Need advice on 2019/2020 Acura RDX please
 

I am looking at an Acura RDX.
The dealers here in GA have many 2019's in stock and few 2020's.
Do you think the price offset would be enough to warrant buying a 2019?
Also, Consumer Reports has Acura listed at 16th overall in quality. That surprised me. It seems both Honda and Acura have dropped significantly in quality.
I drove a 2019 RDX and really liked it. But reliability is very important to me.
What can I expect to pay for a 2019 RDX Base model now that the 2020's are on dealer lots.
Is the Tech package worth the extra money?
Is there any value to the AWD option here in a climate like GA?
Sorry for the many questions, but I would like to wrap this up by next week.
Thank you for your input.
Len

IMO, Tech SH-AWD is the least RDX to get if handling matters to you at all. If you glaze your eyes at torque-vectoring, vs slip and grip, and are just gonna roll down the road, then FWD is OK. If you look forward to the twisties and curved on-ramps, the the SH-AWD is worth having.

Next, do you keep cars, or sell them 3-5 years out? If you sell them, the year matters. If you keep them, it doesn’t.

On the ground, the cars are basically the same, and you might might get a measurably better deal on a 19.

One reason to get a 2020 is that some of the first year bugs may have been worked out.

I wonder if the 2020 has Android! Oh please.

I am going for the 2020 because of the bug issue. I know i will probably end up not getting as much off MSRP, but I rather have a car with no issues. Now just waiting for the dealerships to get more inventory.

What bugs are you referring to?

The break issues, display issues..etc. My next door neighbor has an RDX, less than a month after they got it I could hear their brakes squeaking. Of course not all RDX's have this issue, but I don't mind the second year production :)

Get the 2020, just view the extra cost as insurance. It's hard to find a car as nice and roomy as the RDX at this price range but its my 3rd time scheduling for warranty work on my 2019, it's starting to get annoying.

Im waiting for the 2020 as well. My main concerns are the limp mode issues and oil dilution. Heard the infotainment issues are getting better and hopefully the put some better hardware into it on the next year model. Itll be the perfect car if these things get patched up for me.

I would be surprised, and a bit dismayed, if the infotainment system hardware changed for 2020. I hope there will be software changes for the 2020 that are retroactive to the 2019.

What makes you think they fixed anything outside of the few TSB's they've issued? All we got for 2020 was a different shade of white, and Acura swears every issue is "unique" or "normal."

I would be more inclined to buy a 2020 if they published a list of the unadvertised changes. (Assuming there were any)

Very surprised that AZ is not able to get that info. With BMW, we'd know about even mid model year changes (e.g. to the idrive system) through bimmerfest.

Or does Acura not provide that information even to its dealers?

To the OP: I'd go with the 2020. Whatever you lose now by paying more, you'll gain in higher resale value. The 2019 will be treated like a year old car when it comes to resale value. While others have complained of problems with their 2019 cars, so far mine has been pretty solid.

I bought my RDX about 2 weeks ago and I requested the latest build date available. I got one that had been on the lot only a few days. It has build date of 04/19. So it was one of the latest. And I have not issues whatsoever. No brake noises, no infotainment issues, nothing. So I thought if it's bugs you're worried about I think they have worked most of them out by now if you get a recent build date of the 2019's.

That was a Friday. :cheers:

It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. Albert Einstein

I live in the southwest with snow amounts of less than 7-9 inches per year. My 08 RDX was the first vehicle I've owned with (sh)awd. Now, sh-awd is a must have (added AcuraWatch, cooled seats, and Apple CarPlay along the way). The 3rd Gen RDX will drive, handle, and feel like a smaller vehicle with sh-awd in all conditions. Instead of braking in a curve, I usually coast and slowly apply the accelerator to engage the sh-awd system instead. It feels way more stable that way and I don't ride the brake like 99% of other drivers.

I would determine your max price for an RDX and compare the 19-20 models and features. You might get an 19 A-Spec or Advance for the same price as an 20 tech.

Is the RDX turbo affected by the Honda oil dilution issue?
Have any cases been documented on the 2019 RDX?

