2007 Acura RDX
When it hit the showrooms in August, 2007, the Acura RDX was aimed at career-minded young professionals who lived in the city and led an active lifestyle.
It had first been unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2002 and featured an all-new platform. It was not, Acura hastened to point out, just a CR-V in different form.
Manufactured in Marysville, Ohio, the RDX also featured a turbocharged engine, which was a first for the company. Honda had plenty of experience with turbos in motorsport, of course, but this marked the first time the company had offered one on a production model in North America.
Power was provided by a turbocharged 2.3-litre, four-cylinder engine that developed 240 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. These were pretty impressive numbers and, like Acura's RSX sports coupe, the RDX met and exceeded the magical 100-horsepower per litre mark.
Transmission was a five-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles and Honda's "grade logic" control. This latter feature automatically held the transmission in a lower gear for deceleration when going downhill and extra grunt going uphill. It was, and is, used throughout Honda's lineup and the Odyssey and Accord, for example, both had it. Fuel economy was 12.4 L/100 km in the city and 9.8 on the highway.
Rounding out the RDX drivetrain was Acura's patented Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD), similar to that found in the RL luxury sedan. Briefly put, power was redirected from the front to the rear driving wheels under certain conditions and then re-re-directed between the left and right rear wheels. The idea was to keep the vehicle flat and stable under hard cornering by utilizing engine power to counter understeer or oversteer.
SH-AWD was primarily a handling/performance enhancement, as opposed to an off-road aid, and whether one needed this kind of technology in an SUV was questionable, but it didn't seem to hurt.
Here's a bit of weirdness. Apparently, Acura designers were inspired by NFL football players' uniforms when they styled the RDX. When they launched the RDX, the company described it as – and I quote – an "urban running back – a muscular form with padding in critical areas and a tight-fitting uniform." Whatever you say.
Other highlights included drive-by-wire throttle, a full complement of airbags, variable valve timing, tire-pressure monitoring system, leather interior, heated front seats, a centre console that accommodated a lap-top, climate control system, a pair of 12-volt power points and information display screen, among other things. With the Technology Package, you could also order extras such as a navi system, wireless phone interface, auxiliary information display and six-disc CD player.
Only one safety recall to report, both from Transport Canada and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and it applies to all RDX models, from 2007 to the present. Apparently, some dealer-installed trailer hitches weren't welded properly on some models, and can break away from the tow vehicle, with obviously serious consequences.
NHTSA has 25 technical service bulletins on file for the '07 RDX, and they range from windshield wipers that won't shut off, to various load capacity labelling issues, to software glitches for the brake lights and transmission modules, to possible oil leaks in the cylinder head. Many of these items are repeat notices and appear to be easily remedied by dealers.
Consumer Reports awards the 2007 RDX its "Good Bet" award, and the only questionable area seems to be with the electrical system, which doesn't stop the magazine from giving this year of RDX a top of the heap used-car prediction. Comments from owners include: "funky exhaust note," "fun to drive" and "handles like a dream." The fact that the RDX needs premium fuel is an oft-heard complaint, and many people seem to dislike its comparatively stiff ride and mediocre fuel economy.
Mixed reviews here from market research firm J.D. Power. While it appreciates the RDX's powertrain and interior quality, it takes issue with things like features and accessories dependability, and initial quality. Consequently, this vintage of RDX receives a good but not the best rating for vehicle dependability from this organization.
Prices for a four-year-old RDX range from the high teens to the mid-$20,000 range. The Technology Package, which has all the goodies, seems to be fetching about $1,000 more than the garden-variety model.
Tech specs
2007 Acura RDX
Original Base Price: $41,000; Black Book: $21,900; Red Book: $17,800-$18,750
Engine: Turbocharged, 2.3-litre, four-cylinder
Horsepower/Torque: 240 hp/260 lb-ft
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Drive: All-wheel
Fuel Economy (litres/100 km): 12.4 city/9.8 highway; premium gas
Alternatives: BMW X3, Acura MDX, Subaru B9 Tribeca, Lexus RX330
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