Car and Driver ranks RDX #16
02-21-2019, 10:52 AM
#1
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
Car and Driver ranks RDX #16
16. Acura RDX
Aiming at the sportier, friskier end of the compact-luxury-crossover segment, Acura's RDX has a 272-hp turbocharged inline-four engine, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, and pointy looks that are anything but staid. Tellingly, among the RDX's selectable drive modes, which include Comfort and Sport+ settings, Acura programs the middle Sport option as the default when you fire up the engine. A tighter-than-average rear seat and a curious touchpad-controlled infotainment system are the primary anchors that hold this Acura back in our rankings.
02-21-2019, 12:21 PM
#3
I bought RDX cuz it smaller. 2 adults can fit fine back there. Didn’t want 5 person car. So I’m fine with that critique.
Touch Pad is the new BMW iDrive complaint. Spend 10 minutes and you are confused. Own car for a month and it’s fine!
NEXT!
Touch Pad is the new BMW iDrive complaint. Spend 10 minutes and you are confused. Own car for a month and it’s fine!
NEXT!
02-21-2019, 03:12 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
02-21-2019, 03:24 PM
#5
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
I thought it was pretty telling when they are talking about compact SUVs and then complaining about leg room. I am a tall guy and the seat is all the back and reclined some. I have had 2 normal sized grown men in the back seat and they were surprised at the leg room.
As for the touchpad, I liked it right away. Much easier to use than the "mouse" in the Lexus .
As for the touchpad, I liked it right away. Much easier to use than the "mouse" in the Lexus .
02-21-2019, 04:19 PM
#6
You can only laugh at the hipocracy of the negative review comments they try to point out. Touchpad is a 10 minute learning curve, and the backseat is very roomy, this is a tweener, i.e. bigger than RAV 4 / CRV, but smaller the MDX, X5, etc.
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02-21-2019, 04:57 PM
#8
Instructor
I read this when it came out. It is a bit skewed when they add specific models of the same car. Example GLC300 or AMG GLC300, technically is the same car, but different engines and setups.
If you really look into this, the Acura comes in at the bottom half of the top ten with a budget of $80k and under!!! Not bad value if you ask me.
The RDX is a top 5 car in its price class, with MB, BMX, Audi, and Volvo. Alfa, Lexus, Range/Jaguar, Cadillac and Infiniti round out my top 10.
I don't think you can go wrong with any of these 10 cars
If you really look into this, the Acura comes in at the bottom half of the top ten with a budget of $80k and under!!! Not bad value if you ask me.
The RDX is a top 5 car in its price class, with MB, BMX, Audi, and Volvo. Alfa, Lexus, Range/Jaguar, Cadillac and Infiniti round out my top 10.
I don't think you can go wrong with any of these 10 cars
02-21-2019, 04:58 PM
#9
Instructor
02-21-2019, 05:24 PM
#10
Three Wheelin'
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02-21-2019, 06:17 PM
#11
WayTooManyAcuras
I've been annoyed no end with my Infotainment system, especially when they went from D.1.0.4 to D.1.0.7, but I still love my car and would not give it up for something else. I don't really care what reviewers say. I already have it! 
<expletive deleted> them!
<expletive deleted> them!
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02-21-2019, 06:25 PM
#12
Drifting
From the above CR notice:
Hmmmm. I guess the D.1.0.7 software is V2. Did that come out in "fall"? IMHO nothing really changed until D.1.1.2 (V3?) that just came out in February. I guess that's "late fall".
Here's hoping Acura gets its s### together so we will have less of these issues going forward.
And maybe they will get the message that they should thoroughly test their vehicles BEFORE they start selling them.
The RDX was redesigned for the 2019 model year, and our members reported issues with their own vehicles, specifically with the in-car electronics, such as the navigation system.
Fisher points out that the first model year of any newly introduced or redesigned car can have significant growing pains.
The 2019 RDX went on sale in mid-2018, and just as we’ve seen with other manufacturers, sometimes it can take a year or more for automakers to work out the kinks,” Fisher said.
An Acura spokesman told CR that the survey respondents "purchased vehicles manufactured in the earliest months of production equipped with V1 software. In the fall, we pushed an over-the-air update to these and all vehicles in the field that significantly improved system performance and addressed these issues.”
Owners must manually choose to install the update by going into the system settings; the update can also be installed by their Acura dealer. The spokesman added that “our customer relations data indicates a substantial decrease in issues identified by our own customers who update to V2.”
Fisher points out that the first model year of any newly introduced or redesigned car can have significant growing pains.
The 2019 RDX went on sale in mid-2018, and just as we’ve seen with other manufacturers, sometimes it can take a year or more for automakers to work out the kinks,” Fisher said.
An Acura spokesman told CR that the survey respondents "purchased vehicles manufactured in the earliest months of production equipped with V1 software. In the fall, we pushed an over-the-air update to these and all vehicles in the field that significantly improved system performance and addressed these issues.”
Owners must manually choose to install the update by going into the system settings; the update can also be installed by their Acura dealer. The spokesman added that “our customer relations data indicates a substantial decrease in issues identified by our own customers who update to V2.”
Here's hoping Acura gets its s### together so we will have less of these issues going forward.
And maybe they will get the message that they should thoroughly test their vehicles BEFORE they start selling them.
