2007 ACURA RDX - CAA-Quebec

2007 ACURA RDX

The RDX is an all-new vehicle from Acura that shares some of its components with the Honda CR-V. As defined by Honda, it is an entry-level luxury sport utility crossover vehicle, and its main competitor is the BMW X3. A four-cylinder, 2.3-litre turbocharged engine powers the RDX. Its SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system is a variant of the RL's. The RDX is available as a very well equipped base model to which a technology package can be added. Interior and cargo area Easy to access, the front seats are extremely comfortable--among the best in the industry. With excellent side support at trunk and thigh level, they hold the occupants snugly in place. A tilt-telescoping steering column contributes to the excellent driving position. In the rear, entry and particularly exit are hampered by the rather narrow door openings. The bench seat is comfortable enough for two adults. The cushion and seatback are split 60/40 and fold to form a nearly flat floor. Cargo capacity is good. The versatile, hard luggage cover removes from its anchors and sits flat on the floor when transporting big items. It is carpeted on one side and finished in plastic on the other, making it reversible as well. Convenience and safety The cabin is done up in very good quality materials with excellent finish throughout. However, as is so often the case with Honda products, roadnoise soundproofing is lacking. There is a plentiful array of storage spaces, including a gigantic, 12.4-litre centre console that can hold a laptop or briefcase.

Instruments and controls are well laid out, except for the audio system controls, which are a bit low. All the controls that should be are lighted at night. The heat-ventilation system is efficient.

The front roof pillars are much higher than the windshield and can collect snow. The buildup can be enough to force the wiper motor and prevent the wipers from clearing their full path. The washers are under the hood and can easily be blocked by snow. The roof-mounted antenna can get in the way when transporting cargo.

Safety-wise, the RDX is equipped with dual front and side airbags, dual air curtains, ABS disc brakes at all four wheels, traction and stability control, the SH-AWD system, and five head restraints, including two active in front. The three rear head restraints do not adjust high enough for people of average or more height. Visibility is good in all directions, except on the oblique to the rear due to the wide C-pillars. And as the window in the rear hatch is quite high, it is hard to judge distances when backing up. On sunny days, you cannot see the rearview camera screen. The top of the dashboard reflects off the windshield. Headlight scope and brightness are good.

In U.S. government safety tests, the RDX obtained a five-out-of-five star rating for front occupant protection in a front impact and for all occupants in a side impact. It rated four stars for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the RDX a "Good" rating, its highest, for driver protection in an off-centre front collision, and for all occupant protection in side and rear impacts.

Engine and transmission

The four-cylinder 2.3-litre turbocharged engine develops 240 horsepower and 260 pounds of torque. The turbo uses a variable flow system to obtain torque at low speeds and it does the job well, with around 220 pounds on tap at 2000 rpm. Unfortunately, the accelerator is not progressive and you have to treat it carefully to avoid brutal initial acceleration. This requires precise pressure on the accelerator and makes city driving less pleasant. Acceleration and pickup are very lively and very keenly perceptible. You'll also feel a slight lag when you tramp the accelerator after a complete stop. The engine accelerates easily through the gears and meets strict Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards.

The five-speed automatic transmission is very smooth. However, you can feel it downshift when coming to a full stop. Manual mode, with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, is easy and fun to use. The transmission allows you to start off in second gear.

The SH-AWD four-wheel drive system is very sophisticated. It not only apportions torque between the front and rear wheels but between the rear wheels as well. In normal driving, up to 90% of torque goes to the front. In heavy acceleration, up to 45% of torque is channelled to the rear. In corners, under heavy acceleration, up to 70% of torque is sent to the rear wheels and up to 100% of this is transmitted to the outside wheel to assist cornering.

On the road

The fully independent suspension is firm and usually comfortable. Of course, the reaction is firmer on some bumps than on others but cannot be qualified as harsh. Thanks to the relatively low, 15.8-cm ground clearance and the suspension tuning, the RDX provides very gratifying hold and good road feel. The advantages of the SH-AWD system are perceptible in sporty driving: the extra torque it sends to the rear outside wheel helps the vehicle slip more easily through corners.

The power steering is well tuned, steady, precise and quick. However, it is a bit heavy at its centre point in rapid transitions. The steering provides a bit of road feel. Braking is powerful and fade resistant.

At a CAA-Quebec technical verification centre, we noted that the RDX is built on a sturdy platform that is well protected against corrosion. However, there is a big opening under the front bumper through which road debris could penetrate and damage the air conditioner condenser. In addition, the fuel vapour filter and canister are poorly shielded. The camshafts are chain driven.

Conclusion

The RDX is a resounding success thanks to its well-appointed interior, excellent front seats, lively engine, sophisticated and versatile four-wheel drive system and playful handling. It is unfortunate that once again, road noise soundproofing in a Honda product is under par. Let's also hope that the engineers improve the tuning of the electronic accelerator to make it more progressive, and above all, more linear.

PROS: excellent front seats, lively engine, roomy interior, efficient SH-AWD system, smooth transmission, road comportment.

CONS: deficient road noise soundproofing, non-linear initial acceleration, windshield washers under the hood, big opening under the front bumper, wide C-pillars, visibility when backing up.

ACURA RDX 2007

Engine: 16-valve, 2.3-litre 4-cylinder, turbo Horsepower: 240 hp at 6,000 rpm Torque: 260 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm Transmission: 5-speed manual; 5-speed automatic Suspension: fully independent Brakes: disc/disc Wheelbase: 265 cm Length: 459 cm Width: 187 cm Height: 165.5 cm Weight: 1,782 to 1,787 kg Tires: P235/55R18 Maximum towing capacity: 680 kg Airbags: dual front, plus two side and two curtain airbags

Fuel consumption: Transport Canada rating:

City 12.3 L/100 km (23 mpg) Test result: 12.7 L/100 km (22 mpg)

Highway 9.3 L/100 km (30 mpg) Test temperature: 00C to 150C

Fuel tank capacity: 68 litres

Fuel requirement: premium grade gasoline

Acceleration: 0?100 km/h: 7.5 seconds

60?100 km/h: 5.1 seconds

Competition: BMW X3, Lincoln MKX, Mazda CX-7

Warranty: Full basic coverage: 4 years/80,000 km Major components: 5 years/100,000 km Surface corrosion: 4 years/80,000 km Perforation damage: 5 years/unlimited km Emissions control system: 4 years/80,000 km (full coverage);

8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter, electronic control

module, onboard diagnostic system)

Factory replacement parts: Rear bumper: $439 Front brake disc: $124 Brake pads: $72 Muffler: $410 Front fender: $146

Average insurance premium (Quebec City, replacement cost endorsement, claim-free insurance record, male or female driver 30 to 40 years old): $851 to $1,301

Price according to trim level: $41,000

Main options: Tech package: $4,000

Price as tested: $45,000

Freight and preparation: $1,430

Dealers: Quebec: 11

Canada: 41

? October 2006. All rights reserved, CAA-Quebec

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