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26th
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In my mind, someone who pays big bucks for a product, especially a product with a prestigious name or logo, flaunts it.
Arguably, the Acura brand hasn't yet accomplished becoming a brand people want to be seen in, such as Mercedes-Benz. OK, Acura's been around for about 100 years less than Mercedes, so that's probably an unfair comparison.
By looking at the totally redesigned 2013 Acura RDX crossover, however, I'm not sure they're planning on becoming a status symbol anytime soon. But, you know what? Maybe their customers are fine with that.
Anonymous styling
A quick glance at the 2013 RDX as it passes by and one could potentially mistake it for a Mazda. Or a Toyota. Or a Lexus. Or worse, a Honda. In my books, that's not good; a brand must be instantly recognizable. Kia and Hyundai understood this a few years ago when they both hired German designers and gave them carte blanche.
To be sure, I asked several people of different ages what they though about the looks of the 2013 Acura RDX. To my surprise, a lot of them said it looked good and that they actually liked the understated styling. Conclusion: Some people just don't want to stick out in a crowd, and Acura has just the right products for them.
V6 replaces turbo I4
Despite many brands downsizing their engines in order to improve the fuel economy, Acura actually went the other way with the 2013 RDX. The old gen's 2.3L turbo engine was canned in favour of the familiar 3.5L V6.
With the new engine, power goes up (273 hp vs. 240) and torque goes down (251 lb-ft vs. 260). The result is a slightly quicker, but much more responsive, RDX as the 2013 version we tested reached 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, versus 6.7 for the outgoing 2012 version. The V6 is also smoother, and power delivery isn't as lumpy as with the old turbo mill. The typical luxury crossover buyer will probably approve the engine swap, and so do I.
Combined with a 6-speed automatic, the 2013 Acura RDX is very quiet on the highway; at 100 km/h, the V6 spins at 1,700 rpm. Fuel economy has also improved, as we observed an average of 10.8L/100km over the course of the test, better than what we achieved with the old RDX which was already fuel efficient.
AWD replaces SH-AWD
Curiously, Acura decided to abandon its competent SH-AWD hardware in the RDX for a simpler and lighter all-wheel drive system. As before, engine power is sent to the front wheels under normal driving and when wheel slippage occurs, a varying amount of power is distributed to the rear wheels for extra traction. The SH-AWD system had the added benefit of transferring power between left and right wheels.
As a result, the 2013 Acura RDX doesn't feel as athletic in the twisties as it did before. And when you tackle a 270-degree highway on-ramp too enthusiastically, you'll get those Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires howling in no time. The RDX feels sporty by nature, but its dynamic capabilities have been toned down.
Improved interior looks
The old RDX's scattered design and switchgears have made way for a more harmonious layout and appearance. There's also less silver painted trim, especially in areas that could easily get scratched. That's good.
On the other hand, the lower dash panels in the 2013 Acura RDX aren't as recessed as before, and their rough plastic feel is obvious from the moment you climb in. Since the engine start button is located in this power portion, you're bound to touch it. We expect a little more quality in a luxury brand, at least in such obvious areas.
Comfort and space are very good for this type of vehicle, although the rear bench's middle seat doesn't seem conceived for an adult human body. And despite not benefitting from a flat load floor with the rear seat folded down, max cargo space is about the same as in the old model, now rated at 1,736 litres.
A better RDX
Base price for the 2013 model is $40,990, which is actually less than the 2012 version. Our Tech package equipped tester is listed at $43,990, which is competitive with its numerous rivals including the Lexus RX 350, the Lincoln MKX and the Mercedes-Benz GLK.
 |
Arguably, the Acura brand hasn't yet accomplished becoming a brand people want to be seen in, such as Mercedes-Benz. OK, Acura's been around for about 100 years less than Mercedes, so that's probably an unfair comparison.
By looking at the totally redesigned 2013 Acura RDX crossover, however, I'm not sure they're planning on becoming a status symbol anytime soon. But, you know what? Maybe their customers are fine with that.
Anonymous styling
A quick glance at the 2013 RDX as it passes by and one could potentially mistake it for a Mazda. Or a Toyota. Or a Lexus. Or worse, a Honda. In my books, that's not good; a brand must be instantly recognizable. Kia and Hyundai understood this a few years ago when they both hired German designers and gave them carte blanche.
To be sure, I asked several people of different ages what they though about the looks of the 2013 Acura RDX. To my surprise, a lot of them said it looked good and that they actually liked the understated styling. Conclusion: Some people just don't want to stick out in a crowd, and Acura has just the right products for them.
 |
| I asked several people of different ages what they though about the looks of the 2013 RDX and to my surprise, a lot of them said it looked good. (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
V6 replaces turbo I4
Despite many brands downsizing their engines in order to improve the fuel economy, Acura actually went the other way with the 2013 RDX. The old gen's 2.3L turbo engine was canned in favour of the familiar 3.5L V6.
With the new engine, power goes up (273 hp vs. 240) and torque goes down (251 lb-ft vs. 260). The result is a slightly quicker, but much more responsive, RDX as the 2013 version we tested reached 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, versus 6.7 for the outgoing 2012 version. The V6 is also smoother, and power delivery isn't as lumpy as with the old turbo mill. The typical luxury crossover buyer will probably approve the engine swap, and so do I.
Combined with a 6-speed automatic, the 2013 Acura RDX is very quiet on the highway; at 100 km/h, the V6 spins at 1,700 rpm. Fuel economy has also improved, as we observed an average of 10.8L/100km over the course of the test, better than what we achieved with the old RDX which was already fuel efficient.
 |
| The 2013 Acura RDX is now powered by a 273-hp 3.5L V6; the turbo four is gone. (Photo: Honda) |
AWD replaces SH-AWD
Curiously, Acura decided to abandon its competent SH-AWD hardware in the RDX for a simpler and lighter all-wheel drive system. As before, engine power is sent to the front wheels under normal driving and when wheel slippage occurs, a varying amount of power is distributed to the rear wheels for extra traction. The SH-AWD system had the added benefit of transferring power between left and right wheels.
As a result, the 2013 Acura RDX doesn't feel as athletic in the twisties as it did before. And when you tackle a 270-degree highway on-ramp too enthusiastically, you'll get those Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires howling in no time. The RDX feels sporty by nature, but its dynamic capabilities have been toned down.
Improved interior looks
The old RDX's scattered design and switchgears have made way for a more harmonious layout and appearance. There's also less silver painted trim, especially in areas that could easily get scratched. That's good.
On the other hand, the lower dash panels in the 2013 Acura RDX aren't as recessed as before, and their rough plastic feel is obvious from the moment you climb in. Since the engine start button is located in this power portion, you're bound to touch it. We expect a little more quality in a luxury brand, at least in such obvious areas.
Comfort and space are very good for this type of vehicle, although the rear bench's middle seat doesn't seem conceived for an adult human body. And despite not benefitting from a flat load floor with the rear seat folded down, max cargo space is about the same as in the old model, now rated at 1,736 litres.
 |
| The old RDX's scattered design and switchgears have made way for a more harmonious layout and appearance. (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
A better RDX
Base price for the 2013 model is $40,990, which is actually less than the 2012 version. Our Tech package equipped tester is listed at $43,990, which is competitive with its numerous rivals including the Lexus RX 350, the Lincoln MKX and the Mercedes-Benz GLK.