2020 Acura RDX

Unlike every other manufacturer, Acura has created just one trim and added three different packages along with it. There is no next kin to the RDX but you can add some additional packages like Technology, A-Spec, and  Advanced. Please note, these packages do not tinker with the powertrain at all. However, you can add Acura’s All-wheel-drive option with each package, which further adds $2,000 on top of the package. Other changes include a few touches on the interior and the exterior with a few additional features.

Trim	Base	Technology	A-Spec	Advance
MSRP	$37,400	$40,600	$43,600	$45,500
Key Features	18-inch wheels	Blind-spot monitoring	Dark Chrome and Lighting Details	AcuraWatch Plus and Technology package and adds
	Automatic LED headlights	Navigation system	A-Spec Exclusive Dual Exhaust Outlets	Front and Rear parking sensors
	Auto-dimming mirror	Rear cross-traffic alert system	A-Spec Exclusive Front & Rear Bumpers	Automatic wipers, foglights
	Pandora internet radio control (streams from smartphone)	Aha internet radio capability and a 10-speaker sound system	Sport A-Spec Seats with Perforated Milano Premium Leather and Ultrasuede®-Trimmed Interior with Contrast Stitching and Piping	Auto-dimming side mirrors
	Heated power front seats (eight-way driver, four-way passenger)	Smartphone apps with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration	Ventilated Front Seats	Heated and Ventilated front seats
	Bluetooth phone and audio	Eight-way power passenger seat		Remote ignition
	Leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel	Leather upholstery
	Seven-speaker sound system with satellite radio	Traffic information GPS-linked climate control
	Premium vinyl upholstery
	Dual-zone automatic climate control
	Cruise control
	Keyless ignition

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The Technology Package is the best package you can add to your RDX. You get leather upholstery and a premium audio system along with a series of other upgrades. The package is the ideal cost for an Acura RDX, however, just in case you prefer shelling some more bucks on your Acura SUV, you can always go for the Advance or the A-spec package which adds features such as dark chrome and lighting details, heated and ventilated front seats, and remote ignition, along with other hi-tech features. 

Though it only drinks premium fuel the RDX is a sensible SUV when it comes to mileage. It won’t demand many trips to the gas station and is equally efficient like any other SUV in the compact luxury segment. In the city, the RDX boasts its 22 mpg mileage while on the highway it makes it a decent 28 mpg which is fine. Overall you can expect a total mileage of 24 mpg from the 2020 Acura RDX.

Model	2020 Acura RDX	2020 Jaguar F-Pace	2020 Volvo XC60	2020 BMW X3
MPG (city)	22	22	22	23
MPG (highway)	28	27	29	30
MPG (combined)	24	24	24	26
Tank Capacity (gal)	17.1	21.7	18.8	17.2
Range (miles) (city/highway)	376/479	477/586	414/545	396/516

The majority of the rides in this segment offer similar combined MPG figures, thus prohibiting any true sense of competition. However, one downfall which the Acura RDX experiences here is it's bijou fuel tank. The SUV has a tank capacity of 17.1 gallons, which makes it one of the smallest fuel-bearer in the segment. This small size of the tank has a negative implication on the ride's city and highway range, thus giving it a major negative mark against its competitors. 

“The cabin has a luxurious and futuristic appeal. At first glance, you might just think you’re in a space ship. The prominent silver dial mounted in the center of the dash that’s used to toggle drive modes looks straight out of a sci-fi film, while the 10.2-inch high-res screen mounted on the top dash that’s controlled by Acura’s True Touchpad Interface is further proof the future is now”- KBB

Seating and Comfort

The RDX’s old sophisticated interior was exposed to radiation, what emerged was a genetically superior machine. We have dissected the mechanical DNA and complimented the suave exterior improvement now what’s left is interior to judge. There is nothing you won’t like inside the RDX, though you might get daunted by the million switches, after giving a fine look everything is pretty simple to use. As far as quality goes there are a lot of soft touches and leather traces, it might lack the design quotient but it can be ironed out considering the good interior quality.

The interiors of the Acura RDX wraps around you in a positive way. The layout of the interior seems pretty interesting, with each and every button pulling your attention towards it. Most of the essential buttons and knobs are placed in a way that they stay in the driver's range, yet do not hinder the concentration while driving. Another major Unique Selling Proportion for the RDX is the seating position. Most of the drivers are going to find the SUV's driving position pretty confident and comfortable at the same time. The steering wheel is highly versatile with a wide range of tilt and telescopic variations, and the dashboard has ideal height for the driver to see the instrumentation clearly, without much eye-movement. 

