2007-2008 Acura RDX: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Acura introduced its first compact sport-utility vehicle for 2007: a five-seat "entry-premium" wagon powered by the company's first turbocharged engine. Equipped with standard all-wheel drive, the premium-level RDX was 4 inches shorter in wheelbase and 10 inches shorter overall than Acura's seven-passenger MDX. The only RDX engine was a 240-horsepower turbocharged and intercooled four-cylinder, linked to a five-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel paddles for manual shifting. Every RDX had Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), which apportioned power between the rear wheels to enhance cornering stability. RDX was the first Acura model to get 18-inch wheels. Antilock braking and traction/antiskid control were standard. So were front side airbags and curtain side airbags. Also standard were dual-zone automatic climate control, perforated leather-trimmed upholstery with heated front seats, a moonroof, six-CD changer, and a 6.5-inch dashboard screen that displayed audio and climate information. The eight-way power driver's seat included power-adjustable lumbar support. Xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights were standard. Heated mirrors included a passenger-side tilt-down. A Technology Package version of the RDX included a wireless cell phone link, and a navigation system with real-time traffic information for 30 major cities as well as a rearview camera. RDX competitors included the BMW X3, Nissan Murano, and Subaru Forester XT.