Thanks!
Len

I thought that was only with the 1.5L Turbo found with the CR-V? The RDX engine is used with the 2.0L turbo Accord and has some relationship with the Civic Type-R engine.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-rdx-...soline-977992/

Theres a thread dedicated to the issue. Whether or not the issue is on an individual basis like some of the mechanical issues also documented in this form, we dont know for sure. Ive heard that the 2.0L turbo has been used before in previous Acura/Honda Cars so I would think it shouldve have issues because its old tech.

The poster WoodyB was nice enough to have his brother check out the infotainment in the 2020 RDX. Confirmed that there is NO Android Auto. That may be coming with this summer's AA refresh but who knows?

Is this why I keep buying Acuras? :rolleyes:

Great cars. Infotainment systems, not so much. Oh well. Hope springs eternal.

OP: Did you end up getting a 2020 - if so, would like to hear your first impressions.

No, the deal on the 2019 was too good to pass up.

Any issues with your 2019 so far?

I've put about 200 miles on it so far, and all is well.
No brake squealing, everything working fine.
Mainly city driving, averaging 19.6 mpg. Keeping an eye on that.
Salesman says premium fuel is recommended, but 87 octane is minimum.
Going to use premium. I assume the engine will thank me for that.
Looking to keep this car at least 8 years. Wife loves it.
I started with sticker price of $43.5K. Ended up at $37.8K.

Similar boat here. I was going to wait for a 2020 but ended up snagging a 2019 that was only on the lot for a week. Got a nice deal and have not had any issues. The only minor problem is the slow startup of the entertainment but everyone has reported that.

anyone tested the carplay on the later builds of the RDX? Interested to see if the carplay bugs are still happening throughout

My build date is 4/19.
I haven't noticed any issues with the infotainment system but it is cumbersome and non-intuitive IMO.

anyone confirm if there is a new software builds on the 2020? If there is no update I see no reason to go for a 2020 model. The only update looks to the new platinum white. I got one of the first batches of RDX's and I don't have any of the hiccups some complain about with the infotainment system. My only issue is the brakes, I addressed it in my first oil change but didnt have time to sit around to have them look at the brakes. Will have them look at it at my 12k maintenance. Personally I'm glad I didn't wait for a 2020 model, I got to enjoy my car for the past 6 months and I still get a lot of head turns as many can't believe the new RDX looks so sporty and aggressive.

Same here. I bought mine in March and I am glad I did at the time. I was contemplating waiting for the 2020 model so I looked at trends for 2nd year new designs and found that most manufacturers do a very minor change or two. I am glad I took the plunge when I did after seeing that the new builds were coming with updated infotainment versions and fixes to common early production issues.

The dealer told me the only difference to the 2020 is the new White color.
I'm sure there have been incremental bug fixes along the way, which is why I asked for a late build date.

Make sure you have a low deductible when you have to replace the windshield once a year

What happens to the windshield?

There might be unadvertised fixes such as lift gate moans, control arm noises or even new assembly for he transmission jerks.

Things they can't really sell as new features but increases overall reliability. These might already have gone into the late 2019 builds. I can't imagine they fixed nothing given all the official issues (one pack videos) they have announced.

Rock chips happen very easily and mine cracked when NOTHING struck it.

Read this thread:
https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...-chips-976577/

Does anyone know if they fixed the Nav so you can adjust the scale while traveling and it will stay there versus reverting back to the default scale right away?

It will stay until the next startup.

Part of my startup routine is to go to the right side of the pad, about a quarter of the way up, and tap twice when the Nav is showing. I don’t even have to look.

Thanks. What does the two tap do exactly? I was referring to the scale of the map. When they first came out I test drove and when I changed the scale of the map it reverted back to the default after a few seconds. That really bothered me as I fiddle with my scale quite often while driving my MDX with a twist of the dial. Maybe they fixed it with a software update early on but that is what I’m wondering about.

When you put your fingers on the map, some controls pop up. On the right side are a zoom in and a zoom out function. By zooming out twice, I change the scale from 500 feet to a 1/4 mile, which is how I like to see the map. I always ride with the map showing, whether or not I have a route plugged in.

Ok Thanks. They must have fixed it through a software upgrade.

All direct injection engines suffer from oil dilution to a certain extent. If you live in an area that has cold weather and drive short trips, this will be more of a concern to you, as it manifests itself when the engine is cold and is unable to burn off fuel vapours.