2019 Acura RDX Review

Name: 2019 Acura RDX Review
Brand: Acura

Price Range: $17,980 - $32,590

2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec 4dr SUV Exterior

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Edmunds' Expert Review

by Jason Kavanagh^{Senior Vehicle Test Engineer
Jason joined Edmunds' testing team in 2006 as a vehicle testing engineer. Jason believes true appreciation of modern cars stems from owning really, really bad old ones.}

Pros

Sharp steering and handling
Roomy cabin and cargo area
Well-trimmed cabin

Cons

No choice of powertrain
Options are bundled solely into packages

What's new

The RDX is all-new for 2019
Part of the third RDX generation introduced for 2019

The outgoing RDX was long on practicality but came up a bit short of its competition in performance and emotion. Those shortcomings end with the 2019 Acura RDX. Its turbocharged four-cylinder engine has much more low-end torque than its predecessor's V6, giving the new RDX a decided edge in off-the-line oomph. Likewise, its quick steering and keen handling make it something that's genuinely capable on twisting tarmac.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Hobart, IN

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2019 Acura RDX
Base 4dr SUV
$23,895
great price
$3,985 below market
- 29,559 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, personal use only
- 4cyl automatic
- Driveway (685 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Paramus, NJ
CarFax No Accidents Reported,Low Mileage,Apple CarPlay,Back-Up Camera,Bluetooth,Brake Assist,Heated Seats,Keyless Start,Lane Keeping Assist,Satellite ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (22 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5J8TC1H37KL010505
Stock: PHP8845
Certified Pre-Owned: No
2019 Acura RDX
Base 4dr SUV
$22,485
great price
$2,396 below market
- 60,087 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 4cyl automatic
- Driveway (1,761 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Apple CarPlay,Back-Up Camera,Bluetooth,Brake Assist,Heated Seats,Keyless Start,Lane Keeping Assist,Satellite Radio,Sunroof / Moonroof,Turbo/Supercharg...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (22 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5J8TC1H33KL023865
Stock: ZV11175R
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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There's an all-new infotainment interface that will become the de facto system in future Acuras. Its touchpad-based nature cuts down on the glance time required to operate it compared to touchscreens, and the sharp display and quick responses are promising.

In the bargain, the new 2019 Acura RDX doesn't give up any space inside. Occupants enjoy an airy cabin, and the new in-floor storage of the large cargo area is a terrific bonus. And with Acura's simple strategy of packaging features into four offerings, selecting one that suits your needs is a painless experience. So is paying for it, since it packs a lot of value.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.9 / 10

There's a lot to like about the 2019 Acura RDX. Among two-row compact luxury crossovers, the RDX's extensive technology features, roomy cabin and clever cargo area make it stand out. That it's quicker to accelerate and has more engaging handling than its predecessor only burnishes its appeal.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 10-speed automatic | AWD).

Scorecard

Overall	7.9 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	7.5
Utility	8.5
Technology	8.5

Driving

7.5

Overall, the performance of the RDX A-Spec is cohesive and not deficient across the board. But little things such as brakes that are a bit on the small side, slightly underwhelming tires, and a sometimes sleepy throttle response take a bit of the shine off a solid performer.

Acceleration

7.0

This turbocharged 2.0-liter engine pulls well thanks to generous low-end torque, but it lacks the top-end power of the six-cylinder X3. Closely spaced gears keep the engine in its sweet spot. At our track, 60 mph came in 7.0 seconds, slightly slower than other four-cylinders in the class, but the engine made a pleasing growl under hard acceleration.

Braking

7.0

No matter what speed, these brakes inspire confidence thanks to predictable engagement and good feel. Our panic-stop test from 60 mph took 121 feet, which is average. But spirited driving on winding roads caused ours to wilt because the stability control system makes routine use of them to trim the car.

Steering

8.0

Effort is well-matched to the drive mode. Comfort mode is light without feeling overassisted, while Sport and Sport+ feel taut with a good amount of heft. The variable steering ratio is well-tuned such that the RDX is easy to maneuver in parking lots yet never feels darty on twisty roads.

Handling

7.5

The RDX A-Spec is conservatively tuned to produce more initial understeer than we'd like, and its wider tires don't seem to offer added grip. That said, it doesn't roll over much, and the SH-AWD system pays dividends when powering out of corners by giving the RDX the feel of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.

Drivability

8.0

The 10-speed automatic is adept at picking the right gear for the situation. The available Sport setting on the gear shift makes gear selection a half-step more aggressive. We actually sampled two different vehicles, and while one early car shifted clunkily when cold, a newer one felt fine.

