That sounds quite low. I sold my 2019 with IIRC approx 45K miles to the dealer (they matched carmax price which was $4K higher than their original offer) for $31k in March.

 

March was a quite different market than today, With 15k-20k repos a day, the dealer lots are getting full. Go look at used EV prices - they are taking a HUGE hit. No biggie for me, as I plan to keep the the RDX for a few more years - she is a tractor in rain and snow, + a very comfortable 700+ mile day road tripper.

 

Agreed, the market in March vs now was quite different. I am in the market so watching it closely and some of the used vehicles I have on my list have gone down by thousands within a very short amount of time.

 

Doubt there will be any major changes to the 2024 RDX. I like the analog gauges (even though they are digital analog gauges), hopefully one less thing to break long term.

MDX Type S is sweet, just way too expensive and big IMO.

 

Does anyone else agree that the RDX Type S should have showed up before 2 sedan Type S (TLX and Integra)?

Acura is trying to resuscitate the sedan but did someone actually ask for that?

 

Agree. Sedans are rare and luxury sedans even more so. By the time someone can shell out big bucks, they usually need the space and comfort of an SUV.

 

Absolutely. Given how many SQ5, GLC43, and X3 M40i I see, a 350hp RDX would have sold pretty well. The only complaint I guess could be MPGs, but there'd be no complaints about poor rear legroom, no complaints about poor space utilization, no complaints about the X-brace, no complaints about acceleration (since it's not a comparative pig), and it would easily be the most dynamic car in the segment (if you ignore the Macan). I'd absolutely buy an RDX Type S over the X3 M40i, but I wouldn't buy the TLX Type S over the M340i.

 

Absolutely yes!!! I still cannot believe they made a whole fricken big deal about "the return of Type-S" during the RDX reveal and then proceeded to completely ignore the RDX and gave the TLX, MDX, and Integra a Type-S trim. Like how hard would it have been for them to keep the 2.0T but boost it to 350hp, beef up the breaks, maybe give it air-suspension...etc. Like they legitimately didn't have to do all that much.

But what do they do? They give the Type-S treatment to 2/3 vehicles that are dying.

 

I wouldn’t even think twice if there was a RDX Type-S. I’d buy that in a heart beat. That’s why I like the MDX so much currently. The 95k price tag is the tough pull to swallow

 

I would think twice
but would probably cave mainly for the air suspension.
Of course having a double wishbone suspension like the MDX would make it even sweeter.

 

Air suspension is one of those features you wish you didn't "check that box" once it fails! I've had it on 2 consecutive Benzs and it's more gimmick than anything else!

 

Good to know. I was aware they are more susceptible to failure but didn’t know they don’t really deliver on the promise of ride comfort.

 

Now you mention this, I checked the price on MDX-S, it is ~$1.8k per front corner because the spring and damper are bundled. I was hoping with AH it will be closer to low $1k. I guess too late now, but I would say the air suspension is a signature feature of MDX-S and improves the ride quality a lot compared to non-S.

 

So out of curiosity, why aren’t most looking at the MDX Type S over the RDX? Or is cost the biggest concern?

 

Cost and size. If size wasn’t a concern I think the MDX double wishbone offers a better ride even in lower trims. For me the RDX itself is a step up from the size I need which is more NX or even UX size.

 

Agree with all in this thread. RDX Type S TBH is the only car in the Acura lineup that actually NEEDS a Type S version. Sedan's are dying a slow death and many who have the MDX aren't necessarily looking for extra performance from a truck that already performs pretty well.

 

It would be foolish for Acura to not offer a Type-S on their flagship vehicle ... which at this point, is the MDX.

That said, if they're going to offer a Type-S RDX, they're now limited to what they can offer, because like any other manufacturer, you can't have the smaller sibling outperforming your top offering. If they did offer a RDX Type-S, it would likely be an upgraded variant of the current 2.0T. Likely the same one as found in the ITS/CTR, making about 320HP mated to the same 10AT as in the MDX-S.

