sorry for the off topic but I didn't see a general message board on Acurazine.

Currently the RDX is similar in size and competes with the X3, Q5, and a few others. With the luxury companies coming out with entry level SUVs (under 180 inches), should Acura jump in? I think Lexus has one coming out, Mercedes has the GLA coming out, and Infiniti has the EX out there. The CRV is currently 178 inches long and in this size category.

The X1 is 177 inches long, 71 inches wide, and 60 inches high. I see this as a good base to start off of. Maybe take a page from the Toyota Venza for height since it is 63 inches high (bigger than the 60 inches of the X1 but smaller than the 65 inches of most bigger SUVs). The X1 is the same hight as the Ford Taurus msking it basically a wagon that looks like a SUV. The mid 2000's Santa Fe was 70 inches wide, 178 inches long, and 65 inches high. It has a lot of cargo space in the trunk area with the seats up. That model can be used as an example too in addition to the current CRV.

If Acura decides to create an entry level SUV (let's call it the EDX) that is 177-179 inches long, 70-72 inches wide, and 62-64 inches high what engine would they include? I would like to see 3 varieties: hybrid based on the Accord Hybrid that may get 40+ mpg for a small SUV, a 6 cylinder model based on the Accord / current RDX, and a Sport (SH) model with a more performance oriented engine (maybe the RLX engine which is 300+ hp or the MDX engine). The sport model can have the sport suspension and 20 inch tires too that may compete with the M Sport, F Sport, AMG, and other sports lines from the competitors.

As for pricing I think the following can work:
Base - $3-5k below the RDX
SH AWD (Sport) - $3-4k above base
Hybrid - $2-3k above base
With this pricing plan I think Acura will be below the competition and provide a vehicle with more standard features

I think Acura would bring in a lot of new buyers and not draw too many RDX owners (biggest fear would be that the only buyers are current Acura owners that chose this new car over a more expensive model). As an entry level that may be in the low 30-35k range you would attract younger buyers and those who want a big car but not a true SUV.

 

Theoretically it could be a pretty easy slot right into the TSX wagon's position in the line but I don't know if they would want to take the RDX's sales away. I doubt there's a tremendous number of people in the US who test drive the RDX, love it, but say gosh, if only it was a bit... smaller.

 

No. One of the reasons that the German brands can offer all these different sizes is that they can charge such a huge premium because they are considered full luxury brands and they are German. I mean look how many cars BMW markets, 1. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 series and then their "M" versions of many of those cars. What does Acura have? Like 3 going forward, the RLX, TLX and the ILX. Lexus is just now coming to market with a smaller RX based on the RAV4 to compete with the RDX. How long after the RDX? Only about 6 years. Infiniti is supposedly coming out with a subcompact CUV with the Mercedes turbo4 they've acquired but not much info on that yet. So none of the Asian luxury or near-luxury players are competing in that arena yet and probably won't for quite some time.

I say no to now. But 6 years from now......maybe.

 

I am really surprised Lexus has not made a RAV 4 variant before now. I bet it will sell well. A friend of mine, has the new RAV 4 and it is so much better than thee old one I cannot believe it.

 

I agree. The interior space of the RDX is pretty small and I can't imagine wanting something smaller in a premium vehicle, especially an SUV. If someone want/needs a lower price point, a top of the line CR-V would probably fit the bill.

 

I keep saying that. lol I also wish it was tad narrower. I live in the city and my parking spot is small. I plan on test driving rdx next month and hope I can park it behind the house. Btw, as far as crv goes, dislike the looks of it.

 

The margin between a CR-V EX-L and an RDX is about 7K. Interior room is not that different (I own one of each) but the RDX is significantly wider, with much less room between the side mirrors and the garage door frame. Their formula seems to be to develop something from a smaller Honda platform and price it to the next highest Honda. Witness the ILX being a maximally developed Civic, sold at Accord prices. They don't have a platform smaller than a CR-V that they could refine and sell at CR-V prices. A vehicle priced between the RDX and CR-V does not make much sense to me. It would eat into the sales of both.

 

Touche. I'm house hunting and haven't even though about whether it will be an issue fitting the RDX and my wife's Accord in the garage. Maybe I'll be forced to trade her car in for a Golf R and take it for myself

 

I test drove new Rav4 Limited. The interior finish does not even come close to one RDX ...not even close ..besides it is only 4 cylinder car and you can feel it ...

 

Acura probably wouldn't go for it purely because I don't think Acura is as comfortable with large model overlaps like the Germans are. As an example, look at their option package structure vs. the Germans. An in-betweener would be too close to both the RDX and TSX wagon for Acura to want to bother with it. They would probably just see it as extra chassis development costs (since it most likely would use an existing engine) to sell to someone who was ultimately going to buy either a TSX wagon or RDX anyway. The RDX already beats out a similarly-equipped X3 and Q5 based on cost, and in a lot of cases an optioned-up X1 and Q3 as well. I know when I was shopping I looked real hard at a similar X1/X3/Q3/Q5, and before I could even factor in an extended warranty to deal with the German "reliability," the cost difference was already too much to justify.
Limiting models and options is a lot of the reason why Acura can keep their prices so low. As soon as a company decides they're going to try to develop something for every last niche, all customers start paying for that development.