Morning...Ron here ! While I currently drive a 2017 Subaru Forester Touring, I am interested in moving to the Acura brand for my next vehicle. I tried an RDX in 2014, and should have bought it , but got a Lexus NX instead. After the first month with the NX, the rear differential went out, and had to be replaced ! After that, decided to move to the RX350 that a Deer loved. Decided at the time to go cheaper with the Subaru. While it's a great car, I just miss the luxury and some seats that are comfortable Don't like the new Lexus body styles, and I don't like the price ! So yes, I feel many Lexus drivers are going to move over to the Acura with this new RDX beauty !
I'm interested in the new 2019 RDX. It looks very sharp, and I'm looking to keep my next ride longer.
Subaru is noted for the AWD in their vehicles, so my question is about the SH-AWD. I have heard and read great things about it, so interested in folks here chiming in ! I will say the RX350 was not great in the snow, however I did not change out the all weather tires that it came with.
Look forward to reading and learning about the Acura on this great forum. Looking to buy next year at this time, maybe sooner !

 

Welcome to the forum!

It would be great to hear your insights on the NX -vs- RDX once the 3rd Gen hits the road and we all get a chance to test drive.

Depends on how you like to drive to get the most out of "sh" with the Acura awd system. I get 95% dry and warm to hot weather in the southwest and I use sh-awd for its handling ability compared to foul weather capabilities. I have an 11 MDX Adv with larger OEM front/rear stabilizer bars+ADS magnetic struts/shocks and my 08 RDX has Hondata+ETS intercooler+larger progress RSB (removed the Eibach springs). Downside with the non sport hybrid sh-awd is it only works with your foot on the accelerator. It is better to hit the corners under power so the sh-awd will level you out and help rotate compared to coasting around a corner. You have to drive a little different using the paddles to downshift and applying the power earlier to spool up the turbo faster in a curve to engage "sh" in the awd when needed when you exit. When I'm not driving like I stole it, sh-awd can revert back to mostly awd or fwd bias in normal situations. Sh-awd will cover you better in extreme conditions like snow, slush, wet, or hard corners compared to most awd systems.

 

Since I currently have the Subaru Forester, it will be fun to compare Forester AWD to the RDX SH-AWD ! Can't wait to try the RDX out !

 

My wife has a 2015 Outback, and I much prefer the SH-AWD on my TLX. As mrgold35 pointed out, the torque vectoring is different as you need to step on the throttle on corners which is the opposite of what most people do (slow down and/or brake). As long as you don't overdo it, you're rewarded with dynamics that feel tight on the bendies. The system on the Outback is braked-based torque vectoring and it doesn't work as well. Sometimes I can't even tell if there's a transfer of power from side to side. I know the system on the STI is Subaru's most advanced, but I'm not sure if that system has true torque vectoring either.

 

I think only the MDX sport hybrid sh-awd with rear electric motors can TQ vector without power on a curve accelerating and slowing down. Not 100% sure if the system work coasting and/or on the brake if you are off the gas in a curve. That might be the most advanced application of sh-awd tq vectoring available without having to spend up 2X-4X the price for an SUV.

I really have to drive my 1st Gen RDX extremely hard just to get the tq vectoring to engage more that 1-2 bars above the opposite rear wheel reading. My RDX is programmed with a lot of front bias and 50/50 is TQ split is normal cruising and up to 90/10 for hard acceleration. My MDX sh-awd can send 1-3 bars of tq vectoring to the rear outside wheel on a left hand turn at a stop sign and even more on hard turns at speed. There were times I was driving up a hill and my MDX switched to rwd 30/70 and that really improved traction and control (RDX never did that on the same hill). My +4500lbs MDX drives like a much smaller SUV because to sh-awd, larger front/rear stabilizer bars, and magnetic suspension (ADS reduces dive, squat, and helps keep level in curves).

I'm really hoping the 3rd Gen RDX will have similar sh-awd programming as the MDX and not my 1st Gen RDX.

 

Between my wife and I we have owned 12 Acura's over 25 years. We went over to Lexus five years ago. Can not beat their reliability and cost of maintenance. We were considering trading in her 2015 Lexus RX450h for a 2018 newly design Lexus NXh. So glad we did not pull the trigger since seeing this RDX. No comparison. Lexus has no Android Auto or Apple Play. Has no HUD or panoramic roof. Never liked the front grill on the Lexus SUVs with that large mouth grill. Do not like Lexus's two tone seats or only black dash that shows every piece of lint. RDX has a much better looking modern shifter, medium gray dash, much better mouse pad. Does not have the cheap plastic around each wheel well. RDX has real leather and wood accents. The SH AWD is all wheel drive on steroids. If this comes in with the hybrid option around $48,000 it will be a huge success. The MDX hybrid with every option list at $58,000.
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I may be an attempt to visually break up what might look like a large slab sided panel. Or maybe some sort of cost savings? I agree it looks bad.