JB in AZ

Brand new here, not sure if this is posted in the right area. Please move or advise if necessary.

Bought an '18 CRV Touring FWD a year ago, and after 15,000 trouble free miles really like it. (No oil dilution) I have been eyeing the "premium or entry luxury" market for some time, and the 19 RDX looks like it might fit my needs and look nice next to the CRV in my garage. .

I know there has been some discussion here about what exactly that category of vehicle is. I did a quick test drive last month and was impressed. I'm now at a place in life where I can afford to step up to the next level. The BMWs are scary pricey, when you get the features I would want, Volvo XC40 reviews say it is very noisy on the highway., XC60 ???, I think Mercedes has more reliability issues than I want to deal with, as well as pricing. QX50 seems like I should at least drive one, I do have a CVT in my CRV and that isn't an issue for me. There's a new Q3 coming out (next year?) I don't see any domestic brands offering anything I would consider, but am willing to listen to other's thoughts.

Anyway, I hope to learn more about the RDX and contribute where I can. If I buy one, I will be very active here.

flames9

Welcome..Acura/Honda make a a great product, but I ended up going with a 2019 Volvo T6 Inscription with the polestar tuning...Should be arriving any day now!! If you test drive a XC60.....In my opinion there is a difference between the T5 and T6.....T6 is def more peppy..same engine, but the T6 is supercharged as well.....there is a RDX vs xc60 on here.....Lot of great vehicles out there...really need to take the time and test drive them.....as everyone opinion differs...enjoy

Meto

My only suggestion is to test everything thoroughly that has been mentioned as a trouble area for most owners. If you listen to USB Audio, then prepare a 32GB or larger drive in exFat or Fat32 and take it along. Test Bluetooth audio and definitely fiddle with the control wheels, the apps and the HUD if buying the Advance model

kboo74656

JB in AZ

Thanks! One of my concerns is the lack of the promised Android Auto, as I am an Android user, and use AA almost daily. I would be interested in the Advance RDX FWD. I prefer the feature set on that trim level.

I also forgot to mention the Lexus. The RX may be slightly bigger than I want, and I'm not sure the NX is right either, but the availability of the Hybrid powertrain is a factor worthy of consideration.

Outright acceleration is not a priority, as I generally lean toward preferring fuel economy to rapid acceleration. I know if I have the ability, I will use it! LOL

Regarding music, I generally default to Sirius XM radio, I do have a 32GB Micro flashdrive loaded with my music, but haven't used it a couple of years.

Thanks for the welcomes and the suggestions! I figured this was a good place to start by reading about issues and likes dislikes of owners here before I take another test drive. I didn't do that before buying my CR-V , but If I had, I think I would still have bought it. It was the best choice in the compact crossover class.

JB in AZ

I searched, but perhaps didn't use the proper terms:

I understand the Avance trim (maybe it is the A Spec?) has an engine or exhaust sound that is amplified into the cabin. Is this user configurable? In other words if I want it off, can I turn it off?

JustMe...

See this: https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...-noise-970403/

JB in AZ

Thank you very much!

Havasubum

Mine is for sale with 2600 miles on it.

skarface

RDX for sale? Why?

Havasubum

It's not working out for us. We need something bigger.

RDX10

Do yourself a favor and take a look at the Lincoln Nautilus. I personally think the new refresh looks amazing and it's truly an incredibly luxurious experience. The drivetrain is also solid. Not sure what it's priced like in the states though.

Midnight Mystery

OP. Whatever you end up getting you are welcome and encouraged to remain active here!

Congratulations on the CR-V, hope you find a nice luxury CUV to suit you!

JustMe...

Yeah, unlike the Honda forum. Where you are pretty much escorted out the door when you get rid of yours.

JB in AZ

I just might do that. The Ford/Lincoln dealer here has the best service dept I have ever dealt with in 40+ years of new car purchases. We have bought several vehicles there, and this next purchase will replace a '15 Escape Titanium that has been a very good car, I'm just ready to go upscale a bit....keeping a Ford beyond the powertrain warranty is concerning...as is the resale value.

Thank you very much, the group here seems to be very down to earth. I've seen several new members posting about possible RDX purchases and I really appreciate the attitude and suggestions you all present. The CR-V is really a nice vehicle, most of the reason I am leaning toward the RDX.

I am VERY active on the CR-V forum (same username for those who would like to read my posts there) There are definitely some opinions there. I try hard to be welcoming and friendly to all. There has always been the CR-V vs RAV4 and the CR-V vs CX5 "discussions" which tend to get heated. My take is not every car is right for every person. But why chastise someone because they choose a different vehicle? On the other hand, why go to a forum of a different brand then what you chose, and bash the car, or the manufacturer, or the folks who did buy one, and still do?

