2024 Acura RDX

The 2024 Acura RDX compact luxury SUV competes in a field of excellent contenders, but it’s one of the few with a more rational approach. Pricing starts at $44,050.

There’s always an element of indulgence with luxury vehicles, but the RDX has a sensible dimension as well. There are rivals with more prestige than an Acura RDX — like a Mercedes-Benz GLC or a BMW X3 — but they have higher prices while not offering the same kind of features-for-Franklins ratio. We’ve also found the RDX enjoyable to drive.

Acura launched this third generation of RDX for the 2019 model year. It’s since gone on to be a popular choice. We have plenty of consumer reviews, most of which give top scores. Although the base model is quite well-equipped, we recommend considering the popular Technology package to gain items like perforated leather seating surfaces, an upgraded audio system, and parking sensors at both ends.

What’s New for 2024

This year’s most significant change is that all-wheel drive (AWD) is now standard with every 2024 Acura RDX SUV.

The 2024 Acura RDX starts at $44,050. That’s for the base model with all-wheel drive as standard.

These are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) and do not include the $1,195 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge).

The Lexus NX 350 isn’t a base model, but it’s comparable to an RDX, priced from $43.7K. The Genesis GV70 starts at $45K and makes a superb RDX alternative. The Cadillac CT5 and Lincoln Corsair both start in the mid-$40s region. Anyone tempted by a luxury European SUV — such as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, or Volvo XC60 — will be looking at starting prices in the mid-to-high $40s.

Before buying a new RDX luxury SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Lexus NX has stronger resale values, but the RDX still comes in above average.

The RDX employs a 272-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, providing enough muscle to sprint from a standstill to 60 mph in just over six seconds. To compare, the 300-horsepower Genesis GV70 has the edge, while the 275-horsepower Lexus NX 350 is a few tenths adrift.

From a driver’s perspective, the RDX is one of the most engaging compact luxury SUVs. It’s sweetly responsive to steering inputs, feels confident under braking, has a decent amount of power, and the 10-speed automatic transmission works smoothly in the background. We’ve found the regular RDX to be comfortable enough, but stretching to the Advance package brings an adaptive suspension with a spectrum of settings.

All-wheel drive is now standard, and it’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive or SH-AWD — as Acura likes to say. This is an intelligent system distributing variable amounts of drive to individual wheels to maximize grip, stability, and efficiency.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of compact luxury SUVs, including the Acura RDX.

Fuel Economy

Every 2024 Acura RDX achieves 23 combined mpg. The non-A-Spec versions return 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, while the A-Spec models are thirstier on the highway by one mile per gallon. Acura recommends using premium 91-octane gasoline.

For comparison, the 275-horsepower Lexus NX 350 enjoys 25 combined mpg. The base Genesis GV70 manages 24 combined mpg.

Although not as plush as something like a Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV, the 2024 RDX still has high-quality materials and an exemplary build. Ambient LED lighting is standard, along with heated front seats.

Good outward vision is complemented by a raised driving position, and space is plentiful. At 38 inches, rear legroom is respectable for the class. Cargo space of 29.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, going up to 58.9 cubic feet when folded, compares well with the RDX’s rivals.

The only hiccup is the touchpad in the center console for controlling the infotainment system. It’s similar to a laptop computer’s trackpad, so most of us should be familiar, but it takes some getting used to. We prefer interacting with the touchscreen.

If we were to buy a luxury SUV of this size, our aesthetic sense would definitely put the RDX in the running. Judging by the number of Lexus vehicles on the road, no one seems too bothered by their large and (to us) ungainly grilles.

The RDX has visual appeal, and it’s made all the more interesting by a set of color choices that includes Apex Blue Pearl and Majestic Black Pearl.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
The convenience of cable-free smartphone integration is one of those little everyday pleasures. It’s standard in the 2024 RDX.

Powered tailgate
This standard convenience feature removes the effort required to stretch and close. Hands-free opening comes with the Advance package.

Standard all-wheel drive
Confidence in bad weather and great grip and traction in the dry — it’s a win-win.

GPS-linked climate control
Part of the Technology package, this feature also uses a solar sensor for outside information to provide consistent interior comfort.

Head-up display
This projects vital information onto the windshield within the driver’s line of sight, reducing distraction and promoting safety. It’s part of the Advance package.

ELS audio
Developed with Elliot Scheiner, Grammy-winning recording engineer for the likes of Beyoncé and Fleetwood Mac, this excellent 16-speaker/710-watt system comes in higher trim levels. A 12-speaker setup is part of the Technology package.

In the big picture of compact luxury SUVs, the 2024 RDX has quite a muscular engine as standard. Some manufacturers have higher-performance variants, but Acura keeps it simple with just this one unit.

It’s a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine developing 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. This goes through a 10-speed automatic transmission to a standard all-wheel drive (AWD) system.

Maximum towing capacity is 1,500 pounds, which is OK for something like a jet ski, but a BMW X3 can handle 4,400 pounds.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Most luxury vehicle makers have new-vehicle warranties lasting four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. Acura follows this formula but extends the powertrain coverage to six years or 70,000 miles. And the company includes free scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

This generation of the Acura RDX has earned a Top Safety Pick+ accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), as well as a maximum 5-Star overall score from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, plus blind-spot monitoring.

Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.

We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.

Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.

Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)

We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.