Acura has that certain look which is both elegant and sporty as you can clearly identify in the 2013 Acura RDX AWD Tech. The newly redesigned 2013 RDX sports a new engine, transmission and all-wheel drive system. After a week driving this luxury crossover, you’ll realize that there’s more than just good looks going on here!
Exterior
We feel the new body design looks great and the new Acura RDX is the right-sized crossover SUV. The RDX boasts a sleek and more aerodynamic body, evolving RDX from a sporty, compact SUV to a more formal SUV appearance with a longer, sculpted hood and styling that is more elegant and sophisticated to match the Acura philosophy of timeless, beautiful design. Our test model had silver moon paint, power moonroof with tilt feature, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated power door mirrors with turn indicators and remote entry with security system. The front fascia is refined and has a more understated look than the past model and we feel that’s a good move for Acura. A few exterior features with the Tech package include Xenon power headlights and fog lights.
Interior
The 2013 Acura RDX AWD Tech doesn’t go overboard with unneeded distractions that sometimes can cheapen an interior. Inside the 2013 RDX, we found new sweeping shapes, matte surface trim and generous use of leather combined to give the RDX interior an upscale look and luxury feel that Acura customers have come to expect. Abundant use of sound deadening materials and Active Sound Control team also provide an exceptionally quiet cabin. Additional interior features, such as larger door openings, more passenger room, increased cargo volume, and an available power rear tailgate make the RDX interior even more accommodating and flexible. Our tech package included Acura navigation system with voice recognition and multi-view rear camera, AcuraLink communication system with real time traffic and weather, 10-speaker surround sound system, hard disk drive, GPS linked dual-zone auto climate control with air filtration system and power tailgate.
Performance
Replacing the turbocharged 2.3-liter inline 4-cylinder used with the previous RDX, the 2013 RDX boasts a standard equipment 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 273 horsepower – 33 more than the outgoing model. For even higher performance and improved fuel economy, the RDX makes use of an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission with a new lock-up torque converter. The RDX also gets a new, lighter weight all-wheel-drive system that provides outstanding performance and safety with increased efficiency to achieve higher fuel economy delivering 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg in highway driving. We are here to report that the power is plentiful and smooth, and the handling is off the charts for an SUV. There were times during our testing that we had to comment to others in the car, “Can you believe the way this RDX handles”?
The active noise control developed by parent company Honda provided a seriously quiet cabin even in windy conditions during fall days and nights in the midwest. The 2013 RDX rides on a 4-wheel independent suspension with a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension design. A longer wheelbase, wider track and lower center of gravity provide the foundation for the new RDX’s improved handling and ride quality. New chassis technology for 2013 includes Acura-exclusive Amplitude Reactive Dampers and a new Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering system that replaces the previous hydraulic steering.
Overview
Acura has really widened the audience with the 2013 Acura RDX AWD Tech by designing a vehicle that will fit into so many folk’s lifestyles. The sticker on our media RDX was $40,315, which really accomplishes so much at that price compared to bloated pricing from some competitors. This new and improved 2013 Acura RDX AWD Tech hits the mark in looks, handling, and quality cabin materials with ample space that appears to be a winner for the Acura brand.
