Yes, but let's keep in mind that they also moved somewhere just under 52,000 RDXs just last year. People were buying the 2G, regardless if it was a downgrade in various ways, or not. Those kind of sales numbers are pretty good, I'd say. I wish they had a sedan again that could consistently sell that well.

First off I want to appologize if my post came off inflammatory or offensive because that is not my intention. However I still stand by my opinion that a modern AWD system not capable of sending more than 40% of the power to the rear and also no ability to lock it into permanent AWD mode is useless. You’re better off putting snow tires on your car in the winter and calling it a day. The 2016-2018 system is an improvement over the 2013-2015 system but that doesn’t mean it’s good. Like I said this is just my opinion on comparing it to other AWD systems.

You’re right, it is a bit hard to tell. That’s what sucks about that camo paint. But the proportions and rear end look at least the same. Lmao the prototype mirrors were like an inch wide so it had to be done haha. The wheels are hard to see but they actually look very large to me. Also notice the large round exhaust tips!

Judging by how a friend of mine drives his 2009 CRV through snow covered streets, I'd say it's still an infinitely better system than my fwd only TL

I know sh-AWD is something else altogether... but even an older CRV system does wonderfully in shit conditions. I cant speak for the current RDX, but I imagine it can get the job done in most situations. Can it power up a steep icy incline like the MDX test comparison video from a few years ago? No, likely not even close. But... real world conditions are never really like that anyway. I dunno. Just my two cents. I'm glad SH-AWD is coming back to the RDX though... I just don't think the current awd is garbage.

Do I think it is better than nothing? Yes I do. But when comparing it to other AWD systems it’s on the lower end for me personally. As for your comment on the CRV, let me show you a video of the CRV AWD system (comparable to the RDX) and you’ll see how incapable of a system it is.


Now yes this is an extreme case where the 2 front wheels have zero grip. However it’s more of a fair test vs those that put 3 wheels on rollers. Also the rear wheels are getting power because if they weren’t the CRV would have rolled down the hill, but clearly not enough power to move the car forwards. They test it against a ford escape that can send upto 50% to the rear and it passes the test flawlessly. I rest my case.

My TL would fail that test too

I got nothing. That is pretty brutal. That system probably requires at least one of the front wheels to be gripping in order for it to work. It seems with both slipping, it goes full fwd. that CRV fails in test mode. But in real world mode, it seems to win. They hold their value super well and I'm guessing it's in part due to their pretty decent reliability paired with its "utility" and "AWD". Shiiiet, there's still a surprising shit ton of first gens rolling around

Lmao then what’s the point of an AWD system that is incapable of sending power to the rear if the front also needs traction? Also yes this test is an “ideal” situation but it also is not one that can’t occur in real life. Had they used a subaru or audi or...etc with a more advanced AWD system to show how messed up these results are, you may be able to argue, but they used a ford escape. So my opinion on the RDX system is not some personal bias out of thin air. There are real tests/results that support my view.

At the end of the day, the 2G RDX is still a great car and yes for day to day city use the AWD system is fine. But to call it a good system is false IMO. That’s all I was trying to say.

But the 1G RDX has uphill logic control, it automatically sends 70% of the torque to the rear. I’ve personally been in situations where the 2 front wheels were on ice and even one of the rear wheels and I visibly seen on the MID that the system sent full bars to the opposite wheel that had traction and it was flawless. It was on a super mild incline though and not as severe as the one in that video.

However I can show you many many many videos of SH-AWD equipped vehicles easily passing this test and even more severe versions of this test where 3 wheels are on rollers. So you might have had that experience but to say that SH-AWD has the same results as this system on the CRV and RDX is false.

Chicago Auto Show.
Underneath, it looks like there is a true dual exhaust setup. Let’s hope they keep this.

I think this just a concept vehicle and the production vehicle will have heat shields. I was hoping that the production vehicle will have a plastic cover like this picture from a Mini Cooper. That would be nice to have along with some aero fins for better air flow.

The part I dislike the most about the current MDX is how slab sided it is. It looks like a darn minivan sometimes. So when the ptototype had nice lines I thought they fixed it. Let’s hope this camo model is hiding it’s lines (white usually does that) well because I’m tired of jelly bean crossovers.

I think they are moving the brand in general upscale but I am also hoping the RDX did not grow even more. The 1G was perfect sized, then 2G got bigger and this 3G becomes MDX sized? Also they really need to hurry and bring the CDX here, it will sell very well.

I hate when the spare tire is under the car, it ends up aging so much faster and it’s a pain to get to if it’s muddy or dirty outside. However in terms of that cover, you can easily buy one online.

Not to mention when the spare tire is low on air. It is a real hassle to top it off.

Thanks for the great post, totally agreed. I didn’t keep my MDX long enough to invest in a cover but in the future with vehicles that have bottom mounted spares I will for sure. I like your idea on keeping the tarp in the car, my dad does that and uses it all the time for home depot runs...etc. I think I’ll start keeping one in my cars from now on as well even if the spare is not bottom mounted. I also always keep a collapsible umbrella in my car as well hand and foot warmers and $20-100 bucks hidden somewhere hard to find for emergencies. I just like being prepared.

Something else to keep in mind is to drop the spare a few times a year because in a lot of cases people don’t drop the spare and the result is it rusts and seizes. Really not a fun experience.

I usually keep my spare very full (like 40-45psi) and then I can always drop it if I need it.

Exactly! Great advice and great post! As usual

It’s possible that you can pre-order. But I’m betting they just want to hold your money to make you feel bound to the car. As in they don’t have any pre-order list right now but when it comes in they will just put you in on what your asking for features wise...etc. As for availability, they are being pretty honest with that. With new models like this they typically will get a handful early on and then much larger volumes a few months down the line. Just don’t feel pressured to put down a deposit and I would be weary about giving the dealer a deposit that is not on solid terms.

I think it’s a common practice among dealerships to offer bookings on a car yet to be released. I’ve seen it with many other makes not just Acura.

IMHO the current RDX is overpriced for what you get so I actually expect this new RDX to be just slightly more pricey than the current model. I don’t expect a drastic price hike. The Elite (Advance) model goes up to 50k in Canada! Can’t see it going up to 55+k

Acura has confirmed that the Prototype will be at the Toronto show and quite likely at Vancouver’s in late March. I’m curious about size too...but I really don’t want it to grow!

My 2004 VW Touareg had air suspension and a really cool bonus was they built in a little valve under the front passenger seat and supplied a air hose that connects to the valve allowing you to pump things up using the air suspension compressor. So it was like always carrying around an air compressor without taking up any extra space. By far one of my favorite “party tricks”. Otherwise the Touaregs that did not come with air suspension came with an actual air compressor the size of a box of cookies that had a spot under the load floor. This was really a necessity because the spare was a inflatable one. But it was cool to see they didn’t leave you with a can of fix-o-flat.

In your opinion were the proportions as good as they look in the pictures? I can’t wait to go to the auto show in April and see it.