2011 Acura RDX

Vehicle Overview

The Acura RDX is a compact crossover luxury SUV that competes with other small luxury SUVs, such as the BMW X3 and Land Rover’s LR2. The RDX seats five and has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

New for 2011
There are no significant changes.

Exterior
Fresh front styling for 2010 gave the RDX a large Acura-family grille, the last model in the brand’s lineup to get that look. Other changes for 2010 included new headlights and taillights, and a restyled rear end to make the RDX look beefier and more closely resemble its Acura siblings.

Exterior features include:

• Dual exhaust pipes
• Liftgate spoiler
• Xenon headlights
• Side mirrors with integrated turn signals
• 18-inch wheels
• Fog lamps

Interior
Two front bucket seats and a 60/40-split folding rear bench seat provide seating for up to five people. The driver faces a three-pod instrument cluster.

A rearview camera, electronic compass and ambient footwell lighting are standard, along with a USB input to connect and charge MP3 players. On models with the optional navigation system, the rearview camera display moves from the rearview mirror to the 8-inch navigation screen.

Standard features include:

• Leather upholstery
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated front seats
• Moonroof

Under the Hood
The RDX comes with front-wheel drive or what Acura calls Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, which can manage torque distribution to the front and rear wheels and between the left and right rear wheels. The system is designed to improve the RDX’s handling response.

Standard features include:

• 240-horsepower, turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder with 260 pounds-feet of torque
• Variable valve timing with Acura’s Variable Flow Turbo to reduce turbo lag
• Five-speed automatic with paddle shifters behind steering wheel

Safety
The RDX’s safety features include:

• Antilock brakes
• Electronic stability control
• Active front head restraints
• Side-impact airbags
• Side curtain airbags