2025 Acura RDX

Acura fans looking for a brand-new small SUV will have to wait a little longer, as the updated 2025 RDX receives a mildly revised exterior design and minor interior updates; this is the second time the current RDX has received a midcycle refresh. Even though the RDX is older than much of the competition, Acura is soldiering on with the current recipe for at least a few more years. 

The base car hasn't really changed at all. There are no mechanical refinements or changes of any sort. That means you still get the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (272 horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque) under the hood and standard all-wheel drive. Despite the ZDX, MDX and TLX all getting spicier Type S variants, there will be no such version of the RDX. The base turbo four-popper remains your lone powertrain option. 

The changes start on the outside. The car's front fascia has been reworked — if only slightly — to bring it more in line with the rest of the brand's models. It gets slightly larger openings on either side of the new frameless grille, and top-spec Advance models now get body-colored lower trim. There are also slick new wheel designs across the range. The rear, however, remains unchanged. There's just enough to let you know this is "new" without actually being totally new. 

The interior receives similarly minor tweaks. The center console is new and does away with the sliding cover. In its stead are two cupholders and the wireless charging pad for your smartphone. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display now stretches across the 10.2-inch screen; previously, a small information panel remained on the screen's rightmost side. The last of the tweaks include ambient lighting elements in the speaker grilles and around the center console for Advance models.

These updates are, in truth, tiny. However, the RDX remains a relatively strong seller for Acura, and while a new model should come in the next few years, there's not that much wrong with the current car. The 2025 RDX will be in Acura dealers by the end of this month. 

The RDX is a fine compact premium crossover, but we're crossing our fingers that we get an all-new one sooner than later.

The RDX is Acura's small two-row SUV. It slots into the Acura lineup below the MDX and the new all-electric ZDX. Historically, the RDX has been a hit-or-miss affair in the segment, occassionally demonstrating innovation and at other times remaining stagnant in a highly competitive market. But its latest generation offers sharp styling and handling, which has given the RDX some much-needed soul. And Acura has announced some changes are coming to the RDX for 2025.

Edmunds spotlight: New styling and infotainment

Expect new exterior and interior styling to adorn the 2025 RDX, including a new touchscreen infotainment system to replace the aging touchpad interface. The RDX was last fully redesigned in 2019. It was then refreshed for 2022 with new exterior styling and added driver assist features. With the exception of making all-wheel drive standard last year, the RDX's powertrain hasn't changed since 2019. So we expect the 2025 redo to include an engine update. One of the main criticisms of the RDX has been a lack of powertrain options, so we won't be suprised to see, at a minimum, a bump in power. But we don't expect a new platform or a second engine option.

Competitors to consider

The two-row luxury SUV market is filled with excellent competitors. Check out the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Jaguar F-Pace on the upper end. And look to the Mazda CX-50 and CX-5 if you want to spend less but still get a pseudo-luxury SUV.