Comfort

8.0

Though the A-Spec's 20-inch wheels might not bode well for ride comfort, the RDX makes sure its passengers are well-isolated from bumps at any speed. Combine that with standard active noise cancellation and comfortable seating for front and rear passengers, and the RDX impresses in the class.

Seat comfort

8.0

The front passengers get stylish heated and cooled seats, which are able to accommodate a wide variety of drivers. There's good support for aggressive driving as well as long-haul comfort, too. In the rear seats, adult passengers will find a pleasing amount of room, comfort and visibility.

Ride comfort

8.0

The standard suspension does a respectable job on a variety of road surfaces. (An adaptive suspension is available with the Advance package.) The body is well-controlled over undulations at highway speeds, and it is adept at shrugging off potholes and other square-edge bumps found in the city.

Noise & vibration

8.0

Engine and road noise is reasonably well muted, whether the RDX is idling or cruising at highway speed. Wind noise is minimal, and normal conversation is still possible even when the large sunroof is fully open. Full throttle in the A-Spec lets a bit of engine growl come through, but it's never obnoxious.

Climate control

7.0

It's easy to make adjustments because the controls are made up entirely of physical buttons. That said, the iconography is a little busy, and the buttons are a bit too small to scan at a glance. There's enough power to control the cabin temperature, but the driver's hands get the majority of the airflow.

Interior

7.5

Advanced yet complex, the RDX is a mix of good basic ergonomic practices and some rather different, if not polarizing, ideas for how things should be done. The shifter arrangement and small buttons might fluster the driver, but at least the passengers will be comfortable.

Ease of use

7.0

Depending on your level of technological savvy, the controls of the RDX might be easy to adapt to or slightly busy and a bit intimidating. Only the steering wheel controls are relatively straightforward but still take a bit of study time. The shifter and touchpad interface are an acquired taste.

Getting in/getting out

7.5

Front and rear passengers alike will have an easy time entering and exiting the RDX thanks to wide door openings. Stylishly shaped front seats don't get in the way, and rear passengers who wish to slide across the back seat have it easy thanks to the flat rear floor.

Driving position

8.5

Inherently good ergonomics mean that a wide range of drivers should be able to find a comfortable driving position. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes a good amount, and the dashboard sits high enough to make the instrumentation easy to see, but not so high as to interfere with the sight lines.

Roominess

8.0

Front passengers have ample room in every direction. Even with the panoramic sunroof, there's plenty of headroom up front. Taller rear passengers might feel their hair brush against the headliner, but there's more than enough leg- and shoulder room despite what is a nonadjustable rear seat.

Visibility

7.0

The straight-ahead view is not affected by the heavily sculpted hood, but the windshield pillars are a bit on the thick side and can block some visibility when cornering. The rear hatch's power-operated hinges compromise rear visibility. The backup camera is bright with good resolution.

Quality

8.5

Inside and out, build quality is excellent and what you should expect in a luxury SUV. Interior panels are well-integrated, and the power window switches stand out with a smooth actuation. No squeaks or rattles were noted.

Utility

8.5

Acura really has interior packaging figured out, and the RDX is yet another showcase of how much room the automaker manages to find and make useful. From a generous cargo area to flexible interior storage solutions, the RDX makes having a lot of stuff easier than it should be.

Small-item storage

8.5

There's an abundance of storage up front due to a tiered center console that allows phones and media devices to be plugged in and rest on a shelf, out of sight. The cupholders are under a sliding cover, and there's a traditional center console storage as well. Rear door pockets can hold a water bottle.

Cargo space

9.0

At 31.1 cubic feet, the RDX has a higher cargo capacity than the Audi Q5 (26.8 cubic feet) and the BMW X3 (28.7 cubic feet). The load floor is relatively low and wide, and under-floor storage is generous. The split-folding rear seats are easy to fold and lie almost flat.

Child safety seat accommodation

7.5

LATCH anchors are marked and exist in space between the seatback and bottom cushion. Rear-seat room is ample, so larger car seats should fit without having to reposition the front seats.

Technology

8.5

This is the tour de force of the new RDX, and it could prove to be the main reason behind people buying or not buying this Acura. With an intriguing new touchpad interface, it will absolutely appeal to the tech-savvy buyer just as the impressive audio system will appeal to the dedicated audiophile.

Audio & navigation

8.5

Control mastery takes time, but the performance of the navigation and audio system is hard to fault. The graphics are clear and modern, and the 16-speaker ELS 3D stereo system will stun an audiophile when fed with proper DVD-Audio source media. But the sound is less impressive when playing iTunes files.

Smartphone integration

8.5

Apple CarPlay and its plug-and-play connectivity are standard, and we found the Bluetooth connection to be reliable. Both front and rear seats have two 2.5-amp ports for charging modern smartphones and tablets. Mobile hotspot capability is standard. Android Auto is not currently available but will come soon.