Model	2020 Acura RDX	2020 Jaguar F-Pace	2020 Volvo XC60	2020 BMW X3
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.6/59.7/41.6	37.8/	38.0/58.2/41.5	41.1/57.6/40.3
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.3/56.6/38.4	37.5/	38.0/56.3/38.0	39.1/56.0/36.4

The cabin is spacious and cozy for all 5 passengers, the seats are not exactly hugging but it's comfortable for long rides. You will also have a good view of the road but assistance from the rearview camera feels pixelated and isn’t that useful. The front cabin has a decent headroom of 39 inches and 41.6 inches worth of legroom. The second-row seats are not bad either, you have similar headroom while the legroom is rated at 38.4 inches which won’t create a problem either. 

Infotainment

Previously the RDX has a 5-inch infotainment screen which was fussy and confusing, this year the screen size was stretched to 10.2 inches. Despite the bigger screen the RDX still inherits the gene of complication. Below the screen, you will find a cluster of buttons which may distract the driver, also, it will take you months to have a natural understanding of using every feature. Then you have Apple CarPlay and plug-and-play connectivity as standard on the RDX.

Interior Features –

• Front And Rear Door Pockets
• Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• Electric Power Steering
• Rear View Camera
• Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel
• Universal Remote Transmitter (For Garage Door, Security System, Etc.)
• Transmission, Cruise And Audio Controls On Steering Wheel
• Interior Air Filtration
• Front, Side, And Rear View Camera
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Climate Control
• Turn Signal In Mirrors
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Dual Illuminating Vanity Mirrors

Cargo volume

Acura figured out a way to fully use its cargo bay in a more efficient way. Every inch of those 31 cubic feets inside the cargo bay is utilitarian and competitive, even better than some of the competitors. The boot starts from a low height, in order to make loading and unloading a less tiring task for you and is wide enough to swallow all your baggage for a long road trip. The second-row seats can split, and fold flat in order to accommodate the bigger objects. The engineers manage to hide the spare tire under the carriage, and the left out space now harbors a special compartment divided into different sections to hide your stuff.

Inside the cabin, you have a lot of cubby holes for your cell phone, bottles, and all kinds of stuff. There is a center armrest and door pockets and other sections to put your other belongings.

Model	2020 Acura RDX	2020 Jaguar F-Pace	2020 Volvo XC60	2020 BMW X3
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	31.1	33.5	28.7	28.7

The Jaguar offers you the biggest trunk space in this competition with a hefty 33.5 cubic feets at your disposal. The Acura does not lag much behind the British competitor and provides you with a cargo space of 31.1 cubic feet. The Beemer and the Volvo pull off a close chase with each of them coming with a cargo volume of 28.7 cubic feet. The Lincoln MKC turns up last, with the poorest cargo volume in the segment of 25.2 cubic feet.

“The RDX got an extreme makeover for its debut in all-new form, going from handsome yet conservative to stylish and athletic. It’s a tight bundle of creases, angles and crisscrossing design elements. Just look at the intersection of the D-pillar that makes the roof appear to float. Up front, swoopy headlight housings flank Acura’s diamond-pentagon grille, new to the RDX”- KBB

Design and Styling

Acura was never a big style icon, in fact, its old grill was a bit of a compromise to the overall design. However, that ends this year with their new diamond-pentagon grill. The new grill debuted on some concepts by the brand. It is the first time, the design was actually built around the grill as it looks better than ever. Arguably the RDX is the second most good looking Acura in Honda’s garage. It's long and wider than the previous iteration and dons a new character.

Strong lines on the hood, a standard panoramic sunroof, and a power lift tailgate is standard on all trims. Adding the A-spec package will give you more bold touches with the A-spec badge, darkened elements, LED Foglights, and  20-inch alloy wheels instead of the standard 19 inches. From the rear end, it looks like any other rugged SUV but the dragon-tail taillamps make a huge difference. The SUV boasts such a sensible design pattern that even with its 8.2 inches of ground clearance, the ride mirages an effect of hugging the road. 

