This weekend I had a scare with a car repair bill that I was almost ready to dump my older vehicle and buy a new car. After looking at Truecar for a couple of vehicles I wanted I decided to pay the mechanic (about 2 months payments of a new car) and wait until around May to shop for a new car.

I like the 2016 RDX with the new trim and the Lexus NX. Lexus has few deals right now because of limited supply which should change in the spring especially when the 2016 RDX comes out as competition. The Acura I want is not out yet so would not be able to get all the features I want in the current model. I figure I am buying time with these repairs. My vehicle is not going to depreciate much for a trade in since it is 10 years old and very high mileage.

I see buying a car like that of a TV or cell phone. The longer you wait the better the deal since newer models / features will come out along with increased competition. In all cases they are depreciating assets.


With the 2 cars I like I am guessing the price will be similar (within 2k of so). The NX is around $46-47k MSRP and is about 5% cheaper via TrueCar (1 dealer 40 miles away while another 12 miles away is only discounting it $500). The 2016 RDX with the new trims will probably be between $42-46k MSRP. With the TLX it seems each trim level is about 3k more than the prior level.

 

Interesting that the NX is currently being sold as a '15. I wonder when they will start 'calling' it a '16

...and will they 'deal' on the '15s at that time?

 

I much prefer the NX to the RDX. THe NX with the blood red interior is gorgeous.

 

if Acura holds true to from. the RDX will top out at 42k not 46k

 

This is from a post on a different website:

"The batch in production right now are still 15s next batch will be 16. If we extrapolate from historical patterns that means we have 1.5-2.5 months before they hit showrooms."

So assume April.

 

I was at my local auto show this past weekend and approached two gentlemen working the Acura "booth". I asked them about availability of the 2016 RDX. One of the two, a salesperson from the local Acura dealership, said that the 2016s would most likely be available in April. Granted, the guy was a salesperson so the usual disclaimers apply. However, the other guy was a rep from the corporate office and he didn't feel the need to correct the statement. So take it for what it's worth.

 

Red is beautiful, for sure. BUT, I think they missed the boat since I've been told the red is not available on the BLACK exterior. I think that would be the right combo.

 

^^
Options always change year to year. Before with BMW/Lexus you could get red interior on white/grey exterior.

Now all Estoril blue BMW in Los Angeles seems to have blood red interior.

 

Sad to see the NX is only ONE inch shorter than the current RDX...thought it was supposed to be more compact

 

Well the NX is the Lexus Rav4 in essence, so the perfect RDX competitor.

The new Acura CDX (based on Honda Fit/HR-V) currently will have no Lexus competitor. I think that will be the compact one people are looking for.

Lexus seems to have most of the bases covered. Unless the CDX Is such a hit, that Lexus has to hit back

 

The Acura rep at the Toronto auto show said the 2016 RDX should be available late April to early May (Canadian dealerships). Can't seem to find the link for that video though...

 

The RDX and NX might cast a similar size shadow, but they are far from equals on passenger and cargo space. The back seat of the RDX is considerably more generous, and the Acura has nearly 50% more cargo capacity. The NX's 17.7 cu ft cargo hold is so tight it barely beats the Fit's 16.6 cu ft trunk. Prioritizing form over function as Lexus has with the NX, you'd think the "form" would be a little more appealing.

 

Exactly, unless you don't need the extra space. In that case NX is surely a true competitor.
NX has a slight luxury tag advantage over Acura, probably better built and probably has some more quality components; therefore the higher price. I'm not so sure about the ride quality though. I'm not a fan of stiff rides. I admit I haven't driven the NX yet to give opinion...

 

The NX can be had with or without a stiff ride

 

My general impression is that the smaller the car is, the stiffer and jittery the ride will likely be. I believe the NX is touted as a sport ute rather than a comfy SUV. Isn't the RX more comfort oriented than an NX? But I may be wrong.

 

I'm too wonder when available. Be the first one to pick it up when the first batch arrive at dealer for sure.

 

Road tests on the NX so far show it to be notably slower than the RDX, about a second to 60 or so and about a 1/2 second in the 1/4-mile. It has also been noted that the NX leans in corners and is really more of a cruiser (less road holding than the RDX) so I don't think it's a superior handling vehicle vs the RDX by any means.

 

While the 0-60 and 1/4 tests are good I prefer to look at the 30-50 mph and 50-70 mph times since that is realistic driving. I also look at rolling start (5-60 mph)

30-50 mph is entering a highway (IMO it should really be 30-60)
50-70 mph is passing someone on the highway / road (IMO it should be 55-75)
rolling start (5-60 mph) is coming out of a traffic situation or a slow entrance ramp onto a highway.

