2021 Acura RDX Review

Name: 2021 Acura RDX Review
Brand: Acura

Price Range: $21,755 - $38,500

2021 Acura RDX SH-AWD PMC Edition 4dr SUV Exterior

+334

There's certainly a lot to like about the 2021 RDX. It's roomy, comfortable and packed with features. On the downside, there isn't an optional engine upgrade for buyers looking for more power or a hybrid option. Additionally, we're not terribly fond of the RDX's infotainment system. Overall, though, the Acura RDX is worth checking out if you're looking for a good value on a luxury SUV, especially compared to European rivals such as the Audi Q5, the Jaguar F-Pace and the Mercedes GLC.

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2021 Acura RDX Review

by the Edmunds Experts

11/19/2020

What's new

New limited-run PMC Edition model
Part of the third RDX generation introduced for 2019

What is the RDX?

The RDX is Acura's entry in the ultra-competitive compact luxury SUV class. Redesigned in 2019, the RDX is one of the newest crossovers in the segment, and it's brimming with the latest semi-automated driving features. A starting price under $40,000 means it's more affordable than rivals, and a lengthy list of standard features makes it a stronger value too. The RDX shines elsewhere, offering a roomy cabin, cavernous cargo area and serene ride.

The RDX has a few quirks that we'd be remiss not to mention. The infotainment interface is quite robust, to the point that it can be tricky to navigate until you master the menu structure. We also find its engine unexceptional, delivering merely average acceleration but falling below fuel economy estimates in real-world driving.

If you're willing to pay a little extra, the recently refreshed Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class provides a superior driving experience and is slightly more refined overall. The Volvo XC60 is another well-regarded small crossover, as are the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. Any of these vehicles will suit your needs, though the Acura RDX remains competitive and less expensive than its rivals.

Edmunds says

The Acura RDX offers a tempting blend of comfort, utility and technology at a price point thousands of dollars lower than its closest competitors.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Acura RDX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $5.24 per gallon for premium unleaded in California.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in California

$265/mo

$252/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Excellent

#7 out of 18 among Luxury Compact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Acura RDX from 2008-2022.}

$408/yr

vs. $559/yr
for Average Luxury Compact SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.26x/yr

vs. 1.23x/yr
for Average Luxury Compact SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

vs. 8.6%
for Average Luxury Compact SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Acura RDX Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.8

65 reviews

5(49%)

4(16%)

3(12%)

2(12%)

1(11%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Not Perfect but a Great Car

Robert Horwitz, 12/20/2020

2021 Acura RDX SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Advance Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A)

Looking for a very well priced semi luxury crossover then this might just fit the bill. Is this a perfect SUV, No. Is it a very well rounded vehicle for a good price, Yes. To be honest I love this car. For me it is a perfect balance for everything I was looking for. This car has the power that most people want with decent gas milage. It has the comfort and luxury found only in …

A 4.5 star review

A, 11/19/2020

2021 Acura RDX SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Advance Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A)

