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  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Review: 2020 Acura RDX A-Spec

      Acura starts to find itself again

    For the past decade, Acura has felt lost at sea. Not sure of what it wanted to be as a brand. This was shown by mixed messaging in their lineup as they weren’t sure to focus on luxury, technology, or sport. This muddled mess of identities would cause a fair amount of issues. But in the past couple of years, Acura started to get its act together thanks in part to new leadership. The first fruits of their efforts came last year in the form of the third-generation RDX. 

    It has been over two years since I last drove an Acura, so when the opportunity for an RDX A-Spec landed on my desk, I took it with both hands. It was time to see what Acura has been up to and if they’re taking a step in the right direction. 

    You Want Presence? You Got It!

    The RDX is the first production model to feature Acura’s newest design language and its no shrinking violet. The front end draws your attention with a large trapezoidal grille paired with a massive Acura emblem. Sitting on either side is Acura’s Jewel-Eye LED headlights that add a distinctive touch. My A-Spec tester takes it further with distinctive front and rear bumpers, 20-inch alloy wheels finished in black, and a special Apex Blue Pearl color that is only available on this trim. This crossover garnered a lot of looks during the week I had, something I hadn’t experience in quite some time.

    Cozy, Polarizing Interior

    The RDX’s interior captures the feeling of being in a sports car with a symmetrical dashboard design that cocoons the front passengers. A rotary drive-mode selector found in the center stack echos the design found in the NSX supercar. While it does emphasize the sporty nature of the vehicle, the position of the knob does make the climate controls a bit hard to reach. A-Spec models have some special touches such as red contrast stitching, a suede panel on the passenger side of the dashboard, and new trim for the instrument cluster that help it stand out. Material and build quality are quite close to some competitors from Germany.

    A set of sport seats with increased bolstering and power adjustments come standard on the A-Spec. I found them to be quite comfortable for any trip length and were able to hold me if I decided to be a bit enthusiastic. Back seat passengers will be plenty comfortable with an abundance of head and legroom. I would have like to see the back seat be able to slide forward and back to offer more comfort. Cargo space is towards the top of the class with 29.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 58.9 when folded. There’s also a little storage nook under the cargo floor to stash valuables.

    Intuitive Infotainment?

    Acura’s previous infotainment system drew a lot of ire from people. The dual-screen layout was confusing as some functions were split between the two screens such as changing the audio input. Not helping was the two different control methods for this setup; touchscreen for the bottom portion and a controller for the top screen. Thankfully, Acura has introduced a new infotainment system for the RDX. A large 10.2-inch screen sits on top of the dash and is controlled by a touchpad on the center console. Seeing the touchpad for the first time sent chills down my spine as I thought back to my frustrating experiences with Lexus’ Touchpad Controller. But Acura says this controller is much easier and logical to use than competitors. Okay, challenge accepted.

    Acura’s touchpad controller is slightly different from Lexus’ setup as it is mapped to the screen. So if you want to access the navigation, you tap that part of the pad that corresponds to the screen. This removes the dragging of the finger across the touchpad to get it to the selection you want. This seems quite logical on paper, but I found to be somewhat frustrating. It took me a few days to mind-meld with the system as I was still used to dragging my finger across the touchpad to select various functions. This made simple tasks such as changing presets or moving around in Apple CarPlay very tough.

    There is also a smaller touchpad that controls a small section of the screen. This allows you to scroll through three menus - audio, navigation, and clock. This would prove to be the most frustrating aspect of this system as it didn’t always recognize whenever I scroll down on the touchpad to move to another screen.

    Thankfully, Acura has left a number of physical controls for the audio and climate systems. I’m glad that some luxury automakers aren’t falling into the trap.

    Powertrain Goes Back To Its Roots

    The RDX has always found itself with a different powertrain throughout its various generations. The first version used a turbo-four engine, while the second-generation moved to a V6. For the third-generation, Acura went back to the RDX’s roots and settled on another turbo-four engine. The 2.0L engine punches out 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with a 10-speed automatic and either front or my tester’s Super-Handling all-wheel drive system.

    The turbo-four is quite a potent engine with little turbo lag when leaving a stop and a seemingly endless amount of power for any situation. The ten-speed automatic is very smooth and quick when upshifting. But it does stumble somewhat when you need a quick shot of speed. 

