2013 Acura RDX Total Car Score Analysis

The 2013 Acura RDX earns a below average Total Car Score for the Entry Luxury SUVs & Crossovers segment. 
 
The all-new 2013 RDX is a very different animal than the first RDX that debuted some six years ago. Back then the RDX was a little rough around the edges -- for an Acura, anyway -- with a hot turbocharged engine and road manners that were definitely on the sporty side. While that sounds like an enthusiast’s dream, Acura found that entry-luxury crossover buyers weren’t necessarily driving enthusiasts. So with this fresh-sheet redesign, Acura has built a lot of refinement into the RDX that should greatly broaden its appeal.  
 
To start with, the turbo motor has given way to a V6 that, while still powerful, improves the RDX’s fuel economy considerably thanks to cylinder deactivation technology. The new RDX also has a simpler AWD system, borrowed from the Honda CR-V with which it shares a platform. Active Noise Control makes the cabin a quiet place, even at speed, and that cabin has grown both in comfort and in the quality of its materials.  
 
The RDX still offers a solid, confident ride, though its handling traits have moved from fun-to-drive to fairly bland, exhibiting more body roll and less feedback from the road than in the previous model.  
 
But if Acura has sized up its target market correctly -- and it usually does -- the 2013 RDX will not only survive its transformation into a more refined vehicle but also thrive in the market.

2013 Acura RDX Model Line-Up

The 2013 Acura RDX is a five-passenger five-door compact crossover vehicle offered with a V6 engine, standard front- or optional all-wheel drive and in two trim levels.  
 
The RDX powertrain consists of a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 273 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque. A sequential-shift six-speed automatic transmission backs the V6, routing power to the front wheels or the RDX’s optional AWD.  
 
Standard features aboard the RDX include leather upholstery, heated front seats, a tilt/telescope steering column, automatic climate control, a rearview camera, power moonroof, and an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with seven speakers, satellite radio, and auxiliary and USB ports.  
 
Adding the Technology Package brings a satellite communications system, voice-recognition navigation, an enhanced audio package with a hard-drive media storage system, and a power liftgate.  
 
Though the EPA hasn’t officially released its fuel economy data, Acura reports the 2013 RDX achieves 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined in 2WD models, 19/27/22 with AWD. 
 
Properly equipped, the 2013 Acura RDX can tow up to 1,500 pounds.

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