Test Drove 2019 RDX FWD Tech - Disappointed
08-11-2018 | 08:28 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 405
Likes: 75
Test Drove 2019 RDX FWD Tech - Disappointed
Finally test drove the 2019 Acura RDX. I test drove a FWD Tech. I thought the space and appearance were good, the infotainment and audio were good ,but was disappointed in some major areas.
I thought it was slow, did not handle well, and had high road noise for a luxury vehicle. I was surprised and disapppointed by how much road noise it had. I was not able to compare side by side with a 2G RDX, but I did with an MDX SHAWD Tech, and the MDX handled so much better and was so much quieter.
Would going to SHAWD RDX make a difference in the driving experience? What about going to a higher level trim package like A-Spec or Adance for road noise? Given the very high price of those, I would cross-shop for Audi Q5 or discounted SHAWD MDX.
I thought it was slow, did not handle well, and had high road noise for a luxury vehicle. I was surprised and disapppointed by how much road noise it had. I was not able to compare side by side with a 2G RDX, but I did with an MDX SHAWD Tech, and the MDX handled so much better and was so much quieter.
Would going to SHAWD RDX make a difference in the driving experience? What about going to a higher level trim package like A-Spec or Adance for road noise? Given the very high price of those, I would cross-shop for Audi Q5 or discounted SHAWD MDX.
08-11-2018 | 09:05 AM
#3
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 6
Advance has the acoustic glass making is quieter and I would say the SHAWD is key to good handling. Dont bother without it if you like sporty drive. I currently have a X5 and a 535(Dont worry, got them preowned so I dont lose a condos worth of depreciation) both loaded with Ventilated seats and I would say this car has more comfortable seats, handles better and is 48 grand sticker out the door in top of line trim.
08-11-2018 | 09:07 AM
#4
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 993
Likes: 257
From: Michigan
08-11-2018 | 12:53 PM
#5
9th Gear
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I've driven several 16' and 17' RDX loaners, and the 19' RDX is much quieter and built much better. I have driven the Aspec several times, and it is still much quieter than the previous generation. I did not notice much of a difference in sound level between the Aspec and Advance, and this was after 7 test drives, and we are very picky on sound, and my wife was with me on most of these.
08-11-2018 | 03:07 PM
#7
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,920
Likes: 1,094
From: Kansas City
I drove a car at a test drive a few months back, and it was a car that I'd been eager to drive. I got in it, drove around, and instantly disliked the car. The seating position felt off, the blindspots were jarring, the rev band didn't feel like something I enjoyed, and after the test drive, I passed on the car.
Fast forward to this week, and my friend who owns the same-ish car I test drove a few months ago, is gone out of town and parked it in my garage. Mentioned that I could drive it anytime. So I've been DD'd the car back and forth from work, doing errands afterwards, and as I look at the car in my garage after spending 5 days with it, I realize that I'm in love. I love the car.
Over time, I learned to love the initially off-putting seating position, I figured out the sweet spots of the torque band to get good bursts out of the engine, learned the rev range to perfect downshifts, and realized the blindspots aren't as jarring as I had initially experienced. Stockholm syndrome? IDK, but something changed.
Most people aren't lucky enough to essentially have a car for the week for a test drive, but I realized that this is a significant shortfall in the current test drive process. Sometimes it takes a while to learn to love a car.
This is just me rambling about my smitteness for something I thought I hated, but I wanted to see if anyone else has felt the same way.
Fast forward to this week, and my friend who owns the same-ish car I test drove a few months ago, is gone out of town and parked it in my garage. Mentioned that I could drive it anytime. So I've been DD'd the car back and forth from work, doing errands afterwards, and as I look at the car in my garage after spending 5 days with it, I realize that I'm in love. I love the car.
Over time, I learned to love the initially off-putting seating position, I figured out the sweet spots of the torque band to get good bursts out of the engine, learned the rev range to perfect downshifts, and realized the blindspots aren't as jarring as I had initially experienced. Stockholm syndrome? IDK, but something changed.
Most people aren't lucky enough to essentially have a car for the week for a test drive, but I realized that this is a significant shortfall in the current test drive process. Sometimes it takes a while to learn to love a car.
This is just me rambling about my smitteness for something I thought I hated, but I wanted to see if anyone else has felt the same way.
Savagegeese also mentioned similar inadequacies in a short test drive to fully evaluate a car.
Other factors may be in play but it doesn't make logical sense to think that the 2019 RDX is more road noisy than the prior years.....
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04-21-2019 | 08:05 PM
#9
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
RDX 2019 Cannot Hold a Candle to TLX 2016 Road Noise Abatement
Just purchased an RDX 2019 Advanced. I test drove a FWD, but the one I purchased was an SH-AWD, which I did not test drive. I did not remember the road noise being so noticeable in the FWD. I am not happy with the road noise in the SH-AWD and think it is either the shipping holes are not sealed the Continental cheap tires or a combination of both or the SH-AWD causing the noise. I went to the Continental site to see what the tire pricing was for the tires to compare. They do not even support configuring for a Honda or Acura product. That should tell us something right there. I had a TLX 2016 FWD, which was very quite inside with Bridgestone tires. That said, I would expect a similar experience in the RDX. Trying to work something out with the dealer to make this right, but little hope other than returning the vehicle. I know that others have complained about Michelin tires in this stream, but my Primacy MXM4s on my TL FWD 2006 were quite as a mouse. Looking to replace the RDX 2019 Continental LX Sports with those tires and have the dealer offset the cost.
04-30-2019 | 07:41 AM
#10
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 58
Likes: 18
From: Ohio
Tires make a big difference on road noise. I think the RDX tires are bit noisy, but I know it is a replacement item.
My two Honda Accords (2011) were both very noisy when I purchased them. But I replaced the tires (at 40K) with Pirelli P7 and the road noise was cut in half. I simply used TireRack to identify the best/quietest tire. Will do the same when the RDX is ready for new tires.
My two Honda Accords (2011) were both very noisy when I purchased them. But I replaced the tires (at 40K) with Pirelli P7 and the road noise was cut in half. I simply used TireRack to identify the best/quietest tire. Will do the same when the RDX is ready for new tires.
04-30-2019 | 08:54 AM
#11
Skeptic
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 427
From: NY Panhadle ©
I've never had Continental tires before but I'm rather impressed with them. And the SH-AWD and torque-vectoring are amazing in wet weather. I've pushed the car far beyond anything I've ever driven and still haven't gotten the car to plow or drift. I wonder how far I CAN push it.
I haven't driven the car in the snow yet so I'll need another year to wring it out.
I haven't driven the car in the snow yet so I'll need another year to wring it out.
05-05-2019 | 08:37 AM
#12
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 768
Likes: 169
From: Saint Augustine, FL
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