2012 Acura RDX Review
2012 Acura RDX Review
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
+174
Used RDX for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Sporty handling
- compelling performance
- well-equipped
- relatively low price.
Cons
- Firm ride
- lacks a certain premium look and feel
- missing some top-end luxury features.
What’s new
The 2012 Acura RDX is unchanged.
Edmunds says
The 2012 Acura RDX provides sharp handling at an attractive price, but other small luxury crossovers will likely prove more desirable overall.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2012 Acura RDX 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.31 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$254/mo for RDX Base
RDX Base
vs
$196/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Vehicle overview
When it debuted a few years back, the Acura RDX was a pioneer in its segment, coming out well before other luxury-brand automakers developed small crossovers of their own. Now, five years later, the 2012 Acura RDX still has a lot going for it, though in certain cases it's starting to show its age.
For one, the RDX has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine; six cylinders is the norm for this segment. But although it's down on power compared to other compact luxury SUVs, the RDX still accelerates with surprising authority. The Acura RDX also displays uncommon athleticism in the curves, cornering with precision and confidence thanks to its sophisticated all-wheel-drive system.
Inside the cabin, the RDX features a good collection of standard features and intuitive controls for the entertainment and navigation systems. The optional Acura/ELS audio system is one of the best in its class. To top it all off, the Acura RDX's price undercuts its similarly equipped rivals by thousands of dollars.
But when it comes down to it, the RDX isn't the most appealing model out there. In terms of high-end luxury or safety features, competitors like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK and Volvo XC60 outclass the RDX. These models also have nicer (and sometimes roomier) interiors and, subjectively, more evocative styling. The RDX is still worth a look, particularly given its lower price, but overall the pioneer has been overtaken by newer rivals.
Performance & mpg
Powering the 2012 Acura RDX is a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder that produces 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles is standard, but there is a choice between standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. Dubbed SH-AWD, it distributes power not only between the front and rear axles as is typical, but also between the left and right wheels, ensuring optimal traction in all conditions.
In Edmunds testing, a front-wheel-drive RDX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, which is quick for cars in this class. An all-wheel-drive RDX is expected to be just a bit slower, but would still be among the quickest in its class. In terms of fuel economy, the front-drive RDX is rated at an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined, while the SH-AWD version rates 17/22/19. Both are about average for the class.
Safety
The 2012 Acura RDX comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. A rearview camera is optional. In Edmunds brake testing, a front-drive RDX came to a stop from 60 mph in a reasonable distance of 125 feet.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the RDX a perfect score of "Good" in its frontal-offset and side-impact crash testing but a second-worst rating of "Marginal" in roof strength tests.
Driving
The 2012 Acura RDX's audible turbo whooshing sound is a pleasant departure from the standard six-cylinder soundtracks in this segment. Turbo lag is minimal and power plentiful enough to make you question its relatively paltry horsepower number.
On the move, the RDX has a firm ride quality -- overly so on rough city streets. However, the payoff comes around corners, where the RDX is as eager to play as any model in its class. It feels smaller than many others in the segment and has steering that is on the light side, but reassuringly precise nonetheless. With Acura's signature SH-AWD, the RDX's handling is improved further, yanking this little ute around corners with poise and tenacious grip.
Interior
Compared to the latest crop of luxury crossovers, the 2012 Acura RDX's interior will likely feel a bit dated. Besides an aging cabin design, there are also more hard plastic surfaces. Outside of this, the other materials are high quality and we're also fond of the center storage compartment that is deep enough to hold a briefcase or laptop bag. We like the audio quality of the optional ELS sound system, but in certain cases the RDX is behind the times in terms of optional features, lacking items such as Bluetooth audio streaming, keyless ignition/entry and a power liftgate.
In terms of cargo capacity, the RDX provides a class-average 28 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats. Folding down the 60/40-split rear seatback affords 61 cubic feet. Rear legroom is good, but the rear seats don't recline or slide fore and aft.
2012 Acura RDX models
The 2012 Acura RDX is a five-passenger compact luxury crossover available in a single trim level.
Standard features include 18-inch wheels, heated mirrors, rear privacy glass, automatic xenon headlamps, foglamps, a sunroof, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats (eight-way driver, four-way passenger), heated front seats, leather upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth and a seven-speaker sound system with a six-CD changer, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface.
The Technology package adds GPS-linked and solar-sensing automatic climate control, a rearview camera, a navigation system, real-time traffic and weather, voice controls, a larger infotainment display screen and a 10-speaker Acura/ELS surround-sound audio system.