I'd be surprised if they offered the 3.0T in the RDX, but then again, sales of the TLX-S have basically hit a wall so it might happen since they'll need to recoup the development costs of that engine by putting it in something. The other issue is, Acura released a 3.0T V6 that doesn't perform as well as anything else in the market and is somehow thirstier than most V8s. Basically an engine that gives the worst of both worlds ... overly thirsty while also being underpowered. "bUt it'S hoNduh aNd iT wiLL bE reliAble!" Yea, sure ... say the people who are leasing the car and/or don't plan to keep their cars for much over 100k miles.

 

I strongly disagree. I had air suspension on my 2004 Touareg way back and it was incredible. It rode like it was on a cloud when I wanted, and rode like it was on rails when I wanted. I've had 4 touaregs in my lifetime and only that first one had air suspension (not because I didn't want it later on but because I had bought pre-owned so didn't have a choice) and the other 3 rode absolutely nothing like that first one. I will admit the higher cost of replacement is a concern, but the MDX magnetic suspension is not cheap either IMO.

They definitely do deliver on that promise IME. It's like riding on a cloud. But I agree they can be more prone to failure.

Size and cost. The MDX is WAAAAAAY too big for my needs and I hate driving big chunky vehicles. The largest vehicle I ever owned was a 2007 MDX Elite and I swore the day I sold it to never get something so bulky again. It felt like I was driving a bus!

Also on the cost front, a MDX Type-S is 90-95k Canadian, there is no way I am spending that much on an MDX. It doesn't even deliver on the performance front and is thirsty as hell.


I agree that it would be foolish not to have a Type-S on the flagship model, but I would argue it is even more foolish for them not to have a Type-S version of a vehicle that is in the hottest automotive segment; but instead give a Type-S version to a model that is in a dying automotive segment.

 

It is a bit more comfortable (especially since Benz allows you to lower the car at least 2 levels for easier loading/unloading cargo/passengers) but what I'm saying is that the cons far outweigh the pros!

 

The 0-60 for the MDX Type S is only marginally better over the non-S. If we use the TLX as a proxy for the RDX, the TLX Type S is about a full second faster than the non-S and I would have expected similar for the current gen RDX (we know the 6-cylinder engine can't fit in the current gen's engine bay, unfortunately).

Besides cost, many folks don't want the heft or difficulty of parking a larger car (not to mention worse fuel economy)!

 

The ITS 320hp engine is also a 2.0 I4 turbo just like the RDX. I presume the additional HP is due to block reinforcements but if it is similar size I'm sure they'll find a way to squeeze it in the 2025 next gen RDX as a Type-S. Huge waste of engine design cost if they didn't.

My guess is that TypeS was Ikeda's idea, and probably not something he could push until his elevated role in 2015. By then the 2019 RDX was probably finalized enough that he couldn't reserve space for an engine upgrade, but he was able to plan it for all the redesigns afterwards, starting with the 2021 TLX.

 

I mean maybe I'm underestimating the difficulty but how hard can it be to have planned a Type-S for the refresh? Type-S is not like Type-R, it just needed a bit more power, maybe better brakes, some slight bumper/wheel differences and call it a day.

If Type-S for Acura was this huge thing where it was like going from a base GLC to a GLC 63 AMG I could maybe understand.

 

I’m only curious because I have been humming and hawing for a while now. I recently blew up my 2010 RDX head gasket and need a new vehicle. I like some of the creature comforts and esthetics of the MDX and wish they were in the RDX. I’m still a bit pissed off that the 2024 has not been released yet or talked about. They like to play games with that shit. I was told that the 24 will be exact same and roughly $2500k more. That makes no sense. Why have a new year exact same with no changes. 95k is truly the only thing that has stopped me from buying the MDX.

 

Lol instantly realized you were Canadian too when you mentioned the 95k price tag. Hard agree! 95k for the type of performance the Type-S provides is kind of laughable. Now if it was 95k for a sport hybrid MDX with the 3.0T and pumping out a nice 450+hp...well then I could maybe mentally justify it. But 95k for barely better performance than the regular MDX and also really poor fuel economy....hmm

 

Since air suspension was discussed, here's an additional option that Mercedes offers on their cars called the E-Active Body Control, or E-ABC for short:


It was a $6500 option for my GLS and you better believe I wanted no part of that despite how cool it might look on the street. LOL!

Acura has no chance if incorporating such a thing and shouldn't unless they want to equal Mercedes' folly.