    I did notice that the 2.0L turbo isn’t a quiet engine when traveling on the expressway, going above 2,000 rpm when traveling at 70 mph. This may explain the slightly disappointing 21.7 mpg average I got during the week. EPA fuel economy figures for the A-Spec SH-AWD are 21 City/26 Highway/23 Combined. The standard RDX models see a small bump in their EPA fuel economy figures.

    Capable Driver

    Acura is no stranger to building a crossover that is good to drive, the larger MDX crossover is a prime example. But the RDX A-Spec takes that a step further. This version gets a slightly stiffer suspension setup which negates a fair amount of body roll on a winding road. The steering firms up nicely when pushed through corners. When going through the daily grind, the RDX A-Spec will let in a few more bumps and road imperfections due to its suspension tuning. Road and wind noise are kept to very minimal levels.

    Welcome Back Acura

    The 2020 RDX shows that Acura is starting to figure out what it wants to be; a brand that offers something playful in the class. The RDX certainly has the qualities with a bold exterior, punchy turbo-four, and a surprising chassis that offers sporty handling and a mostly-comfortable ride. The slightly-confounding infotainment system and poor fuel economy figures do sour it a bit. But the RDX is a very compelling alternative to many compact luxury crossovers.

    It does give me hope that Acura is figuring out who it wants to be and excited to see what comes down the road such as the new TLX.

    How I Would Configure An RDX: For me, I would basically take the exact RDX tester seen here. That will set me back $47,195 after adding destination and $400.00 paint option. Everyone else should look at the Technology package that will get you most of the safety equipment that is part of Acurawatch, along with a 12-speaker ELS audio system, navigation, and parking sensors. It will not break the bank at $41,000 for FWD or $43,000 for AWD.

    Disclaimer: Acura Provided the RDX, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas

    Year: 2020
    Make: Acura
    Model: RDX
    Trim: A-Spec
    Engine: Turbocharged 2.0L DOHC 16-Valve VTEC Four-Cylinder
    Driveline: 10-Speed Automatic, All-Wheel Drive
    Horsepower @ RPM: 272 @ 6,500
    Torque @ RPM: 280 @ 1,600 - 4,500
    Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 21/26/23
    Curb Weight: 4,015 lbs
    Location of Manufacture: East Liberty, Ohio
    Base Price: $45,800
    As Tested Price: $47,195 (Includes $995.00 Destination Charge)

    Options:
    Premium Exterior Color - $400.00


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    17 hours ago, balthazar said:

    Porsche is German and it's 67% SUVs (by volume).
    Are they using the German strategy, or the American?

    They build rear wheel drive.  Not front wheel drive off a Camry, Accord, or Escape platform and try to pass it of as something fancy.

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    Something like 80% of Acura's sales are SUVs.  Lincoln is trending toward 100% SUV,  Cadillac and Lexus are probably pushing 75% SUV, maybe higher.  So  if that is 80% of your brand, I would hope it is a fun to drive product.  Time will tell if there German strategy works or if the Cadillac/Lincoln/Acura strategy works, over the past 20 years the German strategy is winning.


    60-80% of just about everyone's sales are CUVs / SUVs.

    But since the vast majority of SUVs are 4WD, are german ones 'fun' and American ones 'not fun' even tho they have the same number of drive wheels? Does anyone who buys a mobile consumer appliance (CUV) drive them in any way aggressively? What percent of drivers?

    I watched a Porsche 911-esque car today, turn right onto the highway at a red light. Road ahead was empty... and it just leisurely oozed forward like a kia forte on a donut spare. I thought 'Idiot."

     

    Edited by balthazar
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    1 hour ago, smk4565 said:

    They build rear wheel drive.  Not front wheel drive off a Camry, Accord, or Escape platform and try to pass it of as something fancy.

    FWD with AWD optional and M-B DEFINITELY tries to pass this turd as something fancy.   Bullshyte 4Matic trim making AWD standard making it seem this turd is fancy

    2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA Class Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and ...

     

    FWD with AWD optional and M-B DEFINITELY tries to pass this turd as something fancy. Bullshyte 4Matic trim making AWD standard making it seem this turd is fancy

    2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4Matic Shows Real Growth

    And bottom of the barrel turd. FWD with AWD optional and BOTH Mercedes and BMW  are hiding the fact that they both wants to sell to former buyers of  Chevrolet Cavaliers, Pontiac Vibes (Toyota Matrix) and Saturn Ions.

