Fuel mileage for first generation 4cyl RDX's

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Old 01-05-2016, 11:44 PM
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Fuel mileage for first generation 4cyl RDX's

Hi all,
What I am looking at for fuel mileage of the Acura RDX that is the 4cyl model?.

V6's are almost-always double the price to fill up a tank as compared to a 4cyl, so I like to stick to 4cyl's mostly.

Can you say how many miles or km's your RDX can go on a full tank of gas?.

I know it's always different depending on road conditions, but it would still be interesting to know from an owner's perspective. Thanks.
Old 01-05-2016, 11:49 PM
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19 mpg

18 gallon tank
Old 01-05-2016, 11:50 PM
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Cool, do you have a 4cyl or a v6?, what speed does the turbo kick in at?.
Old 01-05-2016, 11:51 PM
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https://acurazine.com/forums/first-g...y-kick-762893/
Old 01-06-2016, 03:59 AM
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Originally Posted by voodoochild16
Hi all,
What I am looking at for fuel mileage of the Acura RDX that is the 4cyl model?.

V6's are almost-always double the price to fill up a tank as compared to a 4cyl, so I like to stick to 4cyl's mostly.

Can you say how many miles or km's your RDX can go on a full tank of gas?.

I know it's always different depending on road conditions, but it would still be interesting to know from an owner's perspective. Thanks.
There is just so much wrong in this post. I appologize if language barrier is preventing me from understanding what you are trying to say but your logic is extremely flawed. Just because a car has a 4 cylinder engine doesn't mean it costs less to fill. Or are you trying to say can run longer on the same tank of gas vs a v6?

Furthermore the rdx v6 gets better fuel economy than the 4 cylinder because the 4 cylinder model is a turbo which consumes quite a bit of fuel. The 2007-2012 rdx's are 100% turbo 4 cylinder while the 2013+ rdx is 100% v6.

To answer your other question, I get roughly 500kms on a tank of pure city driving and I can't lie, I am kind of hard on her sometimes!
Old 01-06-2016, 08:02 AM
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If you are looking for mpg range, you have to look at a CR-V, HR-V or Fit. The 07-12 RDX 2.3L Turbo+5AT doesn't return the type of mpg like other I4 turbo CUVs on the market. I usually average around 18-19 mpg combined or around 325-340 miles per 18 gallon tank.

My real savings comes from purchasing the RDX used and paid off early, extremely reliable, fun to drive every day, support my life style of travel/biking/hiking, great commuter/errand vehicle and I expect to keep her for another 3-4 years with routine maint, insurance, and a tank of gas 2-3 times a month as the main cost of ownership.

I wouldn't purchase a +$22,000 +13 RDX (or any car) just to save $2-$4 at each fill-up as my #1 concern. It will take you 5-10 years of ownership just to break even. A used 07-12 fwd or sh-awd will save you more money in other areas other than at the pump if a budget is a concern.

I purchased my 11 sh-awd MDX used with 30,000 miles and 20-21 mpg on the hwy and saved almost $14,000 compared to a new fwd 14 MDX tech version that got up-to 27-28 mpg on the hwy. Even after 100,000 miles, I would only save $3600 in gas out of the $14,000 difference in price (18 mpg avg for 11 MDX, 23 mpg avg 14 MDX, gas $3 per gallon). I know I wouldn't be happy driving a fwd 14 MDX.

Last edited by mrgold35; 01-06-2016 at 08:04 AM.
Old 01-06-2016, 10:01 AM
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I haven't looked at how many miles per tank we've gotten lately in our '12 AWD (I don't like to run a tank of gas low) but we regularly average 24-24.5 mpg on highway trips and 20-21 with mixed driving. All city is in the 19mpg range.
Old 01-06-2016, 03:07 PM
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If MPG's are your concern, then look elsewhere!
Old 01-06-2016, 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Jdrum1
If MPG's are your concern, then look elsewhere!
This!
Old 01-06-2016, 03:30 PM
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As of today and according to the RDX's mileage calculator, 21.0 MPG over the 6517 miles and 16 months I have owned the car.

Pretty close to 50/50 hwy/city driving
Old 01-06-2016, 11:54 PM
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Ditto

I average 500km per tank, or about 18-19mpg on winter gas in city driving.

