2014 Acura RDX

The 2014 RDX is broadly available in a single trim level. Standard features include the likes of Keyless Access System with push-button start, 18” wheels, sport seats with a leather-trimmed interior, power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated controls, dual-zone automatic climate control system with micron air-filtration, ambient cabin lighting, and much more.

If you are not content with the standard features list, you can opt for the Technology package which, as the name suggests, equips the SUV with some tech features like an inbuilt navigation system with voice recognition, real-time traffic and weather, satellite communication system, GPS-linked and solar sensing dual-zone automatic climate control system.

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As the RDX is available in a single trim level, there is nothing much to think about. For this reason, the base trim is packed with most of the important tech features and creature comforts you can think about. But if you are not content with the standard features list, you can always opt for the Technology package which improves the convenience quotient by getting it equipped with some extra tech features, which are not necessary per se but are still definitely worth the extra price.

The 2014 Acura RDX is powered by a 3.5-liter SOHC V6 engine under the hood with 273 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission with Sequential SportShift, and paddle shifters for changing gears manually. Front-wheel drive is standard with all-wheel drive available as an option. It has a drive-by-wire throttle system that enhances driveability with smooth acceleration according to appropriate conditions.

With a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.2 seconds, the Acura RDX is pretty quick, especially for its segment. It can finish the quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds, and go all the way up to 135 mph, which are pretty respectable figures.

Being a naturally aspirated engine, the Acura RDX lacks a bit in the torque department compared to its turbocharged counterpart. But that’s not by a huge margin and it absolutely crushes the competition in terms of peak horsepower output, which is somewhat translated to its performance figures as well. Most of the others in the competition being in a very similar ballpark in this regard, the Volvo XC60 is a bit of a disappointment. The XC60 takes 9.1 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, which is just not acceptable, while all other SUVs clock timings under the 7-second mark.

Being essentially a Honda, it has IntelligentVariable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control or i-VTEC in short, for which Honda is known. In order to save that extra bit of fuel, it has technologies like multi-point fuel injection, drive-by-wire throttle system, and Variable Cylinder Management or VCM.

If you go for the front-wheel-drive variant, you can expect fuel-economy figures in and around 20, 28, and 23 MPG in the city, highway, and combined respectively. Opting for the all-wheel-drive drivetrain will drop those figures to 19, 27, and 22 MPG in the same order. That being said, these mileage figures are pretty decent for its segment, however, its 16-gallon fuel tank is the least voluminous in the segment. 

In terms of fuel economy, the Acura RDX and most of its competitors are in a very similar ballpark. That being said, the Volvo XC60 is again a disappointment in this regard. On top of being one of the slowest, if not the slowest in the competition, it is also one of the least fuel economies as well. While the Audi Q5 manages similar combined efficiency, its fuel tank is the largest in the segment and can hold 19.8-gallons. The highly efficient 2014 X3 manages a total range of 371.1 city miles and 496 highway miles. 

With the generation upgrade last year, the interior of the Acura RDX has been completely revised as well. It has a matte surface trim, and combine that with upscale materials and standard leather upholstery, you get a pretty nice place to spend some time in. The cabin is pretty quiet as well, thanks to the abundant use of noise insulation materials and numerous high-tech appointments such as Active Noise Control. Along with a roomy interior, large openings make getting in and out easy.

The dashboard has a dual-cockpit design, and while the center stack might have a button-heavy layout, but it is pretty intuitive to use, to say the least. In terms of the seats, it comes with an 8-way power-adjustable driver seat with power lumbar support and a 4-way power-adjustable passenger front seat. The front seats come with heating functionality as standard, and the overall comfort level of both the front and rear seats are pretty good with a good amount of support as well. Speaking of the rear seat, it is a generic 60/40 split-folding setup.

