2016 Acura RDX

A Responsive Crossover!

By Charles Donaldson

Lately, my weekly test vehicles have been a string of good looking and well-performing crossover SUV’s. The popularity of the Crossover is attributed to their high seating which creates a better birds-eye view, plus the storage flexibility and overall seating convenience. The crossovers come in all sizes and shapes and are available from nearly every manufacturer. Needless to say, the competition has become fierce and the car companies are doing everything they can to get interested parties into their dealerships to showcase their offerings. Today’s article features the luxury compact submission from Acura – the 2016 RDX.

 The RDX entered the field as the 2013 model year and receives an update for 2016 that involves a new V-6 motor and subtle styling improvements. The front and rear fascias have been reshaped and the back also moves to LED tail lights. The headlamps transition to a level of luxury with a string of five LED lights strung like a row of immense diamonds on a bracelet. The upside down pentagon-shaped center grille creates a look of movement even standing still. The fender arches are pronounced with flattened half circles that surround the 18-inch wheels.

The 2016 Acura RDX is available as one trim level in both Front-wheel drive and All-wheel drive along with three packages: AcuraWatch Plus ($1300), Technology ($3,700), and Advance ($6,650). The standard FWD base model has an MSRP of $36,310, while the AWD advances to $37,810. You can order the AcuraWatch Plus and the Technology packages together if your wallet will allow! The AWD with intelligent control, as termed by Acura, has been retuned for 2016 sending more power to the rear wheels under acceleration for improved stability.

The cabin is comfortable and designed with a rich feel for both the eyes and touch. The left and right sides of the dash are arched like a bird’s wings with the center representing the body housing one large screen for the entertainment center and one for the operational controls. The front seats conform to eight-way adjustability, while the rear seats are snug and more suitable for smaller people. Don’t forget, the RDX is a compact crossover.

The rear cargo compartment delivers 26.1 cubic feet with the rear seat up. Levers on both sides of the rear cargo compartment allow for easy flattening of the 60/40 split-second row seats to expand the rear storage area to 61.3 cubic feet. Four tie-downs placed at each corner allow you to securely anchor your contents in place. A large speaker provides great sound for those fun tailgate parties.

Power is generated from a 3.5-liter V-6 that generates 279 horsepower at 6,200 rpms and 252 foot pounds of torque at 4,900 rpms. The 3.5-L produces plenty of muscle both off the line and on the freeway. To improve fuel economy, three of the six cylinders smoothly deactivate under lighter loads without the drive ever knowing of the transition. The fuel economy ratings are 20/city and 29/highway for the FWD and 19/18 for the AWD. The V-6 is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential SportShift paddle shifters just in case you feel sporty.

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In Summary – The 2016 Acura RDX is a well-styled compact luxury crossover vehicle that is great for an individual, couple or starter family. The RDX delivers decent power and is available with many high-tech features we have come to expect from Acura. The ride is smooth and the handling is confident. If you find yourself in the market for a compact luxury crossover, then the RDX is worth a test drive and your consideration.