As others have said, for fuel economy, look elsewhere. Even my '04 WRX got better fuel economy than this but it was nowhere near as comfortable or quiet to drive as my RDX. There is a very valid point about buying used and saving your money there. It's what I did.
Old 01-07-2016, 01:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Hammed_Man
I average 500km per tank, or about 18-19mpg on winter gas in city driving.

As others have said, for fuel economy, look elsewhere. Even my '04 WRX got better fuel economy than this but it was nowhere near as comfortable or quiet to drive as my RDX. There is a very valid point about buying used and saving your money there. It's what I did.
Where you from fellow canadian? Also looks like we drive the same, I could probably do 560kms in the summer.
Old 01-07-2016, 01:13 AM
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I'm something of an oddity. American but went to UBC and lived in the Vancouver area for about 6 years, then later spent almost 4 years overseas. Km & Celsius for me (and because I imported my car from Canada to the US)

On a recent trip to Banff, I found some ethanol free gas... 10% better fuel economy every fill up. Darn expensive though.
Old 01-07-2016, 01:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Hammed_Man
I'm something of an oddity. American but went to UBC and lived in the Vancouver area for about 6 years, then later spent almost 4 years overseas. Km & Celsius for me (and because I imported my car from Canada to the US)

On a recent trip to Banff, I found some ethanol free gas... 10% better fuel economy every fill up. Darn expensive though.
haha I have been in canada all my life, but I use celcius, kms, pounds, inches, and mpgs. Wheres in canada we use kilos, centimeters and liters/100kms.

So I have a mix of imperial and metric going on. Always weirds my friends out.
Old 01-07-2016, 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by voodoochild16
Cool, do you have a 4cyl or a v6?, what speed does the turbo kick in at?.
1) Yes
2) I think it kicks in around zero mph?. Not so sure.

But seriously- why buy an RDX if you have the slightest concern about how many mpg's it gets.

That is not why you'd want one. Performance is. How much performance will be felt when driving intent on getting best mpg?

Like Mrgold35 said look at CR-V, HR-V or Fit if you cant bear the costs of fuel.
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Old 01-07-2016, 01:32 PM
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I typically get around 18-19 MPG in city driving in congested Silicon Valley. Out on the open highway with no traffic the RDX can do 24-25 MPG easily, but it's the stop and go that kills the MPG. Like others have said, if MPG is a top priority, the RDX is not for you. Performance and MPG are inversely proportional attributes when it comes to cars.
Old 01-07-2016, 09:22 PM
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I get roughly the same as
everyone here, maybe a little
less in city though! Maybe my
foot is too heavy! Agree if youre
looking for mpg this isnt what
you want.
Old 01-08-2016, 09:32 AM
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I can't add anything here since you all are consistent. RDX is not a gas miser and never pretended to be. The answer on when the turbo kicks in, how about when you step on the gas just a little bit. I really need my other car to kick the bucket (just kidding Saturn Vue) so I can drive the RDX more than a couple times per month. Though like I said, going a week or so between drives in it, makes it that much more fun when I get to drive it.
Old 01-08-2016, 10:47 AM
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Regarding when the turbo "kicks in" I tend to notice the seat of the pants hit around 3800-4000 rpm. You can feel it spooling from like 3000-3500. Pretty typical for a small displacement engine pushing it.
Old 01-08-2016, 11:07 AM
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If you still want an RDX *and* better fuel economy, look toward the 2nd gen (2013+). But, at that point much of the sport aspect is gone and you're basically driving a really fancy CR-V with v6 power.
Old 01-09-2016, 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by voodoochild16
Hi all,
What I am looking at for fuel mileage of the Acura RDX that is the 4cyl model?.

V6's are almost-always double the price to fill up a tank as compared to a 4cyl, so I like to stick to 4cyl's mostly.

Can you say how many miles or km's your RDX can go on a full tank of gas?.

I know it's always different depending on road conditions, but it would still be interesting to know from an owner's perspective. Thanks.
I am currently getting average 14.8 MPG on my 2008. This consists of a mix of Highway & City Driving... hope it helps
Old 01-09-2016, 11:06 PM
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Originally Posted by uncle_yyz
I am currently getting average 14.8 MPG on my 2008. This consists of a mix of Highway & City Driving... hope it helps
Yikes!

