CanTex

I was at the new Grubbs Acura dealership in Grapevine, TX today for an oil change and to pick up some swag (Rondel Bruit Cava, a nice looking beverage in a fancy box) at their Open House. I ran into John Grubbs Jr. the owner as well as son, JG III. I jumped right in and complained about the touch pad now propagated to three styles of Acuras. Both the Grubbs says they have been complaining vigorously to Acura about if. I asked if there were any Acura reps there. Indeed there were, three of them. Oh boy, here I go. One of them defended it mildly, the other two diverted immediately. (I had an Apple II Plus in 1983, as did one of the three. Tales galore.) The lady looked at the ceiling. Anyway, I backed away, repeating my desire to buy another Acura at some point, one with a touch screen, not a touch pad. I think they were more than happy to see me go.

leomio2.0

I'll never buy another Acura, but I actually quite like the TouchPad. Even the Almighty Lexus took quite a few years to finally offer touchscreen to supplement their awful trackpad system.

NooYawkuh

I have no problem with the control pad interface. I prefer it to a touch screen. To each his own. Most other cars have touch screens, so there are plenty of other choices out there.

Maybe the controller could be designed and implemented better. We could actually see more manufacturers going to controllers and away from touch screens.

JB in AZ

Yeah, I got used to the touchpad quickly. BUT, as has been mentioned elsewhere on this forum, AA and CP should work the same!
At the end of the day, I prefer a touch screen.

hans471

To each his own, as they say. I have had both touch screens and this touch pad. Neither blow me away as with either you have to divert your attention. But, to be honest, I find the touch pad more desirable as its much easier to work with my right hand resting on the arm rest without having to reach over to a screen. To be fair I am not a big fan of touch screens on ANY device, but that is just me.

Madd Dog

It is a big problem that Acura uses absolute positioning for Acura stuff, but trackpad positioning for CarPlay. It should be the same for both.

DrWoo

One thing touchpad haters forget is that the screen is in a much better viewing location compared to where a touchscreen would have to be in order to reach it. I have both, and while I agree that the touchpad in the RDX is a bit clumsy when using Apple CarPlay, I much prefer not having to glance downward to see the screen as I do with my touchscreen vehicle. Siri voice commands work very well, and I find that I really don’t use the touchpad that often.

Madd Dog

I too am using Siri more often. IMO Apple Maps is much improved, and I have good voice control via Siri of maps, music, and messaging.

DrWoo

I prefer Apple Maps too, it’s a much nicer interface than Google Maps and I love the detailed turn instructions and stop light locations. But I do find that certain POIs are not as accurate as Google maps. I recently selected a national wildlife refuge location and it took me to an obscure location. Google maps got me right to the visitor center. I added a shortcut on my phone that will send a Google maps location to Apple Maps, very handy in some situations. I also wish the turn by turn was displayed in the HUD, maybe someday.

Vince D

While I'm not defending a touchpad or a touchscreen and which is the better mousetrap, I can imagine the dilema and the challenges engineers must feel when attempting to design complicated and safe tech products that most people can safely enjoy and figure out how to use. Must be hundreds of focus group meetings and presentations from dozens of experts on every level down to everyday consumers.

Personally I enjoy the trackpad and while not perfect, I find it to be a safer mode of driving without having to reach out to touch a screen. My TSX has a touchscreen Navi, but it's very close and easy to use.

rdxny

If you use Waze with android auto, the touchpad is terrible, as it doesn't function properly. It wants to act like a mouse, but there is no cursor, so there is no way to know where you are pointing or clicking without moving it around to see what gets highlighted.. Terribly unsafe as you have to stare at it while you try. Waze states they are working on it, but they have said that for 2 years with no results.

jmhumr

Touchscreens in cars are junk. The only system I'd prefer over Acura's is the Mazda/BMW rotary knob.

dblwishbone

Unfortunately the programming interfaces Apple and Google offer them are too limited to do absolute positioning.

markAZ

The previous gen RDX had a rotary knob. I didn't like it at first but I would much prefer it to the current touchpad. IMO, the touchpad would be better if it behaved more like the touchpad on a computer and didn't reset when you take your finger off it.

I've never used a touchscreen in a car but it seems to me it would be difficult (and maybe unsafe) to use depending on where the screen is located and how far you'd have to reach to touch it. I'd imagine that the bigger the icons the better...easier to see & hit while moving.

quantum7

Touchscreen is so much easier and everyone is used to using on phone and iPad and computer. Make it both like Lexus finally did.

4th Acura

I’ve had my 2020 RDX for almost a year and have gotten use to the touchpad. I actually prefer it to my 2008 RDX rotary knob system. Having said that, the mmi software even though recently improved with updates, is a poor unreliable failing.

hand-filer

I agree. I've had 4 vehicles with touch screens and the Gen 2 RDX with the rotary control. Inputting addresses was such a PITA.

Gate 17

i like the touchpad

CanTex

In my case, we'll vote with our checkbook (do people still use those?) the next time. If Acura has "come to their senses" by then, we'll buy an Acura. If not, then not. I'm just a common man looking for something that will suit my needs. Basically, end of story.

russianDude

I think touchpad is a great idea and I like it. It could possibly be improved to be more accurate and work better, but as a concept its great

Jerzy

I took me a while to get used to pushbutton gear shift, but touchpad was easy. I remember that Consumer Reports hated both. I'm not sure how more natural traditional lever is, when you move it backwards to drive forward and forward to go back. It's just matter of getting used to something new.

In general, I like all the choices Acura made - even blind spot indicators inside and not on the mirrors make sense - I can see them without turning my head.