Overview & Reviews

The Acura RDX is a small luxury crossover SUV with two rows of seats. The RDX has never been a bona fide class leader in performance or luxury, but like many Acuras, it's a well-rounded vehicle with numerous strengths. In reviews, we've praised various RDX models for their quick acceleration, confident highway cruising demeanor and composed handling. We've found the RDX's cabin to be both well-constructed and reasonably spacious, with exceptionally supportive front seats to boot. The RDX also enjoys a strong reputation for overall quality and reliability.

If you're shopping for an RDX, you'll find early models with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, standard all-wheel drive and unusually sporty handling. Later versions of the Acura RDX stand out for their added refinement, power and interior space, and there's also a front-wheel-drive version aimed at buyers in milder climates. Unlike some rivals, the RDX keeps shoppers' lives simple with a generously equipped base model and a straightforward, package-based options structure.

User Reviews:

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  Nice Comfortable Turbo Crossover - 2011 Acura RDX
  By Carguy - August 12 - 11:09 am

  We have a 2011 RDX base FWD...as a driver,very comfortable seats,easy to read gauges nice panoramic view with low dashboard... easy to get in and out.. a blast to drive when you spool the Turbo,lots of torque but beware if you keep spinning the tires (burnouts) front driver side axles might go out easily, you would notice a vibration on low speed acceleration,will go away when coasting... this problem is only on FWD models between 50-70k miles when ABUSED(easyfix) You NEED to use synthetic engine oil religiously on schedule for the turbo bearings and seals to last long (all turbo engines) ..otherwise you will start to have leaks from your turbo. You just have to be mindful of your scheduled maintenance and not to abuse its power otherwise with over 90k miles now we love our RDX no problem whatsoever.....with a small growing family moving to the burbs we sold our Lancer EVO and Subaru WRX for an RDX and an RX.... I would recommend the RDX to my family and friends....you get a lot of car for your money. This is the ONLY Acura that the Shield front grill is actually functional as an air intake hood scoop for your top mount intercooler. If you are buying a used RDX make sure you check its history,all original stock meaning no modification has been done,if buying from a private party it is worth to pay a 3rd party to inspect the mechanical condition of the car,if buying from a dealer make sure you can get an extended warranty.. Since the Turbo RDX is no longer in production and if you do not want a used vehicle the KIA Sportage SX (SX ONLY) would be a good car to consider ....... Thanks for reading... Happy Motoring!

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  i would buy it all over again - 2007 Acura RDX
  By george - August 9 - 1:46 pm

  the first thing i have to say is "quick". there is a slight turbo lag but when it kicks in...youre gone. and if you use the paddle shifters, forget about it. with the 4WD even on wet surface you get great acceleration. the ride is very comfortable and you feel youre on top of the world sitting in the back seats. i have 2 gripes with the car. premium gas for the turbocharger and the rear windows dont go all the way down.

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  Avoid at all cost - 2010 Acura RDX
  By David Collantes - August 8 - 10:56 am

  Very unreliable car, poorly manufactured. "Leather interior" is not quite leather, instrumentation will not give you details on battery not charging, or similar issues until it fully dead. Ride is not comfortable, "eats" gas like a monster. Overall craft of the car is poor. Will never buy an Acura again, unless it comes straight from Japan.

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  Great if you can live with the compromises - 2008 Acura RDX
  By Drew Engstrom - August 6 - 4:27 pm

  The RDX is sports sedan masquerading as a luxury SUV. Cornering and acceleration? Great. Cushioned, quiet ride? Nope. I chose the RDX because there are many SUV and truck drivers where I live and I wanted to sit a little bit higher than I would in a sedan - and I am completely sold on Honda/Acura reliability and quality. Quality and reliability have been excellent and the driving position is comfortable with excellent visibility my advice to prospective buyers would be to simply understand the trade-offs: 1) The turbocharged 4 cylinder is very responsive and fun to drive - but, dont expect to get much more than 16 MPG when youre zipping around town, or about 23 MPG when cruising on the highway. 2) The taut suspension makes for great handling - but, dont expect a plush, Toyota-ish ride quality you will feel and hear road imperfections. 3) The car is very nimble and comfortable for an SUV - but remember, this is a smaller SUV and it really isnt any roomier than a smaller sedan (think Acura TSX) Conclusion if you like the Acura feel (tight suspension, cornering on rails) and you want something with some power, this is as good a combination of value and quality as you can get in a small SUV.

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  farm wifes truck - 2014 Acura RDX
  By mp - August 3 - 8:43 am

  THis car is one of the best I have driven. I have had Mercedes, and Lexus. My Acura is s mudder, and a snow machine. It is convenient to haul everything from grain to kids. The awd is super, and handles all weather. Also is a nice dress up car for church. One thing...........terrible connections for my iphone. You have to have a flashlight to find the charger. I would buy another rdx.

