Except that it looks like an Acura inside and out. NO thanks.

 

Acura has decided to comprehensively ignore what made it unique in their haste to chase volume, while this will work in the short term I am not sure it is a viable long term solution. The elimination of SH AWD and the anonymous styling mean that they will move more volume but only due to their pricing more than their desirability.

 

Most buyers of the RDX are soccer-moms - who probably didn't care (or even know about) SH-AWD.

SH-AWD is pricey and heavy (hampering fuel economy) - Honda/Acura knows who their customer base is.

 

I find the new RDX a dramatic improvement over the old one.

 

I still very much dislike the spoon like bulge on the hood and the turtle beak. It does nothing for the look of the car.

 

It's probably a better effort as a whole, but the 07-09 was better looking outside to me and the SH-AWD of the first generation will be sorely missed. It's class competitive but I'm not a big fan of this class anyway. I'd buy a Durango or Explorer, etc, for this price.

 

For me the two most compelling alternatives in this class are the X3, and XC60 R Design.

 

Beautiful new vehicle. Maybe not over the top style wise, but clean, elegant, and a huge improvement over the previous buzzy boy racer RDX. SH-AWD? Sure, excellent system. But for real RDX buyers, not a big deal. The huge increase in fuel economy, in one part due to the less drag from getting rid of it is more helpful here, as is the luxury ride and handling.

Yes, a lot loved the turbo 4 buzz & surge, and tight/bumpy zoom feel, but real buyers aren't magazine writers. Driving the new 2013 back to back is a revelation. It's better than the MDX in a lot of ways too.

We've sold every one we've gotten in, and as inventory normalizes and lease programs start, the RDX is going to have a much wider market. Feels worth the price.

Few of my own photos:

 

The problem I have always had with the Acura SUV lineup is a Civic/ CRV based RDX and the Odyssey/ Pilot based MDX. The other problem I have had is no class leading power train options as well. It will sell very well because it will be compelling to far more people.

 

Yet they are one company where despite platform bits being shared, the Honda vs. Acura are polar opposite vehicles in look, drive, size even, powertrains, etc. Only about once per year do I have any client say the words Pilot and MDX in the same sentence, and about twice hear CR-V then RDX, usually after someone has initially checked out a CR-V but then dislike the lack of refinement, power, and style.

Not outlandish styling, and they definitely lack in regards to marketing, but great vehicles.

 

I am not your average customer, hence the assertion that this vehicle will sell very well and appeal to the majority.



The Acura sells on price, its certainly not as compelling as the X3 to many and it would sell worse were it to cost as much as the X3. I could see the Audi being cross shopped, but the X3 especially in 35i guise is simply far above the RDX.

2 different markets, even when they are compared. A lot of buyers compare RDX, X3, etc. but the X3 in the end is far more expensive when equipped with the same equipment everyone "must have" that is standard on the Acura, and as I hear daily "they include my maintenance free...the lease deal wasn't bad...". They are more expensive, period, and BMW is BMW.

But then I also just had someone trade a 2011 BMW 328Xi sedan with...124 miles...for a new base TL lease. Many reasons. We see it all.

Acura owners are more repeat than most, and sing praises of quality, lack of maintenance needed, love the drive, etc. "I've had so many of them".

They need to step out further, I agree, on product wow and marketing as anymore there just is no marketing aside from the Superbowl NSX blitz, but new products are coming and doing so quickly. MDX is being built in mass numbers right now for it's last model year of the current design, then new at the end of the year...but it's an example of a product that can be 6 years young and still no other competitor can hit all of its main hard points. The TL is similar, it had a brief lapse due to the '09-11 styling but it's a terrific car to drive, and with room/power/features/quality you have to step up thousands for in other brands.

The RDX right now is selling out as soon as they arrive, and again now to a whole new market. Past Acura owners but also newcomers attracted by the refinement, mpg's, and value. As more are built and special leases, etc. roll out, it should do extremely well.

 

2 different markets, even when they are compared. A lot of buyers compare RDX, X3, etc. but the X3 in the end is far more expensive when equipped with the same equipment everyone "must have" that is standard on the Acura, and as I hear daily "they include my maintenance free...the lease deal wasn't bad...". They are more expensive, period, and BMW is BMW.

But then I also just had someone trade a 2011 BMW 328Xi sedan with...124 miles...for a new base TL lease. Many reasons. We see it all.

Acura owners are more repeat than most, and sing praises of quality, lack of maintenance needed, love the drive, etc. "I've had so many of them".

They need to step out further, I agree, on product wow and marketing as anymore there just is no marketing aside from the Superbowl NSX blitz, but new products are coming and doing so quickly. MDX is being built in mass numbers right now for it's last model year of the current design, then new at the end of the year...but it's an example of a product that can be 6 years young and still no other competitor can hit all of its main hard points. The TL is similar, it had a brief lapse due to the '09-11 styling but it's a terrific car to drive, and with room/power/features/quality you have to step up thousands for in other brands.

The RDX right now is selling out as soon as they arrive, and again now to a whole new market. Past Acura owners but also newcomers attracted by the refinement, mpg's, and value. As more are built and special leases, etc. roll out, it should do extremely well.

BMW moves 50% of its volume based on attractive and incentivized lease specials, and it makes far more expensive BMW products like the X3 only marginally more expensive per month than vehicles that are priced far less. Acura is going the way of Infiniti right now and producing vehicles that are far divergent from their sporty brand values to chase volume which is much needed. Their volume products have begun to slide and I think that the RDX and JX although not vehicles that interest me will be vehicles that move appreciable volume. I also think that this RDX is closer to the CRV in many ways than the last RDX which in no way reminds one of a CRV. Perhaps that is not a bad thing as Honda has a captive audience with previous CRV and current CRV owners.

 

I had some bad thoughts today when I got behind a blue one. I wonder, have you ever driven a Terrain? If so, how would you compare the two? Just curious.

 

Interesting comparison. My mother drives a Terrain SLT-1 AWD V6. The RDX is a more premium vehicle, with higher quality interior, stronger, smoother and more efficient powertrain and driving "feel". I would actually say the Terrain style inside is more eye catching depending on your personal preferences. With the new 3.6L coming, power may be closer to the Honda 3.5L/6-spd. Yet, I don't see them being compared. RDX buyers cross shop X3 primarily, followed by Audi Q5 and then Volvo, etc.

The smaller/mid crossover market is bigger and bigger, and spans a huge price range.

 

Improvement yes. But that's not saying much. Acura's are so generic and boring. And slightly offensive.

 

Like many vehicles today it doesn't at all look like it's price tag. I would expect a CRV badge and 20K pricing, engine aside.