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.