    2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Packs Advanced Tech - Consumer Reports

    GM knew of switch problem in 2001

     

    2020 BMW 1 Series: Have A Closer Look Via 7 Official Videos

     

    Car Review: 2009 Pontiac Vibe AWD | Driving

     

    Edited by oldshurst442
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    1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

    FWD with AWD optional and M-B DEFINITELY tries to pass this turd as something fancy.   Bullshyte 4Matic trim making AWD standard making it seem this turd is fancy

    2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA Class Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and ...

     

    FWD with AWD optional and M-B DEFINITELY tries to pass this turd as something fancy. Bullshyte 4Matic trim making AWD standard making it seem this turd is fancy

     

    FWD with AWD that has  up to a 50/50 split in their cheapest car.  That is Acura's whole line, it is Cadillacs whole crossover line, it is half of Lexus's line up.  

    If the A-class is terrible how do you describe the Cadillac XT6 and Acura MDX at $60,000 with the same drive train?  In fact earlier in the thread you said it was good that the Acura TLX is front drive, the CLA is around to compete with TLX, Volvos, Golf R's and all that stuff.  

    And absolutely rear drive is better that is why Mercedes makes C, E, S-class, GLC, GLE, GLS, G-wagon, AMG GT, SL in rear drive.  What the Euro-car haters don't like is the Germans coming for that mid-market and taking it, and basically putting Buick, Lincoln, Acura, Infiniti and Cadillac out of the sedan business.  We are going to be down to 4 sedans across those 5 brands in about 1 year's time.

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    22 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

    If the A-class is terrible how do you describe the Cadillac XT6 and Acura MDX at $60,000 with the same drive train?

    I criticize Cadillac for that.

    YOU dont critize Mercedes for that.  Or BMW for that matter.

    "Engineered Like No Other" and "The Ultimate Driving Machine" in 2020 seems like a farce and a lie, dont it?   

    You just give me excusatory replies and deflections...

    Id like to see you write that Mercedes SUCKS for producing the GLA, CLA and A Class.

    Go ahead...WRITE IT IN BOLD LETTERING WITH SIZE 18 FONT AS IF YOU ARE SCREAMING IT ON TOP OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING SO ALL OF US COULD SEE AND HEAR IT!!!

     

     

     

     

     

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    12 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

    I criticize Cadillac for that.

    YOU dont critize Mercedes for that.  Or BMW for that matter.

    "Engineered Like No Other" and "The Ultimate Driving Machine" in 2020 seems like a farce and a lie, dont it?   

    You just give me excusatory replies and deflections...

    Id like to see you write that Mercedes SUCKS for producing the GLA, CLA and A Class.

    Go ahead...WRITE IT IN BOLD LETTERING WITH SIZE 18 FONT AS IF YOU ARE SCREAMING IT ON TOP OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING SO ALL OF US COULD SEE AND HEAR IT!!!

     

     

     

     

     

    I don't care that they make FWD, especially at the vehicle size and power level and price point they do it at.  The new A-class and GLA/GLB look like pretty strong entrants to the entry lux segment, the original CLA drove like any other run of the mill car and had a run of the mill interior.    The new group of entry lux is strong it will cater well to people that only know FWD, I think it is good to offer that in the market as an option.

    And if you don't like FWD, people can spend $5k more for a C-class or GLC.  

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    Just now, smk4565 said:

    I don't care that they make FWD, especially at the vehicle size and power level and price point they do it at.  The new A-class and GLA/GLB look like pretty strong entrants to the entry lux segment, the original CLA drove like any other run of the mill car and had a run of the mill interior.    The new group of entry lux is strong it will cater well to people that only know FWD, I think it is good to offer that in the market as an option.

    And if you don't like FWD, people can spend $5k more for a C-class or GLC.  