The RDX is faster in these tests vs. the NX but slightly

NX:
30-50 is 3.9 secs
50-70 is 5 secs
rolling start is 7.8 secs

RDX:
30-50 is 3.7 secs
50-70 is 4.4 secs
rolling start is 6.7 secs

For 30-50 and 50-70 you may not see a noticeable difference since part of it depends on driving style. It is .2 and .6 secs difference. The rolling start may be noticeable to some as it is a full second.

Car and Driver does a bunch of these tests that include braking distance and fuel economy. Statistically they are very similar. The biggest difference is cargo space since the RDX is 1 inch higher and the NX trunk area slopes down a little removing some cargo space. To me it is important to measure the cargo area from the bottom to top of the back seat towards the lift gate since I rarely pack my cargo area above that point.

 

The Canadian 2016 RDX is showing up on my inventory mgt system with an eta of May 6-8th.

 

Are Acura's generally available in the US and Canada at the same time? Or one before the other?

 

It is usually earlier in the US, differ by about 2-4 weeks I believe.

Press release says 2016 RDX is available in the summer though.

 

Pretty sure they originally said Spring availability for the 2016 RDX. Has that changed?

 

I signed up for info on Acura's website and later received an e-mail saying they will be in US dealerships on April 16th.

 

I did sign up but receive nothing so far. Guess it will be available at big cities first, and shipment to small cities later? That why I didn't receive email but some do?

 

The NY Auto Show starts next week. It looks like it will hit dealers in the US right after the show closes.

 

yeah it's not summer. i mixed up with the Pilot that I was reading lately

 

The first ones are not scheduled to hit production until mid to late April, with 2015's still being produced through mid April. Just looked at our on order report to confirm.

So, you will see website and pricing release within a month I would say for "on sale" date, but with Acura standard method, you won't see them on the ground until May.

 

Went to the Atlanta Auto Show today - unfortunately only the '15 RDXs were on exhibit.

I did sit in the NX and found it noticeably cozier than our '15 RDX. However, the instrument panel and dash controls, including the touchpad with the wrist resting pad, appeared and felt top-notch. Found it busier than the RDX, but I think it will appeal to the techie.

 

Markham Acura in Canada said they expect inventory to arrive in late May or early June.

 

It's now at dealer, just pick up mime in white and advanced package. Too late to post pics. Pics will come later then.

 

Dang! Did you get $5000 off like they promised me?

 

LOL! As it's no longer April fool day, I have to say No.

 

My .02
I've been looking around to find the right small suv for my wife, and after a long process of test driving and internet research, I narrowed my options to the NX and 2016 RDX (I test drove the '15 model).
The NX is really nice and comes with beautiful lines and modern interiors (and comes also with a saddle brown/tobacco/espresso faux-leather color option), it's brand new (meaning this generation will last for 6-7 more years) and drives nicely.
RDX looks older to me (2016 looks much better though), with more classic lines/interiors.
but
RDX drives better, engine is slightly sportier than NX (6 cylinders against 4) and according to forums, RDX delivers a better fuel mileage.
Also, rdx is more spacious, cargo area almost doubles NX's and for a family with kids is much easier to fit car seats on the RDX.
That being said, I have decided that I will go with the 2016 RDX.

 

If you like the Lexus NX, then you will like it's big brother... 2016 Lexus RX. It's a bigger version with a V-6. But I have to say that spindle grille is massive!

 

I am a fan of the NX but don't like the spindle on the RX. I see the NX as a Q5 / X4 competitor marketed to the younger and more sporty CUV crowd while the RX is more for the families and older generation. Everyone I know with an MDX or RX is either a family person or over the age of 55. I think the MDX and X5 may steal some customers from the RX because of the aggressive front end.

 

that is one massive fugly ugly grill, will look cool at the beginning but will not aged well.

 

Totally agree. It's funny how Acura received so much criticism for the original beak, but Lexus can get away with such an ugly grille.

 

Great shot if one is trying to emphasize the beak...not so good to show what the vehicle actually looks like

Notwithstanding the perspective of the photographer, that front end really is over the top.

 

That grill is absolutely horrible!!! Looks like it could double as a vegetable slice-o-matic! What are they thinking!

 

Interesting though that Lexus seems to be moving to the Acura style headlights. I've noticed others (e.g. Lincoln) doing the same.