Anyway, I hope to get out this next week and do some real road testing. I've had an ear infection the last week, and have some hearing loss due to that, so with hearing temporarily compromised, it's hard to tell how a car sounds. And that is VERY important to me.

Sounds

Me too.

Me too.


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DWG

Hello JB and welcome!

We have a 2017 CR-V AWD Touring, and purchased a 2019 AWD Advance RDX a couple of months ago. We have 31k miles on our CR-V and, like you, we really like our CR-V. You may notice people on here posting OMG CR-V stay away, oil dilution issues! but you get that sort of thing on forums. Issues are often overblown, everything is a matter of personal perception and opinion.

Again like you, we were interested in adding a nicer vehicle. The question is which vehicle? Most are awfully good these days. We have always favored Hondas, but the Pilot was larger than we wanted. We looked for attractive options from domestic manufacturers, but didn't find anything we liked. As Honda fans, the RDX was a pretty good fit. It shares some characteristics with our CR-V, but is far more refined. The RDX has a lot more sport to it than most luxury vehicles, which appeals to some more than others.

I learned a lot from these forums before buying, and I'm sure you will do the same. Let me know of any questions, and happy shopping!

JB in AZ

HI DWG, and thanks for the welcome! I do have a question, as you have both the CR-V and the RDX. Please compare the sound level between tie two both on highway, and on "rough" asphalt roads. My one minor dislike of the CR-V is on some road surfaces, the road noise/tire noise is just a bit higher than I would like, hence one of my (many) reasons for wanting to go a bit upscale.. I'm hoping that the RDX is a bit quieter.

RDX10

I definitely think you should. Even if you decide not to get one, it's just a car I always suggest people look at because it always seems to slip people's mind. I seen you mentioning a quiet interior and the Nautilus is whisper quiet fyi! In terms of resale, the Escape actually does pretty well in Canada, ESPECIALLY the Titanium trim which is held its value surprisingly well. So interesting that it doesn't in the states.

JB in AZ

I definitely will!

I think part of the issue with Escape resale value is the high numbers of fleet/lease and rental cars that get dumped into the resale market. Also, let's face it, Ford products don't have the reputation for reliability that MOST Asian brands do.

DWG

The RDX is much quieter than the CR-V on the highway. I should mention that we were frustrated by the road noise of our CR-V, which had gotten worse over time. We finally asked the dealer to look for wheel or tire issues when we had it in for service. They said the tires were cupped and the tread was thin (though I didn't think so), and should be replaced. This was at about 30k miles, which is rather soon to need new tires. We replaced the stock tires (Hankooks) with Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tires and the improvement was BIG.

The CR-V is a good car, but the RDX is much nicer and the stereo in the RDX is really nice.

JB in AZ

Thanks DWG! We only have about 15,000 miles on our '18 CRV FWD, with Hankook tires also. Tire noise is a funny thing. As the tires wear, the noise level gradually increases. It is often hard to recognize the gradual increase. However, I noticed the tire noise during initial road test on a few of the local roads here. It's not really bad, but our '15 Escape Titanium (which will be replaced by the RDX, if we decide t buy one) is definitely quieter on the same roads. I will test drive the RDX on the same roads before I buy, but your comments are very helpful and positive. Thanks Again!

DWG

Anytime. You are exactly right about the gradual tire noise increase. The tire noise in our CR-V went from muted, to average, to loud, to geez that noise is annoying! When we had the Goodyears installed it was drove like a new car.

I saw your post elsewhere about the absence of remote start. There were many posts on the subject earlier, and like you I didn't understand how that wasn't standard on the RDX. Not only did our CR-V come with remote start, but we have a Civic that came with remote start as well. We were able to get the fob remote start thrown into our purchase. At the time, people were having issues with starting through the app and we didn't want to pay a monthly fee, but perhaps those issues have been resolved.

My wife commutes in the RDX and I usually drive it on evenings and weekends, so I compare it with the CR-V often. Once in a while when driving the RDX Advance, I think about it costing something like $13k more than the CR-V Touring. But to me, it's worth it.

Sounds

@DWG In what ways is it worth it (for you)?

DWG

Fair question. I'm a practical sort, so I do think about the premium we paid over the price of another CR-V Touring. The RDX is a little bigger than the CR-V, but not too big. The NVH (noise, vibration & harshness) are far less in the RDX. Everything is smoother and more refined, though not whisper-quiet as in some more expensive vehicles. We like the looks of the RDX. It drives nicely, is quieter, is much faster, and corners far better when you are so inclined. The seats are very comfortable along with being heated and ventilated. I'm not sure how someone can't get comfortable with 16-way adjustability. I really enjoy the head up display, which I thought was kind of a silly techy thing I wouldn't care about it. I like to see my speed and the speed limit without looking down, and the fact that it shows the station and song on the head up display when you change stereo stations is a nice plus. That brings me to the stereo. I don't know about you, but I spend zero time driving on scenic switchbacks along the coast. Zero. I spend 95% of my time driving along boring roads and sitting at stoplights. The stereo in the RDX is reportedly one of the best available, and sounds great to me. If you like music, you'll enjoy it. An errand run to the library yesterday became fun when one of my favorite U2 songs came on satellite radio, and up went the volume. It was really a pleasure to hear a song I like sound that good.

