That's unfortunate to hear, but I get it.

 

I would also agree with the belief that there's not going to be another ICE RDX at this point. I am surprised that the latest refresh was so minor though - I would have thought that they'd go down the same path that Volvo is going with their ICE cars (specifically the XC90) and do a .5 kind of refresh to stretch out the life cycle of the car more. The RDX platform is not a bad one at all and a big interior overhaul (like the MDX got) and some powertrain tweaks could have added another 3-4 years of life to it.

re: hybrid - definitely seems like Honda has no hybrid replacement for the 2.0T/V6 as their latest announcement of hybrids us the 1.5L and 2.0L engines and are basically the next gen version of the current hybrids. Acura could pull the hybrid from the MDX/RLX out of the mothballs and plug that in pretty easily - it's a bit behind the times but would still net a significant increase in fuel economy.

 

That's what I'm thinking is happening, too... not a certainty; but plenty of evidence indicating that direction.
They should at least make that clear sooner than later.
If they do, I would consider a last-year model on its way out. The A-Spec Advance would be an upgrade from my 2020 A-Spec. And then I would possibly flash the engine with the K-tuner. In the end, it could feel like a quasi-next gen-Type S to me (I realize how desperate that sounds!)

 

Maybe Acura will surprise everyone and use the new Passport as the basis for a new RDX. Have it go upmarket and compete against the Lexus RX as a more capable alternative. Kind of like something in between the RX and GX.

 

I always thought Acura should have some symmetry with its model like up:
Integra (old ILX) = ADX
TLX = RDX
MDX = ??? (RL/RLX back in the day)
ZDX= ???

The RDX is too expensive and the TLX might be too small for young buyers with a growing family to jump in an Acura. Acura needed an entry level vehicle to capture those young buyer AND the empty nesters on the other end. My son ended up going with an used Honda Civic when his 2006 TSX was totaled by a red light runner back in 2018. He didn't see the value going with an used ILX or TLX. Now, he is thinking about adding a CUV in 2026 and leaning towards the CR-V hybrid because of the space and mpgs. Adding an hybrid option for the ADX and RDX would make some folks jump ship to Acura.

 

My two cents is the rdx is not going away. It’s gonna continue to grow to fill in space behind the mdx. Large, midsize, and compact. And you all are going to get your ads type s, when they drop the k 2.0 motor in it in a couple years. Just like integra. And the Rdx will get a v6.

 

I like that possible road map... I'm hoping enough decision-makers in Honda/Acura are of the same mind!

 

Reading all the great reviews of the new Honda Passport and the thought occurred to me that Acura might move the RDX slightly upmarket by moving it onto the large truck platform that the Passport, MDX, Pilot etc live on. The Passport is 191" long so just a few inches longer than the current RDX while the current RDX is only an inch and a half longer than the ADX so it may make sense for Acura to make the next RDX bigger and moving onto the large truck platform and being about the same size as the Passport (or even wee big bigger) would put it head to head with the RX and have a different value prop than the European compacts. The V6/10sp powertrain would fit right in (the K20C is used only in the RDX and the Civic Type R now - pretty low production numbers) and I bet the fuel economy numbers would be about the same.

I'm still not convinced that there will be a new RDX but if it were to happen then moving to the large truck platform would make a lot of sense considering the rest of the lineup.

 

It is telling that we are seeing dedicated TV ads for the ZDX, MDX, and ADX, but none for the RDX. It does appear that the RDX is being jettisoned from the Acura lineup.

 

It sort of makes sense if we consider how few resources Acura has. The ADX is brand new so it definitely needs ads to raise awareness, and God knows the ZDX needs all the help it can get. MDX is the highest profit car, so that's next on the list, and the RDX is still selling extraordinarily well despite the fact that it's now going on its 6th year and has very little marketing behind it.

 

You would have thought that Acura would have given the same updates (touchscreen) to the RDX as they did for the MDX. Possibly another sign of the RDX going out to pasture?

Where is a good place to get sales data on the RDX? Goodcarbadcar.net?

