The second generation Acura RDX has been out for a few years, I’ve been seeing quite a lot of these vehicles on the roads of Vancouver. To find out why they’re so popular, we spent a week behind the wheel of a 2015 Acura RDX with the Tech package.
The second generation RDX is bigger and looks better, in my opinion, than the vehicle it replaced 2013. The 2016 model will see minor styling changes, most notably, the front headlights with multiple bulbs, like the MDX and other Acura vehicles. The styling on the 2015 RDX looks more premium compared to the first generation RDX.
The 2015 Acura RDX is available in two trims, Base and Tech. The base model starts at $41,390 and the Tech model is priced at $44,390 plus freight and PDI. I think the extra $3,000 is worth spending to get the added features.
Acura decided to ditch the 4-cylinder engine on the second generation RDX, it’s now powered by a 3.5 liter V6 that produces 273 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 251 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. Power is sent to all four wheels via an AWD system, Acura’s “Super Handling” AWD system has also been ditched on the second generation RDX.
The power produced by the V6 is more than enough to handle city or highway driving. The power delivery is very smooth and the 6-speed transmission upshifts and downshifts smoothly and is always ready to go down a gear or two when the throttle is floored. I personally think the V6 is the right engine for a vehicle of this size, a 4-cylinder might seem good on paper in terms of fuel efficiency, but in real world driving it would get about the same mileage as the V6.
According to Acura, the RDX consumes 12.1 L/100 km in the city, 8.7 L/100 km on the highway, and 10.6 L/100 km on the combined cycle. For our week long review, we averaged 13.0 L/100 km in mostly city driving. On our test loop of 40 kilometers with 50/50 city/highway split, we were able to get 9.5 L/100 km, according to the onboard computer.
The interior on the RDX is well appointed, there is plenty of plastic but it is of the soft variety. The interior has a simple layout and unlike the TLX, there’s only one screen. I actually prefer this layout better, with the center stack housing all the buttons for the climate, entertainment system etc.
As I mentioned earlier, the upgrade to the Tech package is really worth a look. With this package you get a larger 8” navigation screen, power tailgate, dual zone climate control, voice command for the navigation system, and a premium 410 watt sound system with 10 speakers. I think it’s pretty good value for $3,000. I would have liked the RDX to come with front and rear parking sensors, it is needed more on the RDX than it is on the TLX.
The RDX also comes with keyless entry with proximity key and push button start, navigation system, backup camera with multiple angle views, Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports, heated front seats, and active noise cancellation. The noise cancellation system really does make a big difference, the interior is very quiet and driving other cars after the RDX seemed very noisy.
The interior is also very comfortable place to be, with the noise cancellation, softer ride, and very comfortable seats, long trips in the RDX are a breeze. The rear passengers have lots of leg room and the flat floor in the back makes it possible to have a third passenger back there. The trunk is also very spacious, with enough room for weeks worth of grocery shopping or luggage for a cross-country trip. But if more space is needed, the back seats easily fold with a pull on a lever in the trunk.
The 2015 Acura RDX is a very good small entry-level luxury SUV/CUV, it’s not too big and not too small, which makes it ideal for driving around town and parking it in busy mall parking lots without sacrificing passenger space. The V6 has plenty of grunt and it does get decent fuel mileage. The RDX is also priced very competitively compared to other vehicles in this class.
2015 Acura RDX Review Photo Gallery