 

All the Type S's released this decade were totally different engines with at least 50HP increases, and the 2024 new models were 120+hp increases. So engine replacement is pretty hard and likely not something they can do until the 2025 redesign. I recall the 3rd gen RDX already has a detuned earlier-gen CTR engine, so it may need the current CTR for the base and a v6 turbo for the TypeS in 2025, similar to the TLX setup but probably needing a redesign for the engine bay space.

If they had time to replan and eat their words, they could design space for the 3rd gen 321HP Hybrid MDX powertrain in the 25 RDX and it would sell phenomenally as a TypeS.

 

Here’s a dirty thought: RDX will never get the current Type S engine because it would require RWD proportions like the TLX along with compromised rear passenger space!

 

I don't think the current TLX proportions have anything to do with the engine. It was Acura's boneheaded move to waste a ton of real estate all for the sake of aesthetics. Much like how they decided it would be perfectly fine to be late to the party with a V6 turbo offering and come in dead last from a performance standpoint ... and making it the least fuel efficient one by a good margin to add salt to the wounds.

I'd be more skeptical about the 3.0T coming to the RDX due to it stepping too far onto the MDX-S's toes.

 

But I've been told on good authority that Acura is 10 years ahead of everyone. In fact, their V6 turbo isn't behind; they just invested in naturally aspirated V6 and the market is forcing them to go turbocharged, so it's not that they're behind. /s

 

I mean I understand the Type-S models having a different engine than the base versions and a decent chunk more Hp, however to me Type-S isn't really that much of a pedigreed nomenclature. Plus that doesn't really mean anything in the automotive world. For example AMG for the longest time meant a big honking V8, well now you have AMG43 models. So I think they could have kept the 2.0T but just juiced it up to the 325hp range and called it a day. In truth that is what the Elite/advanced A-Spec models should have had along with some mild visual changes. It would have sold well if it put out decent numbers. Maybe a 4.9s-5.2s 0-60...though I doubt an extra 45hp is going to drop the 6.5s 0-60 down that much lol.

Every so often I catch myself contemplating what the hell Acura/Honda was thinking. They put in a I4 turbo when EVERYONE was using I6/V6 engines. THEN when everyone else goes to a I4 turbo they switch to a V6?!?!?, THEN decide to come back to an I4 that somehow gets the same or worse fuel economy than the V6....They're very confused.

 

Who isn’t? The abrupt change in energy policy from Obama to Trump to Biden has to blame, IMO. If you look at all the news on Car and Driver, it mostly about niche performance cars and EVs that you cannot buy because they are being produced in such small volume.

 

Honda is too small to keep all options open like bigger manufacturers. Cars are planned at least one presidential cycle in advance and Honda has been caught misguessing the past few elections.

I see in my own industry how bigger players lobby for rules that set barriers to entry for smaller players. I can see GM/Ford/Toyota (the current US big 3) lobbying each presidential administration to go "all in" on their dream whiplash regulations because they know smaller players can't keep up.

 

I don't think that's it. The MDX and RDX serve two different markets. The MDX is for folks with larger size families that may use a third row in a pinch and want the best that Acura has to offer. The RDX is for the crowd that wants an affordable compact SUV w/better fuel economy that has a bit of sportiness as well. Most of the true luxury makes have a performance version of their compact SUV so the fact that RDX doesn't have a Type S means there was quite a bit of money left on the table!

Case in point, I drive an X3 because I neither desire the cost nor the size of an X5. An RDX Type S easily could have been someone's nicer 2nd or 3rd car!

 

Always Catching Up Rarely Ahead

 

What’s wrong with that if it gets you a car that’s less expensive to buy and maintain? If you want to stay at the cutting edge then you have to pay a premium.

 

Nothing is wrong with it (just look at how successful Lexus has gotten by doing just that), except for the absurd claim that Acura is always "10 years ahead of the game". But, it does hamstring the car in the luxury conversation; Lexus was able to overcome this thanks to its build quality, which Acura unfortunately doesn't seem to prioritze as much.

 

2024 Hardware tqi tsb was posted. No differences I could find vs the 2023. These postings likely mean the release is imminent.

 

Not surprising considering this should be the final MY of the current generation for RDX.

 

Hopefully imminent is soon. I need a new vehicle. Lol

 

https://www.acura.com/suvs/2024/rdx