I just finished installing the 2020 NAV database update this afternoon on my 2016 RDX. If it's like past years, there's little perceived benefit from year to year. I just like to keep everything up to date. For those of you with a 2016 RDX, there's some benefit in doing at least one annual update. The 2017 version updated the NAV software as well as the database information.

It pretty much goes as the instructions state and as it's gone in previous years. The claim that it takes 45 minutes is a bit of a misrepresentation. It took about 50 minutes to load both disks after spending 25 minutes getting the preliminary part loaded from Disk 1. As before, you don't have to run the engine the entire time. I put an 8 amp charger on the battery and put the vehicle in the ACC2 mode (two presses on the start button with foot OFF the brake). ACC1 will appear to work, but it times out too early. Turn the environmental system and headlights off. You won't be able to turn off the daytime running lights. I did have to enter the radio code. Pushing the audio power button for 2 seconds didn't work. It worked the last 2 years. Didn't work the first year, which is a whole different story. I'm not sure if you can get the radio code from the settings screens - others may know. You'd better have it before you start just in case.

You pretty much have to tend to the install until it asks for Disk 2, which is 35 minutes into the install. Then you can walk away from it. The system will reboot, go into normal mode and start unpacking the database, which happens in the background while you're driving. That's gonna take forever. Last year I took a drive to Denver. It finished unpacking an hour from the destination. This year, I've only driven 180 miles since March 12 due to quarantining and all that.

And don't do this on a 96° day in Kansas with a lot of humidity. It's a long time to sit in the car while all this is going on.

 

I also completed my Nav Update 2020 this past weekend. I followed all the steps you mention. I did the battery tender as I thought it was insane to have that vehicle run for over an hour. It took well over an hour to do the complete update so yes, you are correct...45 minutes for the install is understating things. The only thing I can add is get your radio code from the Acura owners site prior to the installation:

https://owners.acura.com/

 

Some things I forgot about:

The icons for audio sources gets set back to the default order. You've got to move them around the way you want them again. I believe FM is first. I haven't listened to FM in 15 years.

You'll have to re-pair your phone(s), import the contact list, enter the shortcuts for people you call, etc. What the NAV database update has to do with the phone escapes me. Especially with Acura's major fail in not integrating the address databases for phone and NAV.

 

I am considering updating mine this year (2014 Tech, and it's never been updated). I bought the car last year and noticed that when I did use the Nav, it steered me to exiit freeways at virtually every exit. I did make sure it was set to use (not avoid) freeways. Has anyone else experienced this? Might it be just because it's so dated? I'd kind of like to update for the sake of it, though will still use Google most of the time, I'm sure. But hate to pay for it if it's really so inefficient.

 

I rarely use mine as the interface is so cumbersome. Acura updates their maps yearly. Google Maps updates about once a month and it's free.