Everything is relative, of course. The RDX was somewhat indulgent for us, but we enjoy it. We could have spent less, and had no interest in spending more.

Sounds

@DWG Excellent write-up. (you're hired ) Thanks very much!

DrWoo

flames9

Got on my Honda Africa twin and went for a ride today.....Went to a Lincoln dealership...the Nautilus does look nice....lot of nice options on it.but a bit too big for me, but a nice options for many

RDX10

Oohhh that's a nice bike!!

It's honestly so underappreciated though but definitely not small. It's about 3.5 inches longer and 4 inches wider than an RDX. But boy is it sexy as hell now and super luxurious!

JB in AZ

Would someone kindly advise me how to turn off what seems to be automatic subscriptions on this forum? Apparently I'm getting automatically subscribed to every thread that I posted in when there is a new post. I'm not at all new to forums, but this is the first one (that I can remember) that does this, and after spending 20 minutes trying to find that setting, I am coming up empty!

Thanks!

Everyone here seems so nice and friendly, it is very refreshing after some of the other forums that can get so....well, I'm sure you all know!

There's a big part of me that hopes the RDX ends up being the vehicle I choose, because being part of this community just seems so right.

flames9

Just above post #1 (scroll to the top) u see THREAD TOOLS....click on that...a window drops down...then click on UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS THREAD.....

JB in AZ

Thanks, I found how to manually unsubscribe to an individual thread, but Is there a setting somewhere that I can change that is currently defaulted to have me automatically subscribed to every thread that I post in?

JB in AZ

AH! I found it!

Default Thread Subscription Mode
When you post a new thread, or reply to a topic, you can choose to automatically add that thread to your list of subscribed threads, with the option to receive email notification of new replies to that thread.
Do not subscribe No email notification Instant email notification Daily email notification Weekly email notification Default Thread Subscription Mode:

Midnight Mystery

I like that it subscribes you, that way youre always in the loop on the conversation. I hate seeking out a certain thread to see if it was posted in again, but different strokes, I guess.

JB in AZ

Yeah. I generally read the forums where I am active at least daily, and find it easy to see which threads have new posts, the thread title is bold. Much better than adding to the (way too) many emails I get daily! Just personal preference!

Stew4HD

I traded in a MKX on the RDX.. the MKX (now Nautilus) was trouble free and had everything but HUD that my Advance does plus folding mirrors. I highly recommend the OP take a look and test drive.. I do miss the welcome lighting on the MKX.. just something about walking up to your vehicle in and have it light up when you get within a certain proximity.

The ability to change the interior lighting to most any different color is quite nice too. Price should be comporable

DrWoo

JB in AZ

I definitely plan to test drive the Nautilus. We have owned two current Gen Escape Titaniums, (which also have the ability to change interior lighting color, BTW) and have been very happy, except for the lack of rear seat leg room, poor resale value, (we generally trade in at 3-4 years) and less than expected fuel economy.. The Ford/Lincoln dealer here has the best service dept I have ever dealt with in 40+ years.

However, my internal struggle is always for better fuel economy. Yes, I know it is only a few dollars a year difference, but I seem to have a hard time reconciling it. In 15,000 miles we are averaging 33 mpg in our 18 CR-V Touring FWD vs 28 mpg (same driving style, same typical routes) in our '15 Escape 1.6 L Turbo FWD (which will be traded in on what ever we decide on). In considering a "Premium or Luxury" brand for the first time, should I just not consider the fuel economy?

I really like Hybrids, and would like to find an RDX size CUV in a premium brand that offers a hybrid engine option. There have been rumors of a Hybrid CR-V coming to the US (has been announced for Europe) But I am thinking the manufactures assume that most buyers of premium brands don't care about fuel economy. How can I get this issue out of my head? LOL I am definitely in a financial place where the extra cost isn't an issue. Yet, I smile every time I fill up the CRV and see the calculated mpg in the low to mid 30s.

With all this said, I believe most Ford/Lincoln products don't meet EPA mpg ratings in real life (at least for me, and widely reported as well), yet most Honda/Acura products exceed them.

I guess I can't have it all, luxury, and exceptional fuel economy.

Rambling over.

MI-RDX

If Acura were to drop the MDX Sport-Hybrid drive train into the RDX I'd be driving one the day after it hit the market.

EFR