I have read from reputable multiple sources that the 2025 model is going to be getting a Touchscreen display. Not clear yet about Bang & Olufsen stereo update. The center console will have changes as well. That’s great timing as the lease on my 22 will be ending in January 2025 and they should be available for sale around that time.

 

What are your sources? I mean the RDX is still selling in healthy numbers so I can definitely see them doing this. I still can't believe they thought true touch was the right answer.

 

Back in January, the 25 MDX was announced to hve a touchscreen, and the 25 RDX was announced to have "upgrades to enhance its appeal and functionality."

Later that day, a few car enthusiast websites said both models will have a touchscreen. Don't know if that is inside info or they misread the press release.

 

Acura will have to redesign the dash, as the current screen is way too far away to function as a touch screen. I believe all the "reliable sources" are just pure "speculation" till Acura announces it.

The RDX is in desperate need of a major revamping after 6 years with essentially the same model. Hard to consider another RDX after almost 4 years of ownership IMO, when the new ones are essentially the same with a slight refresh in 2022 + a much higher price. The competition is getting stronger in the mid-size SUV category.

 

I still believe an RDX Type S will come but it seems it needs a “redesign” to make the engine bay large enough to accommodate the engine! Then yes the new MDX changes will probably trickle into the RDX. Just my guess!

 

Redesigning the dash is very very easy for them to do. Look at the MDX for example.

 

I just read an article that sales of the RDX for the first quarter of 24 are up 40% over last year. The RDX is the only Acura model that had an increase in sales over last year. Don’t look for major changes in the 2025 model.

 

2022 and 2023 were very low volume RDX sales years. 2019, 2020 and 2021 were higher than 2024 so far. Here is the data.

IMO - The RDX is in need of a major remodel. Honda has the ability to do it, as most of their model line has been revamped lately.

 

I feel like we got some hints about the MY25 changes from Jonathan Rivers' video on 24 RDX.

 

I don't know...he doesn't seem to realize the RDX is a compact...not mid-size SUV. The MDX is mid-size...and the upcoming ADX will be sub-compact.

 

The lines between compact and midsized...etc are very very blurry. That coupled with the ever growing compact class makes for all over the place classes. A 3G RDX is 186.8" long, a 2019 Jeep Grand cherokee is 189.8" long, a ford edge is 188.8". We could all agree the Jeep and Edge are mid-sized I think, but do those 2-3" really make a huge difference? Conversely something like a Mazda CX-90 is 201.6" long and still considered to he mid-sized.

On the other hand the Rav4 and CRV are 180.6" long. Those are true compact class vehicles and FWIW the 1G RDX was 180.7" long. So in fairness I would agree that the 3G RDX is mid-sized now.

 

I only believe 3 classes of SUV exist and its doesn't need to be more complicated:

Small/Compact - Two rows, little rear legroom and small trunk space
Mid - Two rows, decent rear legroom and decent trunk space.
Large - 3 rows and plenty of room.

 

I like the way you think and I have traditionally though of SUV's like this myself. The RDX is considered midsized by length but by feel and appearance it feels more compact to me for sure.

 

You can call it whatever you like, but even Acura still classifies the RDX as a compact SUV… as others in the class are BMW X3, MB GLC, and Audi Q5. It’s not just length…but interior volume, weight, etc.

 

The RDX though is the roomiest of their class though and, at release, as almost as roomy as a RX (a midsize). Some of this naming depends on market too - in the US the RDX is not a big car so calling it a compact is fair, in Canada it's generally considered a larger car and calling it a midsize is ok as well. Same would go for Europe - the standard car size is smaller in both Canada and Europe so what's "midsize" depends - there are no Suburbans or Wagoneers (not many in Canada, none in Europe) to take up the "Large" title - those belong to MDXs and Pilots.

 

PRIOR to owning the car, I read all the negative stuff about the touchscreen (here and on review sites), it made me feel for sure this was going to really negatively impact my experience in the RDX and made me thought about NOT buying the truck.
6 or 7 months into ownership ? I never think about it. It is SO not a big deal. I can do anything I need to do either via voice or using the touchpad. I mean...would a touchscreen be better ? Probably. But in the grand scheme it is a really dumb thing to get worked up over. It is so insignificant IMO.

 

It's not about "calling it what I like" and weight and volume literally have zero to do with it when you consider the difference in interior volume between a longitudinal and transverse setup and a Grand Cherokee weighs 5k pounds while a Santa fe weighs ~3800 pounds and both are classified as mid sized. Of coure Acura and others will call them compact, it's the hottest selling segment and calling it mid size would scare some buyers off.

 

BUT - American likes BIG SUV's and trucks! Even worse in Texas - everyone appears to be driving some version of a school bus! I'd call the 3rd gen RDX a "mid-size" given the external dimensions.

 

I won't mind a touchscreen as long as I still have a pad for selecting too. Personally, I have no idea why people want a touchscreen. The 1:1 pad works great for my needs. Who is touching and fiddling the touh pad so much that they need a touchscreen? I just plug in m phone for Android Auto, set my destination and music, and that's it. I don't mess with anything and just use the physical steering wheel controls to make any other adjustments.

It is hard to drive and touch a screen....with the pad, I can keep my eyes on the road and easily make selections safely.

 

Agree. I think the pad is fine. Would be great if there was also a cursor or arrow on screen to mirror where you are on the pad. Not a huge deal though.
I would be far more annoyed with having to touch a screen and having it get filthy all the time.

 

You're definitely not wrong, but I also feel like people moving up from a sedan don't necessarily want to jump into a Tahoe or Expedition so they get a "compact class" crossover first. The 3G RDX is definitely mid-sized based on external dimensions IMO.