     

    WRONG ANSWER

     

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    Which brings me back to Acura. JD Powers and Bloomberg reviews have not been kind to the Acura CUV's and if @smk4565 is right that a successful auto line has to have X amount of CUVs. One has to wonder why Acura does not see money in building an Acura version of the CR-V and the Pilot to add to the family. 🤔

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    10 minutes ago, dfelt said:

    Which brings me back to Acura. JD Powers and Bloomberg reviews have not been kind to the Acura CUV's and if @smk4565 is right that a successful auto line has to have X amount of CUVs. One has to wonder why Acura does not see money in building an Acura version of the CR-V and the Pilot to add to the family. 🤔

    I believe the MDX covers the Acura version of the Pilot.  Why Acura has no true equivalent of the Honda CR-V and HR-V is a mystery to me.  (Some may argue that the RDX fills the CR-V role).

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    1 hour ago, riviera74 said:

    I believe the MDX covers the Acura version of the Pilot.  Why Acura has no true equivalent of the Honda CR-V and HR-V is a mystery to me.  (Some may argue that the RDX fills the CR-V role).

    Correct...the MDX is Acura's Pilot, the RDX is a bit larger than the CR-V.   There is also the CDX which is smaller than the CR-V (China only, it appears). 

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    6 hours ago, dfelt said:

    @riviera74 @Robert Hall I do have to wonder why Acura does not have any other sized luxury CUV's.

    I would think a lager than RDX/MDX and smaller would make sense for Acura.

    Your thoughts on Acura having additional sized luxury CUV's?

    They only have two.  Buick and Cadillac and Chevy have at least three.  I believe some automakers have four or more.  Acura could probably use one more to compete against the Encore or XT4.

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    4 minutes ago, riviera74 said:

    They only have two.  Buick and Cadillac and Chevy have at least three.  I believe some automakers have four or more.  Acura could probably use one more to compete against the Encore or XT4.

    The CDX could do that.  There was an article in Motor Trend that speculated it may come to the US...but that was 3 years ago.

    Edit: The CDX is supposed to come to the US later this year as a 2021 model, according to at least one article.

    https://hondacarmodels.com/2021-acura-cdx/

    Edited by Robert Hall
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    10 hours ago, dfelt said:

    Which brings me back to Acura. JD Powers and Bloomberg reviews have not been kind to the Acura CUV's and if @smk4565 is right that a successful auto line has to have X amount of CUVs. One has to wonder why Acura does not see money in building an Acura version of the CR-V and the Pilot to add to the family. 🤔

    They have an Acura version of the CR-V and Pilot, although they claim the RDX rides on it's own platform, I bet that thing is 90% CR-V underneath.   I believe there is an Acura version of the Honda HR-V either in concept or for sale in Asia, I would be surprised if they don't don't put that on sale in the USA for a BMW X1, Volvo XC40 competitor starting around $32k.

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    7 hours ago, dfelt said:

    @riviera74 @Robert Hall I do have to wonder why Acura does not have any other sized luxury CUV's.

    I would think a lager than RDX/MDX and smaller would make sense for Acura.

    Your thoughts on Acura having additional sized luxury CUV's?

    How would they do it?  They don't make a rear drive platform, and the MDX/Pilot upper mid-size already.  They share a platform the the Odyssey and Ridgeline which have a longer wheelbase, but they would just send up with a 6 inch stretch wheelbase MDX, which maybe gets them more 3rd seat legroom, but I don't know if that moves the sales needle any.

     

    They can't go larger, but they can go smaller than RDX.

    Edited by smk4565
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    11 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

    The MDX is just a few inches smaller in wheelbase and length than the Telluride and Palisade, and less square and upright..probably considerably less space inside.

    My wife drives MDX, plenty of space for a family of four.  However, Pilot is much roomier, and probably Telluride is even bigger than Pilot.

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    Perhaps Acura should make the MDX the same size as the Telluride/Palisade and make it just as posh.  That would leave room for a slightly larger RDX and allow a subcompact CUV for entry-level Acura buyers.

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    17 hours ago, smk4565 said:

    How would they do it?  They don't make a rear drive platform, and the MDX/Pilot upper mid-size already.  They share a platform the the Odyssey and Ridgeline which have a longer wheelbase, but they would just send up with a 6 inch stretch wheelbase MDX, which maybe gets them more 3rd seat legroom, but I don't know if that moves the sales needle any.

     

    They can't go larger, but they can go smaller than RDX.

    Considering how many larger FWD/AWD Unibody auto's are out there. I see no reason they could not go larger and smaller on the same platform. After all look at the full size FWD/AWD vans that are out in Europe and now America. Easy to take a base and give it a CUV look.

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