Model	2020 Acura RDX	2020 Jaguar F-Pace	2020 Volvo XC60	2020 BMW X3
Curb weight (lbs.)	3783	3870	4109	4034
Length(in)	186.8	186.3	184.6	185.9
Width(in)	74.8	81.5	78.7	74.4
Height(in)	65.7	65.0	65.3	66
Ground clearance (in)	8.2	8.4	8.5	8.0
Wheelbase (in)	108.3	113.1	112.8	112.8
Track width (in) F/R	64.2/64.7	64.6/65.1	65.1/65.2	63.8/64.4

 Acura didn’t just swap the engine with mild touches, they built the entire SUV like it’s a new car. The RDX is a tad bigger than the old model as far as dimensions go, it might not have any visual effect but who doesn’t love more space. The RDX is 186.8 inches long and 74.8 inches wide. The height is rated at 65.7 inches which is competitive, which makes the RDX the tallest SUV in the segment. The wheelbase is inches longer than previous RDX but still smaller than its German competitors.

Exterior Features

Some of the prominent exterior features of the Acura RDX are as follows: 

• Rear lip spoiler
• Power remote heated manual folding side-view door mirrors with tilt down, turn signal indicator
• Chrome tip exhaust
• Front and rear mud flaps
• Rear bumper with black rub strip
• Front bumper with chrome rub strip
• Power liftgate

The 2020 Acura RDX is yet to undergo any crash testing, so its too soon to quote anything or anyone. Still, the 2018 iteration performed well and acquired an all-star crash and roll-over rating by the NHTSA. IIHS picked the RDX its top safety pick for 2018 too. So you can expect decent score from this newly improved RDX. Also, you have AcuraWatch Plus safety suite which is a compilation of advanced safety features. You can go for other add ons like collision mitigation, Lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and more.

safety feature :-

• Daytime Running Lights
• Engine Immobilizer
• Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags
• Stability Control
• Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation
• Rear Height Adjustable Headrests
• Remote Anti-Theft Alarm System
• 2 Front Headrestsyes
• 3 Rear Headrests
• Tire Pressure Monitoring
• Traction Control
• Pre-Collision Safety System
• 4-Wheel ABS
• Blind Spot And Lane Departure Warnings Accident Avoidance System
• Ventilated Front Disc / Solid Rear Disc Brakes
• Front Fog/Driving Lights

Volvo XC60-

Let’s just admire what Volvo has done with the XC60. It’s not the most powerful SUV in the class, on top of that its heavy curb weight might have been a problem for any other brand but not for Volvo. The Chinese voodoo on the XC60 neglects the high weight and lack of horsepower and grating this heavy duty with a 5-second acceleration. As for 2018, there is no specific change, just some additions of features. The interior quality is good and aesthetically better than that of the Acura, however, it fails to match the cargo space on RDX.

The people prioritizing handling over comfort will surely go for Volvo XC60, but practicality remains in the Japanese showroom.

Lincoln MKC-

Lincoln had no plans for any major change for the MKC, hence, the reason only the front grill was altered this year, the rest remained unchanged. Compared with the newly crafted Acura, the MKC seems a little dull. The major difference comes with the engine’s power, Lincoln packs lesser horses than the RDX, results of which are clearly visible on its sloppy acceleration. Then comes the cabin which features some cheap plastics, on top of that there is low cargo volume and packed rear seats.

Though the RDX is a few dollars higher than the Lincoln MKC that explains the additional horsepower, cargo volume, and better interior quality.

The 2020 Acura RDX was already a sensible SUV, but the hunger of being the best compelled the RDX to bloom into something better. Acura changed everything right from the driving dynamics to the exterior and interior cosmetics. Now, it resembles a Japanese space ship the inside and the outside body feels like a bull shark, as it’s bigger from the previous generation. The new Turbocharged 2.0L Inline-4 engine may lack the V6 buzz but it fills in the gap of power and adds a delicious low rpm torque. The new engine’s valor is displayed in its acceleration which almost matches the V6’s.

Another example of Acura’s forward-thinking is RDX’s better distribution of space and debut of cargo compartments. The fuel economy is no prodigy but its enough to take a stand against other SUVs.

At last, the price is all the buyer cares about and thankfully it doesn’t come hard on the wallet, there is no concrete reason to not buy the RDX!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the annual maintenance cost for an Acura RDX? 

The average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on an Acura RDX lies somewhere around $471. 

Is the Acura RDX a reliable car? 

 Acura being a Honda product prioritizes safety and reliability above all, however, RDX has been recalled a few times due to some component issues. It's not that big a deal, but still hampers the brand value.