I am also in the camp of don't really fiddle with the infotainment other than to change music while driving. Thankfully enough of the RDX's controls are hard buttons that I genuinely could get away with never touching the touchpad most of the time anyways.

With that being said, I think the touchpad scares people because there is a larger learning curve than a touchscreen. A 30 minute test drive is definitely not long enough to get comfortable so a lot of people bail on it early.

 

But isn't one of the main gripes about the touchpad is how it works with AA/CP? I haven't fiddled with it enough to know but I think that is where much of the frustration comes from.

 

4 years in and the more I use the touchpad the more disappointed I am in it - slow, inconsistent responses, and flaky with CarPlay. Last week I rented a 2023 Audi A5, 2023 Audi Q3, and a 2022 Mercedes E350 - all touchscreen systems and while the Mercedes had a confusing UI all of them were easier to use than the touchpad. Faster, more responsive, and easier to make changes while driving. I never had to hope that the system would pick up my touch whereas I'm never sure if the touchpad will recognise my swipe.

I still prefer real switches and buttons but touchscreens have gotten a lot better over the years as screens have gotten bigger and processors have gotten faster - they're not as dangerous as they used to be.

 

That may be a legit gripe with the models prior to 2022, but I can tell you for a fact my 2023 has none of the issues you speak of.

 

I made some suggested tweaks on my '21 and find it to be a bit more responsive. I like the touchpad, its far less distracting than reaching for a big touch screen. Not having a touchscreen also means the screen is mounted somewhere that is more in your driving view than more convenient to touch, but takes your eyes off the road. Also, fingerprints are the worst!! I also think it works better in Apple CarPlay are the selection you are are on stays highlighted and you just shift around and click on what you want. Plus, once im on my music all I need to do on my drives is hit next to change the song or turn the volume up/down. All of that is done from the steering wheel. Most people do the same drives over and over. To work, the grocery store, a friends, etc. So using navigation isn't an everyday thing. But maybe thats coming from me, who grew up driving with printed MapQuest directions, instead of being babied by GPS and never actually learning where you are! LOL.

 

As I understand it, there was an upgrade to the processor during the refresh. I've driven a 2023 MDX and the touchpad wasn't as bad as it is on my RDX - it was much quicker but I'd say that modern touchscreens have passed it by in terms of usability.

 

What suggested tweaks did you make that made your touchpad a bit more responsive?

 

I followed this thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-rdx-...weaks-1005829/

I dont think it affected the touchpad but rather how quick things are to load. It may have only improved by a fraction of a second but seems better (or makes me feel better).

 

These are all very valid points. A touchscreen would be more out of the field of view and there would be a million fingerprints on it. NO THANKS.
Acura did a good thing with the touch pad focusing on visibility and safety over "look everyone, we have a cool touchscreen".
Sometimes I think people get caught up in youtubers and car reviewers who review the car for 30 minutes and say the touchpad sucks and that becomes their opinion too and they never come off of it.
It takes LONGER to learn than touchscreen, but that is the only disadvantage.
Between the touchpad, voice control and steering wheel controls AND the great ability to see the road at all times, the system as is is a winner IMO.

 

Touch screens are SUPERIOR in my opinion - your first major road trip to a new area will have one frustrated to drive and use the touch-pad for navigation and other functions. Even with Apply Play, the touch pad interface is a pain when solo driving and on the go in a new area.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, I have never had apple carplay before but can't you set the map directions on the phone while connected to carplay.

 

Yes you can. However, along a 700+ mile day - maps gives you alternative routes, speed check warnings (that when hit ok mess with your route) and hard to dive in or out while driving 70+mph. It’s an inferior interface for a vehicle - touch screen would work much better in my opinion.

 

Ahh gotcha! It's too bad they didn't work just a little bit harder on the interface. It's like they spent so much money on development of the entire vehicle and had to just stop wherever they stopped rather than try and improve it some more.

 

If you're driving 70+ you shouldn't be messing with the navigation, touchscreen or otherwise...IMO.

 

I don't - usually pull over to the side - as the touch pad is just a distracting pain in the @ss. When you're on a massive road trip or to an unfamiliar place - touch screens make it much easier. Leave the track pad for your desktop computer - sitting at a desk.

The frappin warnings and direction options (either on the Acura Nav or Apple CarPlay) are painful, so much nicer to have a close touch screen like in the Tesla Model Y Performance. That works like a charm!

 

I think that is the ONLY inconvenience...is when a pop up come sup and you have to hit "OK" ..but you can disable that if you choose.
Having said that, the current system has excellent field of view where you don't have to take your eyes off the road to see it. That to me is 1000 times more important than being able to click OK while on the move. Which has happened to me like twice in 8000 miles.

 

Driving around town today trying to find some new music to play with CarPlay and the touchpad is HORRENDOUS - each swipe only goes down one entry whereas on a touchscreen I can swipe down whole pages at a time - I end up making 20 swipes to do what takes 2-3 swipes on a touchscreen. Maybe the touchpad is usable for the core system now but with CarPlay it's just such a terrible product and so much people use CarPlay that it has to be a first class citizen. Acura said back in 2019 that they were "working with Apple" on this but I get the feeling that either they didn't try very hard or Apple said, "That's your problem, we didn't tell you to do this" - at this point Acura realises they screwed up and are reversing course.

 

There's Large with barely usable 3rd row (like MDX) and XLarge with a full featured 3rd row like Lexus TX.

 

Toyota are masters at packaging whereas I feel like Acura isn't really. Even in official press from Acura they always called the 2G MDX a "4 + 3 seating arrangement".