2011 Acura RDX

The 2011 Acura RDX is defined by bold front and rear fascias, Acura’s signature grille, pronounced wheel arches, 18-inch 10-spoke aluminum wheels, and upscale trim accents.

After a small facelift in 2010, the Acura RDX is due for a major design overhaul in 2011. Closer to model year 2012, an Acura RDX with a turbodiesel engine may also debut. The new RDX’s release is set for late fall 2010. Read on for our initial car review of the 2011 Acura RDX.

Front-wheel drive is still standard, but Acura's topnotch Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive - SH-AWD - is also available. When you throw in an exquisite interior and ample cargo space, the 2011 Acura RDX is a bona fide winner. What we know about the 2011 Acura RDX’s specs is summarized below.

Pricing: the 2011 Acura RDX should start at about $33,000 MSRP, but Acura has not released retail or invoice pricing data yet
Fuel economy: traditional RDX should have city/highway car ratings comparable to that of current model (19/24 mpg). No information available yet on the hybrid RDX.
The shining star of the 2011 Acura RDX is, undoubtedly, its first-rate engine. Braking and handling will probably also remain the same, as Acura just revised the brakes on the Acura RDX in 2010.

Some say the 2011 Acura RDX looks like a metal-beaked angry chicken. Whatever the reason, though, the RDX deserves better.

For one, the Acura RDX is one of the most pleasing compact crossovers to drive. Complementing the RDX's swift acceleration is the optional "Super Handling" All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system that truly makes this Acura stand out from the pack. The 2011 Acura RDX is a five-passenger compact luxury crossover available in a single trim level. The 2011 Acura RDX is powered by a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder that produces 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. In terms of fuel economy, the front-drive RDX is rated at an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined, while the SH-AWD version rates 17/22/19.
The Acura RDX comes standard with antilock brakes (with brake assist), stability and traction control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. In Edmunds brake testing, a front-drive RDX came to a stop from 60 mph in a reasonable distance of 125 feet.

The 2011 Acura RDX's audible turbo whooshing sound is a pleasant departure from the standard six-cylinder soundtracks in this segment.