Acura does not officially supply its cars to Russia, but there are plenty of these vehicles on the roads. The fact is that almost any official Honda dealer can easily bring in "gray" examples of the subsidiary brand's models. This is what happened with the Acura RDX crossover. The new Honda CR-V was just preparing to enter our market at that time, while the car on the same platform, but aimed at the US, was already selling in full swing. It was from a Honda dealer that we got the RDX for a test.
On the outside, the car does not shine with particular elegance. For a crossover, it looks overly massive. It seems that the designers were trying to give it the aggressiveness that is fashionable now. Honestly, it didn't work out very well. But still, the appearance is fresh and unlike anything seen before — unless, of course, you consider the Acura MDX, of which the RDX is essentially a smaller copy.
Nevertheless, inside, the RDX is spacious and comfortable. But at first, you kind of forget about that. The first thing that wins you over when you sit in the cabin is the design. Inside, the car turns out to be much more interesting than you expect. Everything is done in a sporty style, and this applies not only to the trim materials but also to the layout and shape of the controls.
The steering wheel is small, three-spoke, leather-wrapped, and pleasant to the touch. Its grip is clearly sporty. The instrument panel supports the set image. It is made according to the now fashionable separate scheme: each scale has its own well. It reads perfectly both day and night — thanks to the well-calibrated color scheme. The only nitpick: the scale is primarily calibrated in miles per hour. Km/h is also there, but the numbers are noticeably smaller. Nothing can be done: the car was created for the American market. For the same reason, the temperature — both outside and inside — is shown in degrees Fahrenheit. Attempts to switch to Celsius were unsuccessful. After looking at the manual, we realized: such an option is only available on versions with extended settings, the information of which is displayed on a small screen under the speedometer. In our case, it could only show abbreviated trip computer data. By the way, why Americans are not interested in the range on the remaining fuel remains a mystery.
The center console looks decent. At the top is an 8-inch display that shows the operation of the climate control and audio system. In richer trims, it also shows the navigation map and the rearview camera image when parking.
The audio system deserves a separate mention. It is modern, handles almost any format, and most importantly, is equipped with truly excellent acoustics. You completely immerse yourself in the music.
Despite not the largest dimensions, the RDX provides equally comfortable conditions for all passengers. No one complains about cramped space. The trunk is quite roomy, and the rear row of seats folds partially or completely, increasing its volume. Between the front seats, there is a substantial lockable box that can easily fit a laptop.
Under the hood of this car is the only possible option: an inline four-cylinder 2.3-liter turbocharged engine. At first, we were skeptical about this solution: what if you want more? But as soon as we got behind the wheel, doubts disappeared. We have never encountered such output from an engine of this size on production cars. The dynamics are simply phenomenal. We couldn't find official acceleration figures, but by feel, the hundred comes in less than 8 seconds. It is especially pleasing that the acceleration is smooth, without the characteristic turbo surges and dips. The five-speed automatic transmission also works decently. It has a normal mode and a manual one, with paddle shifters provided for the latter. We, however, consider this more of a gimmick and a tribute to fashion. In Sport mode, the automatic shifts quite adequately on its own.
But the suspension disappointed us. We agree, for dynamic driving, stiffness is a plus. But a crossover should feel equally confident both on the highway and on light off-road. It's better not to leave the asphalt with the RDX. The issue is not even the limited off-road capabilities: the all-wheel drive here expands the possibilities quite well. The problem is different — on a bad road, the car starts shaking terribly. You feel sorry for both yourself and the car itself. How to conquer America with such a suspension is a mystery. You won't be able to drink coffee on the go without spilling in the RDX. Americans will have to eat hamburgers dry. As for us, at best we drink from a bottle on the go, and even then not always successfully — and drinking from a mug while driving is generally not accepted here.
It remains to add: the dealer, at his own risk, gives a one-year warranty or 50,000 km of mileage, whichever comes first, on such cars. According to our estimates, the second option is more likely to be realized — you really want to drive this car.
Acura: 20 years on the market
Two decades ago, Honda's division for producing executive-class cars, Acura, debuted on the American market. Thus, Honda became the first Japanese manufacturer to risk entering the premium segment. The brand's first model was the Acura Legend sedan, and the Acura NSX sports coupe, which went on sale in 1990, immediately entered the top ten best cars according to one of the authoritative ratings.
Driving
Impressions are only positive, but exactly until you turn onto a dirt road. The stiff suspension clearly hinders off-road.
Interior
Pleasing to the eye and with the quality of materials. Spacious, comfortable.
Comfort
Excellent sound insulation, comfortable seats, first-class audio system, large trunk.
Safety
6 airbags, active headrests, 4-channel ABS, EBD, Break-Assist.
Price
Perhaps slightly overpriced.
Acura RDX 2.3 Turbo
Dimensions — 4590x1869x1656 mm
Engine — gasoline, turbo, with intercooler, 2300 cm3, 240 hp/6000 rpm
Transmission — automatic, 5 speeds, permanent all-wheel drive
Fuel consumption in the city cycle — 12.4 l/100 km
Competitors — Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Excellent dynamics, predictable handling, powerful brakes, cozy interior.
– Stiff suspension.
Our opinion
As before, Acura is not officially represented here, so we should not expect a mass appearance of these cars on Russian roads. It's a pity: in terms of the overall set of qualities, the RDX is quite capable of competing with other crossovers in this actively growing class.