2021 Acura RDX

Pros: Athletic handling; comfortable ride; generous interior room

Cons: Infotainment controls require acclimation; lack of stand-alone options means RDX isn’t as customizable as some of its rivals

CG Says: The 2021 Acura RDX is unchanged. For 2019, Acura’s compact SUV kicked off its third generation with a redesigned model that featured fresh styling and a new powertrain. The sole engine is a 272-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive or Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) are offered; the SH-AWD system can send up to 70 percent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels, and up to 100 percent of that torque can be directed either the left- or right rear wheels. Standard safety features include autonomous emergency braking, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with a low-speed follow feature. A blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic monitor, and surround-view camera system are available. The Acura RDX is one of the better values in the premium compact SUV segment. The True Touchpad control interface might be off-putting to some buyers, but we acclimated to it rather quickly. The RDX offers pretty much everything shoppers in this class are looking for—interior room, fuel economy, luxury ambiance, sporty handling, engaging styling, and all-around refinement.