3 comments:

1 You live on top of a mountain and are always driving home
2 Your gas had 60% ethanol
3 Your foot is made of uranium
Old 01-09-2016, 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted by RDX10
Yikes!

3 comments:

1 You live on top of a mountain and are always driving home
2 Your gas had 60% ethanol
3 Your foot is made of uranium
lol ya - it costs me about 85 bucks Canadian for a full tank
1. Nope - very flat... doesn't get as flat here in Toronto lol
2. should be around 10%
3. i wish.... cant with the traffic around here.

the best so far (average on a given week) I got was 16.01 MPG...
Old 01-10-2016, 12:15 AM
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^^ emergency brake on?
Old 01-10-2016, 12:29 AM
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Nope not on at all. =(
Old 01-10-2016, 03:23 AM
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Originally Posted by uncle_yyz
lol ya - it costs me about 85 bucks Canadian for a full tank
1. Nope - very flat... doesn't get as flat here in Toronto lol
2. should be around 10%
3. i wish.... cant with the traffic around here.

the best so far (average on a given week) I got was 16.01 MPG...
$85? Really? I am from Edmonton AB and I only pay $60 from a literally almost empty tank. Crazy that you guys over in toronto pay so much more than us in alberta!

Originally Posted by Kaputnik
^^ emergency brake on?
Another good suggestion. Seriously that is BAD mileage man!
Old 01-10-2016, 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by uncle_yyz
I am currently getting average 14.8 MPG on my 2008. This consists of a mix of Highway & City Driving... hope it helps
If you havent done so yet, check/replace your air filter
and pull your maf sensor and clean with maf sensor cleaner
reset ecu. This helped me get to 17-18 most people get.
I was getting the same as you on my 2008 when i first got her.
Old 01-11-2016, 10:07 AM
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Originally Posted by RDX4M3
If you havent done so yet, check/replace your air filter
and pull your maf sensor and clean with maf sensor cleaner
reset ecu. This helped me get to 17-18 most people get.
I was getting the same as you on my 2008 when i first got her.
Filter changed when I got it last month.... As to the sensor ecu Hmm.... I will have to look into that. Thanks RDX4M3!
Old 01-11-2016, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by uncle_yyz
I am currently getting average 14.8 MPG on my 2008. This consists of a mix of Highway & City Driving... hope it helps
That MPG is abnormally low. If this is truly an average (not just over a short period of time) then something is wrong. I average around 17-18 in the city.
Old 01-11-2016, 12:01 PM
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18-19 MPG consistently per tank, regardless of weather conditions with Hondata ECU flash since 2010.
Old 01-15-2016, 06:59 AM
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Oh look a new topic
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Old 01-15-2016, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by jo.jacques
Oh look a new topic
#sarcasm
Old 01-24-2016, 06:37 PM
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17.5 :/ i ride her hard though
Old 01-25-2016, 11:39 AM
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I'm guessing we scared the OP away!
Old 01-25-2016, 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Jdrum1
I'm guessing we scared the OP away!
Haha, I think we did him a huge favor!
Old 01-25-2016, 02:21 PM
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Originally Posted by RDX10
Haha, I think we did him a huge favor!
Yep!
Old 01-27-2016, 02:10 PM
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At these gas prices of $2.08 for 93 Octane, I am going to start driving mine like TheWrench Minus the fancy turbo, intake, upgraded fuel injectors, etc...... 17.5 isn't all that bad for the 4WD model. I am only getting 21 to 22 on the FWD model in mixed driving, and I am a sissy!
Old 01-29-2016, 02:54 PM
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I just paid $1.79 at Costco for 91 octane (reg is at $1.42) in ABQ. Just in time from my trip to Colorado next weekend!
Old 01-29-2016, 06:01 PM
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we are at $2.65 for 93 at Chevron in N. Cal
Old 01-31-2016, 07:09 PM
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last two tanks i'm averagin 14mpg.. I'm pretty suprised.. 2011 with 21k miles, is this normal? Last tank was city driving, commuting within NYC and about 60 miles highway at most..



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