The Acura RDX has been in production since 2006 at the Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio, while the second generation moved to the East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio in 2012 and remained there when the third generation began production in 2018. This is the second crossover Off-road offered by the Japanese luxury brand after the mid-size model MDX and, since its launch, has shared the platform and supporting structures with the corresponding models Honda Civic and CR-V, thus serving as their luxury counterparts.
The third iteration of the Acura RDX has been around for a while now, and it's been getting a lot of buzz. After you and the company SH-AWD all-wheel drive system along with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. It’s obviously been in need of a facelift for a while now, and Acura has finally made the move to make the necessary updates and upgrades. These include a more “distinctive” look with the new “frameless” Diamond Pentagon grille, a reworked center console that has more storage and easier access to the wireless smartphone charger, as well as a widescreen mode for standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto when used on the standard 10.2-inch HD center display.
“This is the most premium RDX we’ve ever made,” said Mike Langel, assistant vice president of Acura National Sales. “Our Acura performance SUV lineup has never been stronger, as we continue to deliver on our commitment to advancing precision performance across the Acura lineup.” The Japanese automaker is aiming to build on the momentum: More than 800,000 RDXs have been sold since 2006, and the nameplate has already grown 25 percent in its segment this year.
New standard 19-inch Berlina Black wheels, a blacked-out exterior treatment for Advance Package models, new 20-inch wheels for the A-Spec, three new colors (an all-new Solar Silver Metallic, plus Canyon River Blue Metallic and Urban Gray Pearl from the redesigned MDX), additional ambient lighting, and “spectacularly illuminated front and rear speaker cones behind acid-etched speaker grilles,” round out the list of new features. Whether all these upgrades will be enough to help it edge out the competition, however, is anyone’s guess.
That's a tough ask, for sure. The pre-facelift Acura RDX starts at $44,350 with its sole engine, a 2.0-liter turbo with 272 hp mated to a ten-speed automatic, and goes up to $54,150 if you select the A-Spec Advance grade. The RDX is well-equipped. It has the signature JewelEye LED headlights with “Chicane” LED daytime running lights and brake lights; the SH-All-wheel drive The system is capable of distributing up to 70 percent of torque to the rear axle and 100 percent to the outer rear wheel, features sports suspension, available adaptive damping system and much more.
Inside, there's a cabin with optional open-pore wood, Milano leather and 16-way power-adjustable front seats, Acura Iconic Drive ambient lighting with 27 shades as part of the Technology package, a 710-watt ELS Studio 3D premium audio system with 16 speakers. Safety is also top-notch: there's a proprietary ACE™ body structure and the AcuraWatch suite of advanced safety and driver-assist technologies with BSI, LKAS, ACCCollision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM), Forward Collision Warning System (FCW), LDWand Traffic Sign Recognition and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor. Last but not least, there is also the AcuraLink digital connected service with three years of free connection.
Listed among the 12 Most American Vehicles (by Cars.com), the third-generation Acura RDX is built alongside the larger Acura MDX at the company’s East Liberty Auto Plant. The 2.0-liter turbo is produced at the Anna Engine Plant, also in Ohio, and only the 10-speed automatic transmission comes from the Honda Transmission Plant in Georgia. However, competition remains fierce in the segment: the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Cadillac XT5, Infiniti QX50, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Lexus NX or Volvo XC60 all represent worthy alternatives.
The second-generation Audi Q5 is also just as old: It began production in late 2016 and arrived in America for the 2018 model year. The 2024 Audi Q5 currently starts at $45,300, but is powered by a smaller 2.0-liter four-cylinder with only 201 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque instead of 272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. It was also updated long ago for the 2021 model year. The second rival is the new fourth-generation G45 BMW X3, a model with an extremely eccentric design and offered with a singular powertrain option: the xDrive30 with a 2.0-liter, all-wheel drive, 255 hp and a higher starting MSRP of $49,500. So, this German rival is also less powerful and more expensive, although we shouldn't judge the price too exaggeratedly because Acura will surely change the recommended prices for the facelifted model year 2025.
Next up is the Cadillac XT5, but we don't think we can wholeheartedly recommend it when a new generation just launched in China and could be coming to America in the coming months with big interior updates and a subtle design realignment from current models. Next up is the somewhat dated Infiniti QX50, which starts at $41k with FWD or $43k with AWD and features a 2.0-liter turbo with 268 horsepower. However, the only thing we don't like about it, at least when compared to the Acura RDX, is the Xtronic Continuously variable transmissionwhich is far behind Honda's ten-speed automatic transmission.
Moving on, the Mercedes-Benz GLC is more expensive at $47,450 and will rise to $49,450 for the GLC 300 with 4Matic all-wheel drive. You should also consider the Lexus NX, which starts at $41,990, although the equivalent 2025 NX 350 with 275 hp and all-wheel drive costs at least $45,750, while the 2025 Lexus NX 350h with 240 hp starts at $46,300 if you want your luxury crossover SUV to be a little more efficient. Last but not least, there’s also the option of a Volvo XC60 with its Scandinavian vibe and impressive safety record, but of course you have to pay extra for the mild-hybrid B5 model with all-wheel drive and 245 horsepower.