connects the driver to the vehicle’s movements. Front and rear stabilizer bars and a lightly assisted steering system give the RDX very precise handling.
The designers at Acura have done an excellent job with the interior of the RDX, as the cabin styling is very simple and uncluttered. The compact gauge cluster, well-organized dash layout, and tidy centre console make equipment operation a breeze. I found all the controls, switchgear and instruments to be within easy reach and the majority of them were easy to see from the driver’s position.
The RDX comes equipped with a multi-angle rearview camera system that offers three views –wide, close and trailer – and will alleviate some of the stress that comes with operating a vehicle in pedestrian rich environments as well as maneuvering it in tight places
The RDX features a 3.5-litre V6 engine that produces 273-horsepower and 251 lb.-ft of torque.
Russell Purcell, Driving
Unfortunately the upgraded screen and navigation system that comes along as part of the Tech upgrade is lacking touch screen operation, and in fact, the entire navigation system was about the most complicated one I have ever encountered. There are far too many layers and commands required just to enter a destination. It works well, but takes a lot of extra time.
The heated front seats are firm and supportive, and offer excellent side bolstering. The driver’s seat features 8-way adjustability and a memory feature, while the passenger seat is a 4-way unit.
The second-row seating area is roomy enough for three adults to sit comfortably, and taller individuals will appreciate that there is a significant of leg- and headroom in this vehicle. I found enough space for my size 14 feet in the rear seating area even with the driver’s seat set all the way back on its rails. At six-foot-two-inches tall I still had room for a slim hat, as the headliner features a carved out recess above the rear seating area to accommodate larger melons like mine.
The rear seats are a 60/40 split design, which allows you to fold the seat backs down to accommodate larger cargo. A handy set of levers are located on the sidewall of the rear cargo area to release the rear seats without the need of accessing the side passenger doors.
Acura only uses the highest quality materials and fit-and-finish is much better than you would expect in a SUV. The quality of the leather and all trim pieces is decidedly up market.
Overall, the 2015 RDX is a much more attractive package than the outgoing model, and is well poised to bring some attention back to the Acura brand.
The cockpit of the RDX places all controls and instrumentation within easy reach of the driver.
Russell Purcell, Driving
2015 Acura RDX, as driven by Russell Purcell
Type of vehicle All-wheel-drive, compact luxury SUV
Engine 3.5-litre, DOHC, 24-valve, 6-cylinder
Power 273 hp @ 6,200 rpm; 251 lb.-ft. @ 5,000 rpm
Transmission 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters
Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires (Front/rear) P235/60 R18
Price: base / as tested $41,390 / $44,390
Destination charge $1,695
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy L / 100 km City: 12.1L (23.3 mpg); Hwy: 8.7L (32.4 mpg)
Standard features
AWD with Intelligent Control System, 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, one-touch power moon roof, Multi-angle rear-view camera, High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, HandsFreeLink Bluetooth mobile phone interface, leather-trimmed seats, 8-way power driver’s seat with memory, 4-way power passenger seat, Sequential SportShift paddle shifters, Smart entry with pushbutton start, SMS text message function, Easy fold-down 60/40 split rear seatback, 4-wheel ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, Dual-stage front airbags, Front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System, Keyless start, Security system, Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor , Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control, 5-inch colour information display, twin 12-volt power outlets, Active Noise Cancellation, Ambient cabin lighting, auto dimming rear-view mirror, Automatic headlights, Compass, Dual-zone automatic climate control system with air filtration, HomeLink, Maintenance Minder system, Multi-angle rear-view camera, Tilt and telescopic steering column, Acura 360-watt Premium Sound System with SiriusXM/MP3/Windows Media Audio capability, in-dash CD player and 7 speakers.
Options
TECH Package ($3,000) : Includes 8-inch LED backlit VGA display, Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition, Acura/ELS Surround® 410-watt Premium Audio System with 10 speakers, hard disk drive (HDD) media storage, in-dash CD player, DVD-Audio and Dolby Pro Logic II, GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone automatic climate control system, Power tailgate.
