- The Acura RDX combines legendary Honda build quality with luxury trimmings and an unusually generous list of standard equipment. It consistently ranks near the top of our list of the Best Compact Luxury SUVs.
- Pricing starts at $40,600 | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Acura RDX models for sale near you
The 2022 Acura RDX is one of the more affordable compact luxury SUVs, which is amazing because it consistently outranks higher-priced competitors in our evaluations. It’s spacious, with a long list of standard equipment. For the 2022 model year, Acura has given it new sound insulation and an Active Sound Control system that counteracts road and wind noise to make the cabin dramatically quieter.
Acura sells the RDX in a single trim level, with the option of all-wheel drive and several packages that upgrade performance and technology. A limited-edition PMC model is hand-tuned at the same Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio where Acura builds the NSX supercar.
Passenger Room and Comfort
All luxury SUVs coddle their drivers. The RDX sets itself apart with space.
Acura’s compact SUV offers its driver more head-, leg-, and shoulder room than the Lexus NX, Genesis G70, or Mercedes-Benz GLC.
In the rear, the story is almost the same. The Genesis beats the RDX on headroom, but the Acura wins in every other dimension.
As for cargo room, it’s no contest. The RDX offers more with the rear seats in place and much more with them folded.
In base form, the RDX offers 12-way power adjustable, heated front seats with power lumbar support. Upgrading to the A-Spec package adds ventilation and a great-looking flat-bottom steering wheel.
Features and Tech
For 2022, Acura has beefed up the technology offered in the base RDX. It now includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. New active noise canceling tech counteracts cabin noise to make the ride quieter.
But most buyers will still want to opt for the Technology package. It adds a 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D premium audio system and a GPS-linked dual-zone climate control that accounts for the sun’s position when keeping cabin temperature steady.
Technology, A-Spec, Advance, and A-Spec Advance models also get Acura’s Iconic Drive ambient lighting system. It lets you choose between 27 colors of cabin lighting – the kind of high personalization that luxury buyers start to expect at this price point.
Every RDX gets a 10.2-inch touchscreen. It can also be controlled via a touchpad in the center console.
Every RDX gets the same suite of safety and driver assistance features. It includes collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control that can maintain a set distance from the car ahead even as traffic speed changes, and lane-keeping assist. We respect automakers that provide the same safety suite to all buyers regardless of what options they choose, so Acura wins points for this.
Materials and Design
Since its 2019 redesign, the RDX has been a good-looking vehicle. But Acura made subtle improvements for 2022 that make the look more polished and sophisticated.
The chrome grille surround is thinner than ever, and the air intakes are larger. That lends it a more refined air. The eye is still drawn to the grille thanks to a mesh pattern that radiates out from the Acura badge. It looks like the trails of stars in a movie starship going to warp speed.
A-Spec models ride on larger 20-inch wheels (other RDXs get 19-inchers) and get exterior trim finished in an upscale glossy black.
Inside, aluminum trim is now standard. The transmission engages with buttons instead of a traditional shift lever, resulting in a clean-looking dashboard and a feeling of more space. Using them takes a bit of getting used to.
If interior fit and finish are what matters to you, you might want to check the box for a few of the features packages. The Advance package adds soft Milano leather and contemporary-looking open-pore wood trim.
Acura will build just 200 units of the limited-run RDX PMC edition. Handbuilt and shipped to the dealer in a closed container, they look gorgeous in Long Beach Blue paint and orchid Milano leather upholstery.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
With the rear seats in place, the 2022 Acura RDX offers 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space. That’s among the highest figures in its class and almost 7 cubic feet more than the Lexus NX.
But it’s when you put the seats down that the truly impressive figure shows up. With the rear seats folded, the RDX boasts 58.9 cubic feet of space. That’s more than anything in the class and blows away the NX’s 46.9
Acura designers managed to make the RDX look sleek and sporty without giving it a steeply-raked rear liftgate. That means it has the usable cargo space buyers want in an SUV. Many rivals have sloping rear roof lines that may help them look sporty but make them less practical.
Build and price your own version of the 2022 Acura RDX to see this week’s KBB Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or check out RDX models for sale near you.