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent
#7 out of 18 among Luxury Compact SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Acura RDX from 2008-2022.$408/yr
vs. $559/yr
for Average Luxury Compact SUV
for Average Luxury Compact SUV
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).1.26x/yr
vs. 1.23x/yr
for Average Luxury Compact SUV
for Average Luxury Compact SUV
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).7%
vs. 8.6%
for Average Luxury Compact SUV
for Average Luxury Compact SUV
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2012 Acura RDX.
5 star(59%)
4 star(32%)
3 star(3%)
2 star(6%)
1 star(0%)
34 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.25 out of 5 stars
Nice certified off-lease ride
njrdx, 04/16/2015
2011 Acura RDX SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
Purchased my 2011 as an off-lease Acura certified SUV. Got it for just under $23k with 30k miles and warranty good until 65k miles.
Bought it Fall of 2014 and used it thru a tough winter, the SH-AWD was great! Has 36k miles now so have had it enough time to get very familiar. Do a mix of local and highway driving and it handles both well. With the rear seats down, plenty of … room to haul things, the dog, etc.
This is a good used car buy if all maintenance and servicing has been done. Turbo engines need on time oil changes. Buying as certified used from Acura is a good way to make sure this is the case.
5 out of 5 stars
4 Wheeled Vette
thumper16, 04/11/2011
2011 Acura RDX SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
Haven't had this thing long, but what a step up from an underpowerd Honda CRV. Handling, power, fit and finish, all first class. Don't buy it if your looking for smooth. It is sportscar all the way. Drove the Infinity, Benz, and Lexus, all 10 grand or more expensive. I'm 6'2" and have plenty of room. Acually bought it for my wife and we arm wrestle for the key. If they could make this … thing get 30mpg's it would be just about perfect.
4 out of 5 stars
Nice Comfortable Turbo Crossover
Carguy, 08/12/2015
2011 Acura RDX SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Technology Package (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
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 it's 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 it's 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!
5 out of 5 stars
Classy & comfy
DogMom, 06/09/2019
2011 Acura RDX 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
I have driven this car for 76K miles and 8 years and have never been disappointed. It handled extremely well in an ice storm that paralyzed our city But got me home safely when others ended up spinning out and in a ditch.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2012 Acura RDX, so we've included reviews for other years of the RDX since its last redesign.
2012 RDX Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $32,895 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $254/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 27.8 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the RDX include:
- Back-up camera
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
People who viewed this also viewed
4.3 average Rating out of 12 reviews. |
Starting at $50,150 |
3.7 average Rating out of 15 reviews. |
Starting at $45,150 |
4.3 average Rating out of 114 reviews. |
Starting at $29,500 |
Related Used 2012 Acura RDX info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used Kia Soul EV 2015 For Sale
- Used Audi Q7 2017
- Used Cadillac CT5 2020 For Sale
- Used Honda CR-V 2014
- Used Honda CR-V 2017 For Sale
Shop similar models
- Used Cadillac XT5
- Used Land-rover Range-rover-evoque
- Used Jaguar E-pace
- Used Lincoln Nautilus
- Used Cadillac XT4
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Acura RDX 2012
- Used Acura RDX 2010 For Sale
- Used Acura RDX 2019 For Sale
- Used Acura RDX 2015 For Sale
- Used Acura RDX 2017
- Used Acura RDX 2018
- Used Acura RDX 2016
- Used Acura RDX 2013
- Used Acura RDX 2011
- Used Acura RDX 2014
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- Lexus NX 350F Sport
- Ram 3500 For Sale
- Passenger Ford Transit Van
- 2024 Lamborghini Urus News
- Audi A8
- 2023 Honda Accord
- BMW Car 8 Series
- 2023 G-Class
- 2025 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Series News
- 2024 BMW X3
Research other models of Acura
- 2024 ILX
- 2024 MDX
- Type S Acura TLX
- Acura RDX 2023
- 2023 Acura TLX
- Acura SUV RDX
- Acura MDX 2023
- Acura TLX 2024
- Acura MDX
- 2023 Acura Integra
Research similar vehicles
- Mazda CX 30
- Rolls Royce Cullinan
- Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
- 2023 Jeep Wrangler
- 2023 Toyota BZ4X
- Infiniti QX60
- 2023 Land Rover Defender
- F Pace
- Volvo XC40
- 2024 Honda Pilot
Other models
- Used Fiat 500X in New Sweden, ME
- Used Chevrolet Malibu-Maxx in Loganville, GA
- Used Lexus GS-460 in Mattapan, MA
- Used Hyundai Sonata-Hybrid in El Paso, TX
- New Lexus LX for Sale in Bothell, WA
- Used Toyota Prius-C in Palm Bay, FL
- Used Ferrari 430-Scuderia in Alhambra, CA
- New Genesis G90 for Sale in Kingsville, TX
- New Kia Telluride for Sale in Lake City, FL
- Used Infiniti JX in Oswego, IL