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  Buyer beware - horrible suspension - 2015 Acura RDX
  By Car guy - July 19 - 10:03 am

  I had a 2015 RDX AWD (non-tech package) for a year. Bottom the rear suspension on the RDX is horrible. Whenever you drive over the smallest bump on the road the rear suspension "clunks" and transmits the impact directly to the occupants. Theres nothing wrong with the car (I had the dealer check) basically its just poor suspension design. Unfortunately when I test drove the car it was on smooth recently paved roads - big mistake. Search any of the Acura owner/community sites and youll see plenty of similar comments about the 2013 to present RDX and the same issue with 2014 - present MDX and TLX. There are other quality issues/non-user friendly quirks with the RDX but the horrible suspension was a deal breaker (and ridiculous for a $36K "luxury vehicle"). Ive now sold the RDX - my first and last Honda/Acura product. Very happy with a German SUV now.

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  Overall We Love This Car - 2008 Acura RDX
  By mike - July 17 - 11:55 am

  In the year 2015, had to replace our 2005 CRV which we loved, because of a hit and run that left our car trashed. We were looking at simply getting another CRV, but stumbled across a 2010 RDX at a dealer. We took it for a drive and fell in love. We didnt quite like the look of the 2010 model (fog lights are a little "pronounced" for our taste, so out of curiosity we looked and found a 2008 model with 59k miles that was a new arrival at a local dealer. Took it out for a drive, and loved it even more than the 2010 model we had driven earlier. To be sure, we subsequently tried a few other CRVs (2005, 2010, 2012) but by that time I think we were just too smitten with the RDX and never looked back. We got the RDX for $15k and are sooooo happy about it. (cheaper than any CRVs we saw, including a 2005 model that would have essentially replaced the one we lost, but was more expensive than this 2008 RDX. A couple things that any buyer should be aware of especially in 2015: (1) Mileage. We just took a road trip and got 23 mpg, which is about what it was advertised at (actually slightly better). You have to be on top of RPMs, use of AC, buying gas at Costco, and other things if you want to keep your costs and gas use down - and those are all things we are good with doing. (2) We had a little rattling in the car when we got it. After a long search we found it wasnt mechanical, but rather the latch for back seat (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OS7CgzsiRs&feature=youtu.be), which is now totally silent thanks to electrical tape! Thats pretty much it so far, and granted its only been a month since we bought the car, but it is a 2008 model and no other red flags (just had it inspected too). So many good things for us. The cabin is like a dream after the CRV. Again we loved our CRV but didnt realize how much better it could be with a car like an RDX. Driving it feels like we got bumped from coach to first class. Dont know what rear passenger seats feel like, but front are awesome with leather, memory seats, amazing stereo, storage, Dual climate setting. Dash is real easy to look at and find what you need. We dont have the Tech model but dont seem to be complaining either. And as much as cabin rocks, the engine is amazing. 240hp turbo, whoa. So fun to drive!! That might have been the kicker for us, Im pretty sure it sealed the deal for my wife, Ill never forget her face when she turned her first corner - she was like "oh yeah, I love this car." Separate from that, good fold-down seats in back to make the entire rear a flat surface, and our model is black with tinted windows, so lord it is sexy! If you can keep on top of gas use and budgeting, I think this car is great. I realize its early for us but coupled with our inspection by our trusted mechanic and plans to get regular maintenance checks, we hope to have many years of RDX fun to come...

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  Mine must be the exception, but I doubt it! - 2014 Acura RDX
  By lo55 - June 12 - 4:18 pm

  Reading through the reviews I see things Ive never experienced in 18 months/19+K miles. Low right seat position mandated by feds stupid regs. No brake noise, no chemical odor, no problem with bluetooth, no tranny noise, etc, etc.. Was skeptical of lack of rear AC vents. Florida resident with only AC complaint from rear seat being its too cold back here. Only down side is NOT fault of car or Acura. Its the moronic regs that limit the use of certain navi functions. The feds must think its safer to hold your cell navi with one hand while driving with the other...go figure!

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  Bad Smell coming out of AC vents - 2014 Acura RDX
  By njjan - May 26 - 3:16 pm

  I am wondering if anyone else had this issue where there is a chemical smell emitting from the vents. It doesnt happen everyday, could happen 10 times a day and not happen for a week. I am concerned as to what the health aspects are. I also smelled it in a loaner car that happen to be a 2014 RDX also. I happen to be a repeat customer of the Acura and this is my 2nd RDX.

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  Fast, stylish and feature filled - 2014 Acura RDX
  By hoplover - May 10 - 7:20 pm

  We have had our RDX for a year now (17000 miles). The RDX has a stylish exterior and a very comfortable driving position. The base comes with a long list of standard equipment including bluetooth,xm, backup cam, heated leather and sunroof- options packages on most competitors. Upon entry it sets the seat and mirrors to your settings. Pulling out, the strong engine and smooth, fast transmission make you feel confident in any traffic situation. The brakes are fully capable. We have averaged about 23 MPG in mixed driving. The cylinder deactivation takes a little getting used to, but helps in efficiency. The interior features are logically laid out and work flawlessly. Very good purchase.