The Acura RDX and its competitors are in a very similar ballpark with regard to their interior dimensions. But the Acura does take the cake with regards to rear-seat legroom. That being said, the RDX might just have the most underwhelming cargo space in the competition, especially when all the seats are in position. But it is noting of a deal-breaker. The Volvo XC60 pops off in this regard with a cargo capacity of 30.8 to 67.4 cu-ft, making it one of the best in the competition. In the segment, the 2014 BMW X3 has lower legroom for both rows.

Major interior features include:

• Sports seats with a leather-trimmed interior
• 4-way power-adjustable passenger front seat
• Heated front seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated controls
• Dual-zone automatic climate control system with micron air-filtration
• Ambient cabin lighting

How intuitive is the 2014 Acura RDX’s infotainment unit?

As standard, the Acura RDX comes with a centrally positioned 5” LCD display for easy operation of the climate control and audio systems. Opting for the Technology Package will replace that with a bigger 8” W-VGA color display with an additional display positioned just above. The secondary display shows the most frequently used audio system and climate control settings, which are accessed via the easy-to-use interface dial.

To keep yourself entertained, you can listen to music on the 7-speaker Acura Premium Sound System with a multi-format CD player, AM/FM tuner, and XM Radio. Other connectivity features include Bluetooth, USB, and AUX ports. Opting for the Technology Package will upgrade the music system to an Acura/ELS Surround Premium Sound System with 10 speakers. Other notable upgrades with the Technology Package include:

• AcuraLink Satellite Communication System
• Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition
• AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting
• AcuraLink Real-Time Weather
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD) system with 60 gigabytes of storage capacity

The 2014 Acura RDX got a completely new look with the 2013 model year upgrade, which has been carried forward to the 2014 model without any changes. The new design is more aerodynamically efficient than the previous model, and the chassis has been updated with a longer wheelbase and increased track, all-new Amplitude Reactive Dampers, and a new motion adaptive electronic power steering system.

The new grill blends together with much longer, more graceful headlights, and at the rear, the RDX roofline is far more tapered than ever before. Along the sides, the new RDX makes use of smoother door panels making it look much cleaner than ever before.

In terms of exterior dimensions, the Acura RDX and its competitors are very similar, except for the fact that the Acura RDX has one of the shortest wheelbases in the competition at 105.7 inches. On top of that, at 9.1 inches, the 2014 Volvo XC60 is the segment leader in terms of ground clearance. The 2014 Audi Q5 that weighs 4,068 lbs is the heaviest in the segment and is the widest. It shares the longest wheelbase with the BMW X3 of 110.5 inches.

Some of the exterior features include:

• Sun/moonroof
• 18-inch alloy wheels 
• Fog Lamps
• Rear Spoiler
• Power Liftgate (Optional)

The Acura RDX is built on the Advanced Compatibility Engineering or ACE body structure which has a crash stroke front frame design that uses a network of front frame structures to absorb and deflect the energy from a frontal collision. To further improve the strength of the body, Acura makes use of high-strength steel which has a density of 56% compared to the 47% used previously. The body also has front and rear impact-absorbing crumple zones, along with side-impact door beams as well.

To protect its occupants during the event of a crash, the RDX has safety features like:

• Dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags (SRS)
• Front-seat side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)
• Active front seat head restraints and adjustable rear seat head restraints
• Height-adjustable 3-point front seat belts with automatic tensioning system and load limiters
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) child-seat mounting system for rear seats

To prevent crashes from happening in the first place, it also comes with some active safety features like:

• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

The 2014 Acura RDX is a pretty competent SUV in its segment. Acura aimed at the big guns in this segment from the likes of Audi, BMW, and Volvo, and they have successfully built a pretty decent SUV in this regard. The interior is quiet and luxurious, has comfortable ride quality, and has a punchy powertrain with good fuel economy. But the lack of choice in terms of trim level, and the lack of active safety features and driving aids make it a tough choice in some situations. Nonetheless, it is still a must on your test-drive list when looking for its class.