2012 Acura RDX Overview Change Vehicle

2012 Acura RDX review with specifications, fuel economy data, safety information, reliability ratings, a photo gallery, and The Vehix View

The 2012 Acura RDX is a four-door, small crossover that, to date, is the brand’s only turbocharged model. With room for five passengers and the option of either front- or all-wheel-drive capability, the RDX competes with the Infiniti EX35 and Volvo XC60, as well as offerings such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLK.

For 2012, the Acura RDX arrives without significant changes. Only one trim level is available to buyers, though a feature-heavy Technology Package can be added. Because it is based on the Honda CR-V, which is redesigned for 2012, the RDX is likely to be replaced with an all-new model for 2013.

Given its premium-grade status, it’s not surprising to learn that the 2012 Acura RDX is well equipped, even before adding the optional Technology Package. The assortment of standard features includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a power moonroof, heated mirrors with built-in turn signals, automatic HID headlights, power-adjustable and heated front sport seats, leather upholstery, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Impressed? Good, because we’re just getting started.

Continuing with the more is more theme, Acura has fitted the 2012 RDX with a 360-watt sound system, a USB port and an auxiliary input jack, XM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, a universal garage door opener, and a boost meter that tells the driver how hard the turbocharger is working. This is all in addition to the basics, like cruise control, power windows, power mirrors, and power door locks with keyless entry.

That doesn’t leave much decision making aside from color and choosing between front- or all-wheel drive. Shoppers can consider tricking out the RDX with the Technology Package, within which you’ll find a navigation system with real-time traffic and weather information, a rearview camera, and an upgraded Acura/ELS audio system boasting 410 watts of ear-ringing decibelage.

Every 2012 Acura RDX is powered by the same engine: a turbocharged, 2.3-liter four-cylinder that pumps out 240 horses and 260 pound-feet of torque. There’s just one transmission, too, a five-speed Sequential Shift automatic with paddle shifters, a sport mode, and grade logic control.

Front-wheel-drive is standard, or buyers can opt for Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system (SH-AWD). Acura’s SH-AWD automatically distributes power between the front and rear wheels as conditions warrant, and can deliver up to 70 percent of engine power to a single rear wheel for improved handling prowess. Under normal driving conditions, 90 percent of engine power flows to the RSX’s front wheels.

With front-wheel drive, the RDX earns EPA ratings of 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, while the SH-AWD model steps to the plate with 17 mpg and 22 mpg, respectively. Premium fuel is required.

Creature comforts and a racy engine are definite RDX selling points, but safety could use improvement. With six airbags, stability and traction control, and four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, the RDX is equipped with the safety basics, and the Technology Package adds a useful rearview camera. However, at this point on the automotive continuum, this represents a fairly light load of safety-related features for a luxury-branded vehicle.

As of this writing, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published complete crash-test results for the 2012 Acura RDX. The NHTSA awards the crossover with a 4-Star rollover resistance rating, while the IIHS has not yet officially decided to carry forward it crashworthiness ratings for the 2011 RDX. Last year, the virtually identical 2011 RDX earned the IIHS’s top “Good” rating for front-, side-, and rear-impact protection, but turned in a disappointing “Marginal” score in the roof strength category.

Right up there with safety is the issue of reliability, which has typically been a selling point for Acura and its parent company, Honda. The RDX sticks to that script by earning the highest possible reliability prediction from Consumer Reports. J.D. Power and Associates hadn’t published its expectations for the 2012 RDX when this article was originally written, but the consumer research company predicted above-average dependability from last year’s model.

If owners do run into a problem with their new RDX, Acura backs the crossover with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The Acura RDX is based on the Honda CR-V, but aside from basic platforms and structures, the two crossovers are unique. The RDX’s turbocharged engine is unique to the Honda/Acura family, and its interior is much more upscale than its Honda sibling. Now, if Acura could just get the exterior styling details figured out.

One reason to buy crossover SUVs is for their extra cargo carrying capability. In the RDX’s case, this means 27.8 cubic-feet of volume with the rear seat raised, and 60.6 cu-ft with the rear seat folded.

Equipped with a punchy turbocharged engine, the sporty and capable SH-AWD system, and clear reputation for dependability, the Acura RDX remains a solid contender within the premium crossover SUV class.

By Thom Blackett