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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  Well-engineered luxury vehicle - 2013 Acura RDX
  By clinicianph - March 3 - 9:44 pm

  A well-thought engineered vehicle your money can buy for a luxurious wants that depreciates. Ride is comfortable and quiet. Handling is responsive and well-behaved. Powertrain and controls are conservative, characteristics of timeless approach in design and execution of a good product. It burns regular or premium, coupled with just the size and weight, cleverly at lower consumption than other vehicles without adverse ills. Interior and exterior look and feel are modern and eye catching to the weak human will. Center display is positioned safely allowing quick glances, without touchscreen that can distract you to overreach.

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  Impressive,very impressive - 2013 Acura RDX
  By vegasmurano - February 22 - 4:45 pm

  Let me start by saying I have owned over 80 cars (yes, but my insanity is another subject),and can easily afford ANY car I choose. This SUV blew me away by how nice it is for the price you pay. As like other reviewers, I looked at X3,Q5,Evoque,SRX and a few others. Feature for feature the RDX was $6k to $14k less and it drives smoother on the road than most of them. Handling is certainly not as sporty then many, but much smoother and more refined. And surprisingly in straight line acceleration it is as quick or quicker than my Acura TL-SH AWD and all of the trucks listed above (assuming the base engines).FYI I also currently own a BMW X3....

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  A step down - 2013 Acura RDX
  By newro - February 19 - 12:12 pm

  I have had 6 Acuras and have come to expect a certain level of quality from them. My last one before the RDX was a 10 TL. Although I was not crazy about the styling, the car flew, handled well and the interior had a style to it. I have had the RDX for about 2 weeks now and the over riding feeling that I get is that it looks and feels cheap inside. Plastic all the way through, even the sun visors feel thin. The blue tooth is a giant step backwards from what I had in the TL, it makes zero sense. I got this car for my wife to negotiate the snow in the NE because the TL was not very good. I looked at the Murano and honestly, it is a nicer car inside.

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  I love my RDX. - 2013 Acura RDX
  By hondacom - February 16 - 3:34 pm

  I purchased my 2013 RDX three months ago. I downsized from a full size truck to this SUV. I wanted one a few years ago but decided to wait for the V6 engine. It uses about 30% less fuel than my truck did. I do most of my driving in the city and the shorter wheelbase makes maneuvering in traffic and parking easy. This vehicle fits me like a glove.

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  Very happy but would like more options - 2013 Acura RDX
  By sbrows - February 14 - 12:49 pm

  We traded in our 2007 MDX for the RDX for the better gas mileage. We have had the RDX for 3 months and are very happy with the gas mileage. We are averaging about 23 to 26 miles per gallon with mixed highway and city driving. The RDX has plenty of pick up and drives very smoothly but still sporty. My husband likes it so much that he is now driving it and has left me with his BMW five series because he finds the RDX so much more comfortable (hes 61" and theres plenty of leg and head room) We have not experienced any of the other negative ride quality issues that other reviewers have complained of.

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  Meets my expectations - 2013 Acura RDX
  By spottedone - February 13 - 4:27 pm

  I have close to 11k miles on my RDX. I wanted an SUV that was fun to drive and yet got better gas mileage than my 2011 Highlander. I know I did not need the size of the MDX. I call my RDX my high performance sports car. The gas mileage has met my expectations. I mainly drive in the city and am averaging 23-24mpg. The only complaint I have is the tires losing traction while turning from a stop. This makes me wish I had opted for the AWD. I believe that the naviagtion system is too cumbersome having to press too many buttons. Further the car designers could have opted for more flair. The RDX is rather bland.

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  Purchased RDX with Tech 2 weeks ago - 2013 Acura RDX
  By endoellen - January 25 - 4:53 pm

  Has great pick up and shifts smooth as I would have expected. My previous car was an Acura TL 2006 which I really liked. Voice commands for phone, navigation, audio, etc. is not real user friendly. Too many commands to be used. It was easier to use voice commands with the bluetooth in the TL without navigation. Disappointed in gas mileage. Sticker states estimated 20 city and 28 hwy. My first tank of premium fuel with combined 60 miles of hwy driving and the rest city only got 17.5 mpg. On my 2nd fill up I traveled to the dealer & back today approx. 120 miles hwy & it shows average of 23mpg. Not what I expected. My 2006 TL got 20 city & 28-30 Hwy consistently.

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  Great well equipped SUV. - 2013 Acura RDX
  By marky1020 - January 15 - 8:24 am

  Have had it for 1 week now and so far, so good. Drives exceptionally well and is more car-like then SUV like. Traded in a 10 year old Hyundai Santa Fe which I felt was a bit of a choppy ride. Also had a Jeep Cherokee 15 some odd years ago which was totally truck like based on its 4x4 platform. Of the 3, the Acura feels like driving a car while still having the benefits of riding higher, hauling more when needed and having AWD. Of course you can get AWD on some cars, but my feeling is that once you start driving an SUV, its hard to go back into a car..not impossible, just hard.

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  Potentially great car - if only Acura would add ... - 2013 Acura RDX
  By rgf99 - January 14 - 2:14 pm

  I have had my RDX (AWD, Base) for 6 months. It is fun to drive and very comfortable. Previously I had a 2001 Toyota Highlander Ltd. I looked at the MDX (too large) and the X3 (too costly) and finally decided on the Base/AWD RDX. Wanted some of the features of the Tech Package but decide not worth $4K for the. I almost did not buy the car because it was missing some key features I expected in Luxury/near luxury-brand SUV

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  Love this car - getting better every day - 2013 Acura RDX
  By wdkymys - January 3 - 5:13 pm

  Shortlisted the RDX and Q5 (also looked at X3 and XC60). Q5 is a great vehicle but similarly equipped, was $7K more than the RDX. The RDX was so well equipped and drove so well, I figured $7K was too much to pay for the Audi badge. 1000 miles now on my AWD RDX and loving it. Ride is incredibly smooth, quiet and relaxing (better than Q5). The last poster who says it rides rough doesnt own this car and probably hasnt even driven one. If there was a problem here, at least one professional reviewer would have mentioned it. Handling is really impressive too. Q5 is better, but seriously, how often are you driving slalom courses? Ive hit 32MPG twice in highway driving vs 27MPG expected.