IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) grants this designation...

https://www.automotiveworld.com/news...ty-pick-award/

 

From IIHS...gives each of the sub-scores for each area
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I'm confused on 2 things: The Adaptive headlights scored lower? Also, I didn't even know they were a feature on Advance US models?

 

Curious about that, too. See details by clicking on the "+" sign next to the Headlights section (on the site quantum7 shared in his post). I just don't know how to interpret the data too much.

2019 Acura RDX Top Safety Pick+ Award (IIHS)

 

 

Picking my Advance (WDP/Espresso) up today. Will check and let everyone know!

 

 

Congrats! I've had mine about 2 months now. You'll love it

 

That's great!
Acura cars are usually Top rated and never disappointed in Safety. So not surprised!

 

Excellent choice. That's my colour combo too, only they call it Saddle Brown instead of Espresso up here in Canuckistan.

 

Hey!!!.... those of us who have WDP/Parchment need some love too.

 

hey, y'all. far be it for me to offend anybody (unless I actually intend to offend, which i normally don't...lol), but some of these posts are really off topic and not about the 2019 RDX's safety ratings news.

 

The way to read the chart is to look at the colored bars vs the same color small rectangle which marks the optimum range - blue for low beams, gray for high beams. For example on the straight away test for the non adaptive headlights, both low and high beams exceed the optimum range for the same (travel) lane whereas the left or oncoming traffic lane for two lane roads, the low beams is short at about 170ft, high beam is OK. Now it is odd that for the adaptive headlights, all the scores are better except the straight left side where the high beam is just short of optimum. I too am confused about the final rating G vs A, seems like it is reversed. Maybe IIHS is factoring in that even with the added cost/complexity of adaptive headlights, it still was inadequate (though better than non adaptive) on the gradual left turn.

I too would have like adaptive headlights, they seem to work well in the curves which is the whole point, but maybe not worth the extra cost (especially if they need to be replaced out of warranty). But all in all, good for the 19RDX, as some cars are inadequate even for the straights.

 

IIHS, on its website, states:

"Q: Where do you get the vehicles you crash test and who pays for them?

A: We buy the vehicles we test from dealers just like an ordinary consumer. If the test isn't part of our regular schedule but was specially requested by the manufacturer, then the manufacturer reimburses us. Otherwise, it's paid for out of our crash testing budget."

Since IIHS apparently bought the RDXs it crash tested, the Advance models presumably have adaptive headlights. If the RDXs had been given/loaned by Acura, then they possibly could have been preproduction models with different features. Or maybe IIHS somehow got ahold of a Canadian model. Pretty confusing.

 

I have the adv. I definitely don't notice any adaptive headlights. The adaptive headlines on my Lexus is very noticeable.

I wonder why Canadian version is so much better. There's several things that I want in the cdn version but not in the US version already. Is it much more expensive after exchange rate?

 

I had those headlights in my '14 Cadillac SRX and found they were a neat gimmicky thing but didn't really traverse enough right/left to be really useful.

As to why not available in the US it's probably a matter of what was Acura going to leave out in order to keep the top trim price under $50K. Numbers like that are a real psychological barrier for people and manufacturers go to significant efforts to make a price seem acceptable. If a few more features were added that pushed to price up to $50,095 I'm sure sales would suffer even though it's not that big of an increase over $48,795 (Red AWD Advance).

With the $ difference between the US and Canada the top price north of the border was going to be above $50K anyhow so it wasn't as much of a factor.

 

 

More coverage on IIHS's "TOP SAFETY PICK+" rating for the '19 RDX...

Standard Features, Stellar Scores Help 2019 Acura RDX Ace Crash Tests

 

IIHS seems convinced that the RDX has adaptive headlights.

2019 Acura RDX earns Top Safety Pick+

"The RDX's base headlights are rated good. The curve-adaptive headlights that come with the Advance trim — the most expensive of four available trim levels — are rated acceptable."

 

 

 

lol, we wish. I think you misunderstood their statement. The adaptive headlight is rated "Good" in the adaptive headlight category, not when compared to regular headlights. The rating is meant to serve as standalone in its respective category. If look at the illumination charts, the adapative head light ones projects much further with low beam on curves than the regular one. However, this may also mean that among adaptive headlights criteria is concern, it's only acceptable as better illumination is expected.