DJA123

I have no idea what power upgrades are coming to future RDX engines -- Type-S or not -- but the current JCW MINI Countryman puts out 301 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. That's amazing to me. Even if Acura hasn't bogeyed MINI as an RDX cross-shop competitor, I think they should be concerned about buyers seeing that a MINI has a more powerful engine option.

It's one thing to say the RDX doesn't try to compete in the $60k neighborhood where 300hp+ is expected, but it's quite another to say they're not fully competing on power with MINI Cooper.

Or, is MINI just a unicorn outside of their field of view?

Wander

Yes

fiatlux

To be fair, the JCW Mini uses a BMW engine, specifically the same B48 also in the X2 M35i. Highly doubt they're going to increase the output of the K20 in the RDX to try to compete with that when they'd be better suited offering a Type-S variant to compete with the X3 M40i / GLC43 AMG / SQ5. Doing both would just cause the base variant to encroach and cannibalize the Type-S, and we all know Acura doesn't need any more competition when it comes to power, especially from itself.

Waetherman

The JCW Countryman starts at $42k and goes up to $48k. Specced out to RDX standards, I got to a price of about $52k, actually. So I'd say it's not really a unicorn, it's pretty much at the same price as the RDX. Yes at that price it's got 10% more horsepower, but that seems a minor difference. And when you put that together with all the other differences (such as the cargo capacity) I wouldn't even consider them competitive.

JB in AZ

While I'm sure it is not an issue for some potential RDX or Mini buyers, the seating on the Mini is too low for me. This is one of the main reason I have transitioned to crossovers or SUVs. Ideally, I would be buying a station wagon, but the lower seating makes it more difficult for getting in and out with my aching bones.
Regarding horsepower, the RDX has more than what I need...but it is nice to have.

I bet this is the case for many.

NooYawkuh

You know why the Brits never made television sets?

They couldn't figure out how to make them leak oil.

DJA123

I certainly did not consider these cars as practical equivalents, not even close. I was honestly surprised to see MINI offering a more powerful engine option -- at an equally surprising price. The RDX is fine for me as it is.

The three position headlight switch in British cars: Dim, Flicker, and Off

Waetherman

Yeah, I guess 30 extra horses is nothing to sneeze at. I just watched a review of the JCW and it actually looks like it performs really well. I wouldn't cross shop it, but it does make me think more seriously about doing those upgrades to get another 30 horsepower from the RDX....

DJA123

With a significant torque boost as well, and twin scroll turbo, the MINI probably does have excellent driveability. "British" car jokes aside.

Yumcha

Had a Countryman All4 before getting the S5 and I'll say that the MINI was a riot to drive.

Crazy fun. That being said, it was not very reliable and given the harsh winters here, I've had 2 incidents where it failed to start after parking it for the daytime to work. The car was quirky too but I suppose that had some of the German influence given BMW's ownership of the brand. I think it was basically a repackaged X1.

Good memories but it was time to let it go. I dunno, I would compare the MINI to an Acura equivalent. The RDX is a battleship compared to the Countryman.

Waetherman

Here's what I don't understand though; if you're getting an SUV, don't you want it to be large? The Countryman has half the cargo capacity of the RDX - I just couldn't live with that.

And if you want a car that's fun to drive, there are so many better options than a Mini. The Audi S5 you mention being one of them - about the same price, more horsepower, and more cargo space (I'm talking about the sportback). And I'm assuming that's even more fun to drive because it's a sedan.

I guess it's that whole "who wants to buy a Mini that isn't mini?" thing. I like the brand, and I like the looks, but when I was researching new cars the Mini didn't even make the first cut because of the small interior size of it.

@DJA123 It looks like the Hondata flash alone will give the RDX 28 more HP and 36 more LB-FT. That would put it at 300 HP/316 LB-FT. That's still shy of the 301/332 claimed by Mini, but pretty close. I don't know how Mini is getting their 0-60 numbers though - I think the claimed number is 4.9 seconds and the Car & Driver test had 4.4 seconds which is pretty insane. The RDX even with the Hondata tune only manages to come in at about 6 seconds even. I guess the Mini does weigh a little less though, and it does have launch control.

Yumcha

I'd really say that the Countryman is really a car with a bit more clearance. It's why it's not an SUV...and if anything, borderline cross-over. It's almost like the Volvo Cross Country line and how it's a slightly elevated version of the car models (V90 and V60). We bought the MINI because my wife wanted a bit more clearance and also the benefits of a hatch versus trunk.

That being said, the peppiness of the MINI is not really the same comparison to the Audi S5 Sportback and in that regard, not close to the same price range either. We got the loaded and top-of-line All4 and it's 5-digits less than the S5. I just don't think we should compare the RDX to a MINI at all. The BMW X3 and the Audi Q5 are better comparisons.

DJA123

I drove a (BMW) mk1 Cooper S with blower and it literally made me laugh out loud. The sounds it made and handling were ridiculous. But, early reports of poor engineering took that off my list back then. It was a hoot though.

Yep. We're at two tons and down a little on twist with the RDX, but I'm still OK. If I wanted more speed, that would have been the primary consideration. It's a good all around package.. better than good for me.

Waetherman

Yeah I'm not complaining either - certainly the sportiest car I've owned. But sometimes I do wish it had a little more oomph, especially from the line. Right now I'm considering the downpipe and tune option, possibly with a new exhaust as well. I know I'm going to have this car for a long time so I don't mind sinking a little money into it early on to make it more to my liking for the next few years.

BLEXV6

Is it just me, but I do not get a Mini, from it's size, look and strange interior. I look for something completely different.

Wander

Nice.

But the Yanks figured out how to make them big and heavy. Remember the Motorola Quasar console TV with the "works in a drawer"? A bit before my time, but I think I spent lots of quality time parked in front of one at Grandma's house.





Not to be outdone, when "flat screen" started to become fashionable, as opposed to the familiar boob shape, Sony came out with the 36" Trinitron flat-front CRT TV, that weighed in at a svelte 220 pounds ( 100 kg ) of solid lead and glass. They even made a 40" that tipped the scales at 325 pounds! I had to hire two strong guys to extract a 36" from my basement when the Mitsubishi DLP rear-projection moved in. ( Another "flat screen" with a really big a$$ ). I wonder if they even tried to sell them outside of the "bigger is better" American market?




Mini. Pfffft.

Waetherman

I had that TV too!

DJA123

Definitely not just you. MINI is proudly off the centerline and targeted to buyers who want quirky over mainstream. I considered an early version of the new Cooper S convertible because I wanted a fun to drive toy and funky was just fine -- at the time. Nothing about the brand is really appealing to me now. Except maybe the BMW motor mentioned earlier.

flames9

Would be fun to drive, no doubt, but far too small for most.....Would not enjoy putting my hockey goalie equipment in there,lol

mlheck

So you do like my wife did. A 2011 Cooper S convertible, with 6 speed manual for the summer, and a 2020 RDX A-Spec for the winter. The Cooper is way more fun to drive though.