Driver aids

8.5

Acura's suite of driver aids, AcuraWatch, is standard equipment and includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, collision warning and emergency braking. Stability control is nondefeatable, but there is a Snow mode for low-grip situations.

Voice control

8.5

Acura uses natural language voice recognition, and we found it to be quite good at deciphering navigation requests, even for often tricky address numbers. Other voice commands were executed similarly well.

Compare 2019 Acura RDX trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2019 Acura RDX models

Like all Acuras, the new RDX is offered not in trim levels per se but as a single trim available with one of four option packages: base, Technology, A-Spec and Advance.

Acura keeps it simple by limiting stand-alone options to all-wheel drive and a few dealer accessory items.

All RDXs are equipped with the same powertrain, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (272 horsepower, 280 pound-feet) connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional. The RDX's all-wheel-drive system is the fourth generation of the company's clever torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. Its ability to route torque across the rear axle (which is itself overdriven compared to the front axle) provides a significant edge in influencing the car's ability to turn into and out of a corner.

Base versions are actually quite well-equipped, boasting 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power liftgate, keyless ignition and entry, power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, simulated leather upholstery, and 12-way power-adjustable and heated front seats.

Also standard is the AcuraWatch suite of driver aids (includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control) and an infotainment system that includes the new True Touchpad Interface, a 10.2-inch central display, two USB ports, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and 9-speaker sound system with satellite radio.

The Technology package adds navigation, parking sensors, leather upholstery, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, two rear-seat USB ports and an upgraded 12-speaker sound system.

The RDX A-Spec adds 20-inch wheels and wider tires, some visual flair via blacked-out trim inside and out, and unique cabin treatment. It looks sporty, but the suspension is the same as that of lesser RDXs, so the A-Spec's wheels and tires are its sole dynamic differentiator. The A-Spec, though, does get a stunning 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D surround-sound system and ventilated seats.

The Advance package is the most feature-packed of all. Acoustic front door glass and thicker carpet quiet things down, while its adaptive suspension dampers, a hands-free liftgate, upgraded power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a customizable head-up display give it an edge in comfort and convenience. It also has the ELS stereo and ventilated seats from the A-Spec.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 Acura RDX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) 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 $4.08 per gallon for premium unleaded in Indiana.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Indiana

$206/mo

$178/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Excellent

#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

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

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).}

vs. 8.6%
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.}

Acura RDX Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.3

238 reviews

5(37%)

4(12%)

3(19%)

2(13%)

1(19%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Close to Being Perfect Compact Luxury SUV--Not The

Petros Bezirganyan, 01/07/2019

2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Technology Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A)

