Used 2021 Acura RDX

The 2021 Acura RDX premium-compact-crossover SUV has never been better. Over three generations, it has evolved into an attractive package that includes value for money, great safety features, practicality, dependability, an athletic yet comfortable ride, and yes, even some road presence.

Although the RDX is no longer the wallflower at the premium-compact crossover-SUV party, there are still rivals that tend to attract more attention, such as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Jaguar F-Pace, Lexus NX, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, and the Volvo XC60. But those who decide to take the 2021 RDX home will have continual reminders that they made a good choice.

A combination of a 272-horsepower 4-cylinder turbocharged engine and 10-speed automatic transmission endows the Acura RDX with useful muscle balanced by acceptable fuel consumption. Despite so many forward ratios, the transmission works smoothly, while allowing freeway cruising at low engine speeds.

Exercising that muscle is also pleasurable. There’s no real lag, but there’s a sweet spot (well, more of a sweet area) where both the turbo and the engine are on song and nicely responsive.

The chassis is up to its task of containing and exploiting this energy, while still keeping occupants in luxury-level comfort. Driving modes span conditions and aspirations from Snow to Sport Plus, yet the cabin remains hushed.

If there’s a wrong note, it’s that the brake pedal in our test vehicle didn’t have much effect during the first inch or two of travel. However, the full stopping power is as good as (or in some cases better than) the competition.

Sticking with the usual 2-row/5-seater formula means the Acura RDX can offer plenty of space for travelers and their trappings. Yet it does so with a mixture of impressive technology, luxury, and style.

The high-resolution 10.2-inch infotainment display is operated through the company’s True Touchpad Interface, a well-received innovation.

Even the transmission shuns the traditional. Instead of a shift lever, there are buttons for Park, Reverse, etc. This takes some getting used to, and the first hurried 3-point turn could be quite stressful, but it will probably become second nature over time.

The front seats offer above-average support, and rear passengers won’t be complaining about legroom or headroom. And those requiring generous cargo volume for the class will find 31.1 cubic feet of it behind the rear seats. This expands to 79.8 cubic feet when they’re folded and the front seats are moved forward.

The “floating-roof” rear pillar is part of the RDX’s appearance, as it is on several vehicles from several other makers. That’s not really a criticism, though.

This generation’s bold overall look does its best not to appear too boxy while still remaining practical. It’s an approach that’s enhanced by the A-Spec package bringing darker elements and replacing the standard 19-inch alloy wheels with 20-inch rims.

WALK AWAY DOOR LOCK
The Walk Away Door Lock feature does exactly what its name suggests, relieving drivers of that insecure feeling when they’ve left their new Acura RDX in a parking lot and are now busy doing something else. The system can be turned on or off as needed. Now all you have to worry about is: “Did I keep that feature on?”

ELS AUDIO SYSTEM
We’ve all heard the artists that Grammy award-winning recording engineer Elliot Scheiner has worked with — people like Beyonce, Sting, and Steely Dan. He’s one of those rare studio guys with “golden ears.” Now he has collaborated with Panasonic to create the excellent ELS audio system (https://www.kbb.com/car-news/2019-acura-rdx-audio-road-test-els-studio-3d/) upgrade in the RDX.

In its most basic form, the 2021 Acura RDX comes with front-wheel drive and a ton of standard equipment. This includes a powered tailgate with height adjustment, 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry/ignition, ultra-wide panoramic moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient cabin lighting, heated/12-way power-adjustable front seats, heated side mirrors, self-dimming rearview mirror, variable-ratio steering, automatic high beams, Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto smartphone integration, 10.2-inch display, AcuraWatch safety features, satellite radio, and a 9-speaker/350-watt premium audio system.

SH-AWD is the name of the RDX’s optional all-wheel-drive system. The SH part stands for “super handling” and takes the RDX’s agility to another level as well as providing reassuring grip in tricky weather.

The Technology package is worth having. It brings blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, front/rear parking sensors, navigation with real-time traffic updates, GPS-linked climate control, leather upholstery, two USB ports front and rear, and a highly rated 12-speaker ELS audio system.

A-Spec brings the aforementioned bigger wheels and cosmetic additions, heated/ventilated front seats, LED fog lights, plus four more speakers for the ELS audio.

The Advance package adds a head-up display, active dampers, a 360-degree camera system, rain-sensing wipers, 16-way power-adjustable front seats, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, wood trim, hands-free tailgate operation, acoustic front side glass, and a rear camera washer.

The sole engine in the 2021 RDX is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit turbocharged to produce 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque — more output than any German equivalent.

A 10-speed automatic transmission sends drive to the front wheels in standard form (FWD), or all four (AWD) with Acura’s Super Handling system. The lower gears contribute to quick zips off the line, while the higher ratios help with fuel economy.

The engine also has a stop/start feature to save a little fuel while idling. Premium gasoline is recommended.

Towing capacity is 1,500 pounds, which is puny. Even the Lexus NX can handle 2,000 pounds, and that’s far from the best in class.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
272 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/28 mpg (FWD), 22/27 mpg (FWD, A-Spec), 21/27 mpg (AWD), 21/26 mpg (AWD, A-Spec)