 

Yeah, or the monthy sales figures reports Honda releases.

I can ony speculate that Acura has determined the incremental sales they'd get from investing more money into RDX updates isn't a good ROI. Frankly, it seems like the whole premium compact crossover segment is so uninspiring and the customer segment so indiscriminating and price sensitive that all they need to do is build something that satisfices and undercuts the competition. They're also significantly handicapped by not having a hybrid option, so its probably a fool's errand to try to boost sales in any significant fashion until it does.

 

Certainly Acura is suffering from underinvestment along with Infinity, but I'm perplexed as to why. They (Honda and Nissan) see the success that Lexus has so I'm surprised that they don't jump in with both feet and reinvigorate their respective luxury brands. Honda has a sterling reputation amongst its legions of longtime customers, so why wouldn't they want to give them a path into a luxury make while staying within the Honda family? What's in it for them to let their luxury marque languish?

 

I would love to see the RDX a bit bigger - as long as it remains sporty and with more power!!

 

If they enlarged the RDX, wouldn't they have to make the MDX bigger also?

 

It's a really saturated market these days. How many competitors were there when the RDX was first announced back in 2006? Back then you could still get a wagon if you wanted the driving experience of a smaller car but with more cargo area... but other than the RX350 or a V6 RAV4 there weren't many other choices.

 

I think there's room for the MDX to grow. The Lexus TX would be it's closest competitor, and that car is about 5" longer. Doing so makes sense; the 3rd row for the MDX is pretty cramped and I believe has the least amount of legroom among its competitors.

 

I'm not sure how well a more expensive larger sized MDX would sell? Acura would have use the 3.0T V-6 or bring back sport hybrid tech on top of 355hp/354tq if the larger MDX gains more weight than the current 3.5L or Type-S versions?

 

I don't think they have to considering the Passport and Pilot are now within 8.5 inches of each other. Heck, Mazda has a 2 row and a 3 row that are identical sizes and it sorta works (but barely).

I think ideally Acura offers 4 (or even 5) SUVs - subcompact (under 180"), compact (under 190"), midsize (under 200"), and large (under 210") (a fifth would be some variant like an off-road version or a coupe version) but I don't think Acura has the bucks or the platforms available for that so 3 it is and that would be ADX at 185", RDX at 192" and MDX at 200" with the RDX and MDX sharing a platform.

A 192" RDX competes head to head with a RX/Nautilus which is a healthy sized market and it can still steal sales from compact luxury SUV class for those who want a bit more space.

 

So, with the current RDX at 187.4 inches in length, and the ADX at 185.8, is there anyone here who thinks that the RDX will stay in the Acura stable in its current form? I can't imagine that they would offer 2 SUVs with just a 1.6" difference in length.

 

Two very different cars. RDX is longer, wider, taller has a more powerful engine, has a 10 speed automatic Trans vs CVT on the ADX...etc etc. ADX is cheaper, as it should be.
Its a cool looking SUV the ADX but I would not want it over my RDX like ever.

 

How much of a premium does the RDX demand over a comparatively optioned ADX? I'm curious as to whether most buyers wouldn't just spring for a little extra for the RDX, especially when they find out that the ADX front passenger seat is only 4-way adjustable (no height adjustment) vs 12-way adjustable on the RDX Tech.

 

For customers who are price sensitive (which is the ADX segment), I doubt adjustability of the seat, let alone passenger seat, is even remotely close to the top of their priority list.

 

In Canada the A-Spec trims are $9k apart ($50k vs $59k) so it's a considerable difference. If someone just wants a commuter car the ADX works perfectly fine especially considering the much higher fuel economy will add up over time. I think if the ADX came with the hybrid from the CR-V/Civic it'd sell like crazy in Canada.

 

Why Acura doesn’t use Honda’s hybrid power train is one of the automotive world’s greatest unsolved mysteries.

 

It wouldn't be an Acura if they didn't let Honda get the good stuff first.

Always Catching Up Rarely Ahead

 

I doubt we’ll see hybrids in Acura , they will just keep using iCE until move to full electric.