Extraordinary Rides

Acura RDX Turbo takes the boredom out of SUVs By C.A. Haire M ost consumers purchase an SUV for hauling passengers or cargo. Because of this, many are boring to drive. But Acura has solved this issue with its RDX.

Th e Acura RDX is a great daily commuter, but it has been engineered with entertaining driving characteristics. It is fast, has responsive steering and handles like a champ in tight corners. In short, this is a fun-to-drive experience.

Under the hood is a small, 2.0-liter engine cranking 272 turbocharged horsepower, that is hooked to a modern, 10-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shift ers are on the steering wheel, so gears can be chosen manually if desired.

The 2020 Acura RDX Turbo is reasonably priced at $46,795 for the bells and whistles. (Photos by C.A. Haire)

We tried the upgraded SH-AWD version, which has a sophisticated all-wheel drive unit that distributes torque to any wheel that needs it for maximum traction, on or off the pavement. Fuel economy is claimed to be 21/26 mpg. During tests, it was 25 mpg for us on highway trips.

To enchant performance, the computer drive off ers four drive modes: comfort, sports, sport+ and snow. All of this is done at the push of a button. Th e transmission shift er is a push-button design, which is easier to use and takes up less room.

In daily commuting, the RDX does its job, with seating for fi ve. In the back, it has 30 cubic feet of cargo room—or 59 if the secondrow seats are folded. Th e ride is comfortable, and the sound system pipes great sound out of those 16 speakers. Many will fi nd the fi nger touch pad that controls the infotainment system annoying to use, but it becomes easier to live with aft er some practice.

Where the RDX shines is when it is driven hard. Just put the computer in sport mode, crank up the engine so turbo kicks in, and this vehicle moves out in a hurry. On back, twisty, country roads, the AWD system grips the pavement like glue, so taking corners at full throttle is great fun. Th e brakes stop this SUV in a hurry as well. Th e more aggressive this SUV is driven, the happier it is.

The starting price of an RDX is about $38,000 for the base two-wheel drive model. But for maximum driving pleasure, this upgraded SH-AWD A-SPEC version is what you need. It comes loaded with everything, so there are no options. Th us, the total tab of $46,795 is more than reasonable.

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