Updated after 4 months of ownership: Running gas mileage is about 21-22 mpg. Under the rating, but about as expected based on an earlier vehicle. We really have no gripes about this car except the rearview camera. We learned the infotainment pad quickly, the drivers aids are helpful but not intrusive. This car eats up miles on a road trip and is comfortable around town. I stand by 4.5 … stars. Good car, not perfect. Happy with the purchase! Earlier reviewafter a few days of ownership: If you are reading this, you're probably considering this car and cross shopping similar cars, like the BMW X3, Infinity QX50, Volvo XC60, Lexus NX, etc. I will focus on comparisons with those and items that that you notice after a few days that you may not have caught on the test drive(s). First up: things that you may not catch at first 1. This car is cheaper for a fully optioned model than competitors. But, you will notice a few cost cutting places: A) the standard floor mats are awful. Truly atrocious. Budget for a set of premium floor mats from Acura as part of your purchase. B) vanity mirror lights, glovebox light, rear turn signals are not LED but everything else is. C) the back of the front seats is cheap feeling plastic - even fake leather would have been more in place with the rest of the interior. 2. The physical spare tire on AWD, non Aspec cars was a purchasing decision, after an awful experience with harsh-riding, quick-wearing, and hyper-expensive run-flats on our last car. A spare is rare in this segment. But, the flat tire and wheel you take off the car WILL NOT FIT back under the car. the big plastic bag near the jack under the cargo floor is for placing the tire in when you have to put it back in the car. 3. Pay careful attention to the rear view camera. In our advance package model, it is among the worst I have EVER seen and way out of place in a car of this level. It is manageable in bright daylight, but essentially unusable at night. The tech package camera is apparently better - drive this car at night, and try to back up into a dark parking spot if this is important to you. Next: Things you wonder if you can live with: 1. We are having mixed success with the weird dash layout. The open spot under the floating gear selector is more useful than we thought. However, since this pushes back the cupholders, they are less useful than expected. Pay attention to this if you are shorter driver. You will have to move the armrest forward, permanently reducing to 1 cupholder in the middle. Most of the other cars in segment (X3, QX50) have more logical placement. The QX50, in particular, has a perfect armrest for a shorter driver. 2. Screens and infotainment: Again, mixed. We are liking this better than the complex all touch screen controls of the XC60 and the odd ergonomics of the QX50 double screen. The menus are slightly better organized vs X3. But, you will need to spend quite some time setting it up. There is a huge learning curve. Once you get it customized, you don't need the trackpad much while driving, but it will take a while to get there. Watch out for the bluetooth integration if you don't use CarPlay or Android Auto. It works with one of our devices, but does not play well with the other. 3. Artificial engine noise. Yeah, on your test drive you heard it revving along. It is fake and a little obnoxious after a bit. Comfort setting makes it better, but you cannot turn it off without also disabling noise canceling features. Drive on a freeway with concrete roads and accelerate around in traffic while having a conversation with a rear seat passenger. Evaluate if this noise bothers you. 4. No AC control in rear. There is no reason why this car should not have it (another cost-savings?). Our main rear seat passenger is mostly colder than us most of the time, so seat heaters back there help. But there is no recourse if your main passenger likes more air in their face. More standard Pros and Cons: 1. Great driving car. Comparable turn-in with the BMW, sportier than the Volvo or Lexus. Some might find it slightly twitchy. The steering is more appropriately weighted than the QX50 and the ride is softer than that or the X3. On balance, we liked this one best. 2. Looks awesome from the front. But, it looks oddly tall and narrow from the back. I could do without the silly chrome strip on the side. The Qx50 is the best-looking car in segment, but we felt this was right behind it. 3. The cargo area is more useful than competitors, even if the cubic feet are the same. It is longer and flatter, with less volume going up. This leads to more useable floor space. 4. Seat comfort is second in class, with only the QX50 being better (possibly the most comfortable car seats EVER on that).The adjustability on RDX seats is incredible. 5. Sound system is best-in-class. I wish it had a better subwoofer and controls to specifically pump up lowest notes, but this a pretty minor gripe.

Cool and fun vehicle

Tom, 07/12/2021

2021 Acura RDX SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Technology Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A)

I have had the RDX for 3 months and put 6000 miles on it.. The vehicle has plenty of power like a sports car, has the offroad capability as a suv, and the Sh-awd is awesome. Very comfortable and relaxing ride while on long trips. Fuel economy is about average on daily driving. On a car trip I did 140 miles with 2 adults, two kids, dog and back loaded with bags. Slight grade kept it …

Surprising Power 4CYL Engine

Ty Bookman, 05/08/2021

2021 Acura RDX SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Technology Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A)

I was looking for a new vehicle that would accept my large 6'3" frame at a reasonable price. My last vehicle was a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee which provided ample leg room for me. We took it on a road trip recently and found it to be very accommodating space wise. The ride is smooth with a comfortable interior. When there is a need for power there is more than enough to do the job. I have …

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2021 RDX Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$38,400
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$265/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	31.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the RDX models:

Adaptive Cruise Control: Automatically lowers the set cruise speed when you approach slower-moving cars.
Lane Keeping Assist System: Detects when the car is approaching the lane's edge and applies steering torque to help recenter it in the lane.
Collision Mitigation Braking System: Automatically applies the brakes when it detects an impending front collision.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover16.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Acura RDX Review

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