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2009 Acura RDX Performance Review

February 23, 2009

PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

shifts through the gears are above-average
Cars.com

powerful turbocharged engine
Edmunds

Firm-ride suspension makes for an agile little SUV
Consumer Guide

fuel economy was 3 mpg worse than the ballsier BMW [X3]'s
Car and Driver

Reviewers across the Web enjoyed the Acura RDX’s turbo power and deft all-wheel-drive handling.

The 240-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Acura RDX is "slightly weaker than the less-expensive Mazda CX-7 and its turbocharged 244-hp engine," according to Car and Driver. Autoblog, however, likes the power of the Acura; 2009’s RDX is fine with a "5-speed automatic transmission [with] manual shifting capability [that] is the only one available," the reviewer says. This is probably because the "260 foot-pounds of torque at 4500 rpm rival the power produced by some six-cylinder engines," Forbes Autos points out.

Cars.com initially complains that "power doesn't come immediately when you're driving with the automatic transmission in standard drive." However, once the reviewer discovers the sport shift setting, he changes his tune, saying, "shifts through the gears are above-average."

Autoblog calls the Super Handling AWD feature the "best part of the RDX." This innovative technology means "you'll never worry about taking a turn faster than you planned," according to Cars.com.

Reviewers aren’t won over by fuel economy in the Acura; 2009’s "17 miles per gallon in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway" disappoints Forbes Autos, since it’s the same rating given to the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Car and Driver mentions that the 2009 Acura RDX's "fuel economy was 3 mpg worse than the ballsier BMW [X3]'s."

Conclusion

The 2009 Acura RDX performs just as athletically as it looks, although fuel economy is unimpressive.

PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:shifts through the gears are above-averageCars.compowerful turbocharged engineEdmundsFirm-ride suspension makes for an agile little SUVConsumer Guidefuel economy was 3 mpg worse than the ballsier BMW [X3]'sCar and Driver Reviewers across the Web enjoyed the Acura RDX’s turbo power and deft all-wheel-drive handling. The 240-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Acura RDX is "slightly weaker than the less-expensive Mazda CX-7 and its turbocharged 244-hp engine," according to Car and Driver. Autoblog, however, likes the power of the Acura; 2009’s RDX is fine with a "5-speed automatic transmission [with] manual shifting capability [that] is the only one available," the reviewer says. This is probably because the "260 foot-pounds of torque at 4500 rpm rival the power produced by some six-cylinder engines," Forbes Autos points out. Cars.com initially complains that "power doesn't come immediately when you're driving with the automatic transmission in standard drive." However, once the reviewer discovers the sport shift setting, he changes his tune, saying, "shifts through the gears are above-average." Autoblog calls the Super Handling AWD feature the "best part of the RDX." This innovative technology means "you'll never worry about taking a turn faster than you planned," according to Cars.com. Reviewers aren’t won over by fuel economy in the Acura; 2009’s "17 miles per gallon in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway" disappoints Forbes Autos, since it’s the same rating given to the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Car and Driver mentions that the 2009 Acura RDX's "fuel economy was 3 mpg worse than the ballsier BMW [X3]'s." ConclusionThe 2009 Acura RDX performs just as athletically as it looks, although fuel economy is unimpressive.  2009 ACURA RDX STYLING | [8 out of 10] Edmunds: "considerably more upscale than the average small SUV" Consumer Guide: "audio and climate settings are undersized readouts in a distant dashtop slit" Kelley Blue Book: "there isn't much not to like about the 2009 Acura RDX" ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Shoppers are still moving toward smaller SUVs, but sporty, luxurious ones like the 2009 Acura RDX are especially rising in popularity. The BMW X3 was one of the first entries in the niche, but its substandard interior (at least initially) and rough ride keep TheCarConnection.com from recommending it. Infiniti’s EX35 is a blast to drive with none of the turbo lag, but its fuel economy is worse than that of the RDX. Land Rover's LR2 feels plusher than the RDX, with the LR2 owning a bit of off-road edge. VW’s Tiguan also has a turbo four, but somehow it’s a lot easier to live with. The Mercedes-Benz GLK is another new entry in this group—it sizes up with the rest but manages to feel a bit more mature and refined; for now, it's only offered with a big V-6. The Audi Q5 is another new entry set to come out late in the 2009 model year.

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See the Acura RDX in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

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