Last edited by Wander; 02-21-2019 at 06:31 PM.
02-21-2019, 06:29 PM
#13
Seems like every car maker has mechanical issues ironed out and it's all electronics, electrical, convenience features they need to work out.
Who's going to buy the BMW X3 since they are more reliable than the Acura RDX now? Picking the BMW over the Honda because it is more reliable. What a time to live in...lol
Who's going to buy the BMW X3 since they are more reliable than the Acura RDX now? Picking the BMW over the Honda because it is more reliable. What a time to live in...lol
02-21-2019, 06:32 PM
#14
02-21-2019, 07:44 PM
#15
Advanced
I'm getting a little weary of these claims that the updates cure everything from impotence to the heartbreak of psoriasis when they can't be bothered to distribute said updates north of the border.
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02-21-2019, 08:38 PM
#16
Skeptic
02-22-2019, 12:10 AM
#17
Seems like every car maker has mechanical issues ironed out and it's all electronics, electrical, convenience features they need to work out.
Who's going to buy the BMW X3 since they are more reliable than the Acura RDX now? Picking the BMW over the Honda because it is more reliable. What a time to live in...lol
Who's going to buy the BMW X3 since they are more reliable than the Acura RDX now? Picking the BMW over the Honda because it is more reliable. What a time to live in...lol
02-22-2019, 06:44 AM
#18
Skeptic
You know why the Brits never built TVs? They couldn't figure out a way to make them leak oil.
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02-22-2019, 04:50 PM
#20
BMW covers the first few years of maintenance - seems like they are aiming for people that lease. If you plan on keeping the car for 10+ years you're probably right.
02-22-2019, 06:54 PM
#22
It's funny, both X3 and RDX are made in the USA. Hell even the design engineering are in states for RDX. There is nothing Japanese about the car
02-23-2019, 01:55 AM
#23
Drifting
Our 3rd-gen MDX also is roomier overall in second row, than 2019 RDX, although the relatively low bench is better for little people than adults for long-distance travel, IMO. The lack of thigh support could be taxing on a long trip, according to my leggy 6'0" son. I think 2019 RDX is very similar in this regard.
I think we are done with long family road-trips, or I wouldn't have downsized to RDX. Not saying it can't be done in RDX, but it would be a much tighter squeeze than MDX or ( especially ) Pilot.
02-23-2019, 02:15 AM
#24
You'll Never Walk Alone
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So Consumer Reports thinks the RDX is unreliable because of infotainment issues eh. No wonder no Acura model is being recommended by them...lol. Kinda feel sorry for Acura. They had the dual screen setup and people found it to be hard to use, so they are unreliable. Now they did a full overhaul of the infotainment system. There are some bugs for some people, and so the car is considered unreliable. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
I think Acura needs to get Google to be more serious. The infotainment system is an Android device and Acura hugely depends on Google for its development. How often do you have to do a hard reset on your phone? This is pretty much what's going on with this system. It will take updates after updates to be refined so that it's up to speed with most bugs removed. It's a pain but this seems to be the price one has to pay if one wants to be somewhat up to date with their infotainment system. That in itself is ironic as these new electronic devices are designed for rapid obsolescence anyways. Just look at how often people buy a new iPhone or Android phone.
I think Acura needs to get Google to be more serious. The infotainment system is an Android device and Acura hugely depends on Google for its development. How often do you have to do a hard reset on your phone? This is pretty much what's going on with this system. It will take updates after updates to be refined so that it's up to speed with most bugs removed. It's a pain but this seems to be the price one has to pay if one wants to be somewhat up to date with their infotainment system. That in itself is ironic as these new electronic devices are designed for rapid obsolescence anyways. Just look at how often people buy a new iPhone or Android phone.
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02-23-2019, 10:26 AM
#28
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https://www.consumerreports.org/car-...liability-faq/
How Is the survey conducted?
Consumer Reports’ Survey Department conducts the survey each year. In the survey, we ask members to note any problems with their cars that occurred in the past 12 months. They are asked to identify problems that they considered serious (because of cost, failure, safety, or downtime). We ask them to include problems covered by warranty, but not the ones resulting from accident damage or due solely to recall. Respondents check off problems from a list of trouble areas, ranging from the engine and transmission to climate system, brakes, electrical system, and power accessories. They also tell us specifically what their experiences were to help us understand precisely what problems they are having. (See the full list of trouble spots below.)
02-23-2019, 10:37 AM
#29
Instructor
Personally I don’t base my car buying decisions on these type of publications/reviews/surveys or whatever we call it. It comes down to my perception, experience with a brand, value and research.
I used to subscribe to Car & Driver and CR but found them to be useless. With the Internet you can find almost anything if look hard enough I.e car review sites (Edmund.com, cars.com rtc). A well informed consumer is empowered to make better decision and less regrets down the road.
I used to subscribe to Car & Driver and CR but found them to be useless. With the Internet you can find almost anything if look hard enough I.e car review sites (Edmund.com, cars.com rtc). A well informed consumer is empowered to make better decision and less regrets down the road.
02-23-2019, 11:27 AM
#30
You'll Never Walk Alone
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I think they also look at past history and probably a bit from their experience. I know they did not like the touchpad so that probably would deduct points haha..
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