After months of researching and shopping, pulled the trigger on new RDX w/ Tech... After driving it for 3k mi in 2 months, here are my impressions. THE GOOD 1. The leather seats are very soft and comfortable. Beats any latest model Nissan, Volvo or BMW. The real leather is exquisite. Acura makes the best leather seats, period. Better than the latest Volvo XC90 or XC60, BMW X3 or 3 … series, Nissans and even Hondas and Audi Q5... The only seat that is better is the one in Volkswagen Passat, but these are synthetic leatherette... The seat is 16-way power adjustable, and on Advance trim it has power thigh extension as well... Love the seats... 2. The ELS 3D Studio premium audio system is sublime. The surround sound is fantastic, and is second only to Volvo's latest Bowers & Wilkins audio system. 3. The style. I really, really love the body styling if the new RDX. It is elegant, agresive, sporty, modern. I really love the 19" shark gray wheels. The cabin is modern, luxurious and I would say, elegant. Love panorama sunroof. 4. Comfort and ride. Very quiet cabin, supple ride. Good rear legroom and headroom 5. Cargo capacity. Is on par with any compact SUV, and is better than almost all luxury compact SUVs. 6. Price point. Very competitive guven the amount of features. 7. Engine power and torque. With 272 hp on tap and low-RPM 280 lb-ft of torque, this SUV has a pick-up of a sporty sedan or a hatchback. 8. Handling. With its wide stance and low profile, coupled with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, this SUV corners flat, and can handle any curve confidently, feeling sure-footed on any type of pavement. THE BAD 1. Transmission. Acura keeps telling us (since the crappy 6-speed in 2013 RDX and 8, and then 9-speed ZF transmission in Acura MDX 2013-2015, 2016-2019) that they are going to finally fix the rough and jerky gear shifts, especially at low speeds and going uphill, and finally they claimed that they did it with the Honda-engineered 10-speed transmission, debuted in the 2018 Honda Odyssey, and now in 2019 RDX... But let me tell you, this tranny, although much better than 9-speed German-made ZF and the 6-speed in old RDX, still has some serious issues: at low speeds it tends to keep in the middle gears (3-6), instead of downshifting to 2, perhaps--I don't know, but the effect is as if it is in higher gear at lower speeds than it should be, preventing acceleration at speeds at around 25-30 mph, or when coasting to a stop light or parking... This is very annoying, since the vehicle feels underpowered for simple maneuvers, like coasting to a stop light or driving in a parking lot. Pushing the throttle, simply jerks the vehicle forward, as if accelerating from dead stop, which is not what one wants, and is dangerous in traffic or parking garages... Disappointing. 2. Fuel economy on premium 92 grade gas. In the mixed mostly city driving I average only 21 mpg on premium gas. Very disappointing. On regular 87 octane gas, the fuel economy drops to 20 mpg. Disappointing... 3. Small fuel tank, short driving range on a full tank. With only 17 gallon tank, maximum I can drive on premium gas on a full tank is 300 miles, before the fuel gauge light up. Very, very disappointing... My Nissan Rogue would go 359 miles before I had to stop for refueling... 4. Infotainment system. Very, very glitchy and underbaked. Using the precision touch mouse pad is awkward; using navigation is clunky. Voice recognition barely works. The loading of contacts takes a very, very long time... Calls are driooed every now and then; the system hangs intermittently... Nissan's simple Bosch-designed infotainment puts Acura to shame... Android auto is not supported as of yet... No way to look up point of interest phones; no Pandora or Google integration. My Nissan had all that. I miss Nissan's infotainment system... THE UGLY 1. The brake pads already squeal on all 4 as if completely worn out on a brand-new vehicle with less than 3k miles!!! 2. Passenger wiper is not retracting completely. This is a calibration issue, which Acura is looking into. 3. The hatch back-door creaks and moans on opening and closing, just like a whale. 4. Driver vanity mirror cover squeaks when opening. Not nice. 5. The cargo area liftable cover does not stay open, and needs to be held while accessing the underfloor storage compartment. 6. To put in roof-rails and crossbars, Acura is asking for $1,200. Very expensive for almost a necessity on a SUV. CONCLUSION On hindsight, unless you are getting a super killer deal on 2019 RDX (e.g. below invoice), I do NOT recommend buying or leasing it, until Acura addresses transmission and fuel economy issues. Also, note that it is a wide vehicle: 4-5 in wider than a regular sedan or a compact SUV. This may pose a challenge when parking in tight spaces.

I Traded-In My RDX After 7 Months Of Ownership

Eva, 11/07/2018

2019 Acura RDX Advance Package 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A)

I had my “dream car” for 7 months and then traded it in for something more reliable. When I first purchased the Acura RDX Advance I was ecstatic. Everything seemed to be customized for me. From the memory seats to the technology, to the safety components. I was in love with my SUV. However, things seemed to go south the longer I owned the vehicle. First it was the constant issues with …

So disappointed with my first Acura

Don't buy an RDX, 03/30/2019

2019 Acura RDX Advance Package 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A)

This car is haunted! The software needs so much improvement, and the dealership says they can't do a thing. The radio comes on at will and often will not allow me to change channels. Sometimes I can make phone calls, sometimes not. The car has refused to go out of Park twice, so you can't go anywhere. It has locked me out and has stopped in traffic twice. All infotainment features …

Last FREE Navigation Update NEVER TOOK

Mark S of LI NY, 01/15/2019

2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Advance Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A)

Last FREE Navigation Update NEVER TOOK & now every time I use it I have to click off a message that covers the screen. 6 year update on my 2019 Acura RDX Advance I’ve had since 8/18. Before this I owned a 2014 RDX & before that 2010 TSX. I still enjoy the handling, new modern look (in & outside) as well as feel of the new RDX 3rd generation over the 2014 (2nd generation). But I’m not a …

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2019 Acura RDX video

2019 Acura RDX First Drive

Edmunds Senior Road Test Engineer Jason Kavanagh drives the all-new 2019 Acura RDX, one of the most popular premium compact crossover SUVs. In this video, we go over the changes ushered in by the new RDX, including the different packages available, its engine and transmission, cargo area and cabin space. Plus, we introduce you to the clean-sheet infotainment interface that…

2019 RDX Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$37,400
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$206/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	31.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the RDX models:

Adaptive Cruise Control: Automatically lowers the set cruise speed when you approach slower-moving cars.
Lane Keeping Assist: Detects when the car is approaching the lane's edge and applies a steering torque to help recenter it in the lane.
Collision Mitigation Braking: Automatically applies the brakes when it detects an impending front collision.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover16.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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