Orlando Sentinel's view

First impression of the 2007 Acura RDX: “Hey, I like this little SUV!”

Second impression of the 2007 Acura RDX, after looking at the sticker price: “But not that much.”

Honda in general, Acura in particular, has never offered a genuinely sporty sport ute until its all-new 2007 RDX, which the company calls an “entry premium SUV.” Acura targets the BMW X3 as the RDX’s central competition; the X3 is another vehicle I liked better until I saw the sticker.

There is, however, a lot to like in the RDX. The vehicle’s 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine is the first Honda or Acura powerplant in the U.S. to use a turbocharger, which is essentially a fan, driven by exhaust gases, that blows air and fuel into the engine under pressure. The idea with the RDX is to provide the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine, and the power of a V-6. There’s adequate power, all right — 240 horses and 260 foot-pounds of torque — but fuel mileage is nothing special at an EPA-rated 19 mpg city, 23 mpg highway. And like most turbocharged engines, premium gas is preferred.

This spunky engine is nicely matched to a five-speed automatic transmission that can be manually shifted via little paddles on the steering wheel. Power is delivered smoothly, with little of the “turbo lag” from which turbocharged engines sometimes suffer — turbo lag is a pause after you press the accelerator, before the rush of power arrives.

The RDX’s all-wheel-drive system also eliminates torque steer, which is when a powerful front-wheel-drive vehicle tries to steer slightly left or right because of engine torque. The vehicle’s sophisticated AWD system shifts power from wheel to wheel to maximize traction; this is, however, a pavement SUV, lacking the necessary gearing and underbody hardware to work well off-road.

Outside, the RDX is handsome enough, but there are a lot of handsome midsize SUVs. This is how Acura describes the styling: “Befitting its agenda as an urban sports vehicle for young professional singles or couples, the RDX body design is powerful and athletic with muscular bodylines that impart a sense of command and control. The exterior styling theme was an ‘urban running back’ fitted with ‘athletic armor.’ ” I have no idea what that means.

Inside, the RDX and its occupants benefit from Acura’s typical quality and attention to detail. The test vehicle had the only real option, a $3,500 “technology package” that included an upgraded 10-speaker sound system with six-disc CD changer, a navigation system, a rearview camera and several other features, which make this perhaps the most sophisticated smaller SUV on the market. Front seats are comfortable and roomy; rear seats are fine for two, suitable for three. There is no third row. Overall length is 180.7 inches, 2 inches longer than the 2007 Honda CR-V.

On the road, the RDX handles very well, thanks in part to its big 18-inch tires and wheels. The ride on the highway, though, was a little rougher than expected. I would give up a little cornering prowess for a better ride, because despite its pretensions, this is, after all, an SUV. There’s a long list of safety features, including stability control, side and side-curtain air bags and traction control.

As much as I appreciate what Acura has done with the RDX, I’m still having trouble with the price. A 3.5-liter V-6 in the cheaper Toyota RAV-4 has 29 more horsepower and significantly better fuel mileage — on regular gas. And the Mazda CX-7 has a 244-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic transmission and comparable “urban running back” looks and performance, and although it isn’t quite as sophisticated, it’s at least $3,000 cheaper with every available option.

There’s a good argument to be made, though, that I’m behind the curve on the “entry premium SUV” market, which Acura predicts will quintuple in size in the next few years. If Acura is correct, then the RDX is well-positioned for the coming land rush.

Video versions of Sentinel Automotive Editor Steven Cole Smith’s test drives are available at OrlandoSentinel.com/cars.