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It is clear that the new SH-AWD is far more advanced than the simple system now in use on the RDX. My question whether there will be any significant practical difference in everyday or slippery driving conditions. I certainly don’t expect to go canyon-cutting in an SUV.

The technology is way cool, though.

Acura started using a brand new second generation SH-AWD system on the 2016+ MDX. They switched from magnetic to hydraulic clutches and also switched out the rear over-drive unit from 1.7% to 2.7%. I have to be honest in that I don’t understand what the percents mean, but what I do know is that the RL was capable of overdriving the rear wheels by 5.7%, and that the higher the percent, the more responsive and affective the system.

My understanding is that the RDX is using the hardware from the 2G SH-AWD system off the MDX. Now if they use the same software is a different story. Like mrgold said, the 1G RDX and 2G+ MDX both had SH-AWD except the RDX had different software and actually very rarely overdrove the rear wheels.

There is ENORMOUS practical advantages to SH-AWD vs the (IMO) trash system in the current RDX. SH-AWD is an amazing system because it’s not just for bad weather, but also for better handling in dry weather. I’ve owned numerous German vehicles and have extensive experience with systems like Quattro, X-Drive, 4XMotion (basically quattro on steroids), as well as your run of the mill slip and grip basic systems from Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Toyota, and Acura/Honda (2G RDX) in snowy-icy conditions.

SH-AWD by far blew those systems out of the water. It’s the most controlled and confidence inspiring AWD system I have ever had in a car I owned. Incredibly capable and reassuring. I remember one time I was stopped at a red light on a very large patch of glossy ice. I was in my RDX. The light turned green and I gave it a little gas, the system instantly pushed all the power to the back left wheel and got me moving through that patch of ice instantly without a hiccup. The system was able to recognize that the back left wheel was on a dry patch of road and sent all the power there. It essentially acts like an electronic limited slip differential.

Most other cars with fhe slip and grip AWD system have fully open differentials which means even if the car sends power to the rear, it will get sent to the wheel that is actually slipping more! Yes many cars simulate a limited slip diff by braking the wheel on the slippery surface, but in my many experiences with these systems the simulated braking does nothing if you’re in a situation like I mentioned above. They won’t ever fully brake one wheel.

Oh and trust me, if this new RDX handles anything like the 1G did with SH-AWD, you actually can and will want to carve canyons in your SUV.

That above quote is the same way they described the 1G RDX SH-AWD system and we both know how that operates in comparison to true SH-AWD systems like those in the RL and MDX. It’s not a matter of hardware but rather software. Let’s hope they don’t handicap the system again.

What will be interesting to see is whether putting the car into sport and sport+ will affect the AWD system programming. With the 1G RDX sadly Acura did not think to make the AWD system more aggresive when you put the transmission into sport mode. So hopefully this time around they thought about that. From my understanding (iirc) this 3G RDX is 100 pounds lighter than the 2G and the 2G was like 150-200 pounds lighter than the 1G which was super porky at 4000 pounds, so couple the much better 10AT vs the slow 5AT and the much better 2.0T vs the 2.3T AND the weight advantage...this could be one really mean little SUV. I’m excited.