2009 Acura RDX Technology

2009 Acura RDX Technology (Titus Hsu/The Epoch Times)

The Acura RDX is the little-brother SUV to the full-size MDX. This class of mid-size SUVs offers great passenger and cargo capacity while maintaining a high level of handling. Among car enthusiasts, the most intriguing feature of the RDX is the turbo 4-cylinder engine. Honda engines are well-known for their ability to climb into high rpm ranges in naturally-aspirated (NA) form, so the use of a turbocharger is rare for Honda and Acura. Thanks to the turbo, Acura managed to squeeze 240 horses out of a 4-cylinder engine. This cuts down on both weight and gas consumption compared to a 6-cylinder engine. One drawback to using a turbo is the turbo lag. Acura claims that its Variable Flow Turbo technology eliminates this turbo lag by using a valve to narrow the turbo intake passage at low engine power range, which speeds up the exhaust flow that spins the turbine blades.

As would be expected for an SUV, the cabin is roomy with two rows of seats for the driver and up to 4 passengers. The driver seat has good all around visibility, and there is plenty of legroom. Even with the rear seats up, it offers a generous 28 cu. ft. of cargo space. In a comparison, the 2009 TL sedan has a cargo volume of 13 cu. ft.

The RDX doesn’t quite have the level of smoothness its luxury sedan siblings in the Acura line-up have, but I appreciate the sense of honesty in the driving feel. Overall, the drive is very energetic and I enjoyed driving the RDX. Accelerate smoothly, and the turbo pressure gauge stays still. Put pressure on the gas pedal, and the pressure gauge climbs smoothly with a “whooosh” that is rare for Honda cars. As the pressure gauge climbs, engine power also increases smoothly, without sudden jumps, so the Variable Flow Turbo technology does seem to help. Power from this turbo-4 engine is passed to the four wheels independently through the SH-AWD drivetrain. The automatic transmission is controlled through the straight-gate selector lever and paddle shifters, which seem to be standardized across the Acura line for the 2009 model year. The RDX feels solid, but never heavy, and it is fairly agile and assured when turning. The suspension is firm but the ride is not too hard. The size is smaller than full-size SUVs like the MDX, which keeps the car maneuverable and easy to park.  Performance of the disc brakes is good, but not exceptional.

For the $33,895 base price, standard features of the RDX include leather upholstery, heated front seats, 18-inch aluminum wheels, HID headlights, foglights, auto-dimming rear view mirror, dual-zone climate control, immobilizer theft-deterrent system, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, and HomeLink(R) programmable garage door remote control.

On the safety front, Acura boasts the Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure that uses a high-tensile, high-efficiency steel body structure to absorb the impact from various directions. Supplementing this body structure are Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist, Traction Control, dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags, side curtain airbags, front side airbags, and active front seat head restraints

The $3,700 Technology option package adds the satellite-link navigation system with voice recognition, rear view camera, and a premium 10-speaker surround audio system, which supports DVD-Audio and Dolby Surround on top of the standard MP3 and WMA formats.

The Acura RDX has excellent passenger and cargo capacity while maintaining a satisfying level of driving performance. The drive is solid and lively but has a slightly raw feedback, which is not a bad thing depending on preferences. The turbo-4 is an intriguing Honda engine, offering adequate power output for an SUV while keeping fuel consumption down.  At the base price of $33,895, the RDX is a phenomenal value for the performance, capacity, construction quality, and features.

Specifications
2.3-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine
240bhp@6000 rpm, 260lb-ft@4500rpm
Super Handling All-Wheel Drive(TM)
5-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters
Curb weight: 3,951 lb.
Fuel economy (mpg): 19 city/25 hwy
Price as tested: $37,195