Facts & Figures
Exterior Dimensions
Cargo Measurement
Fuel
Facts & Figures
Exterior DimensionsCargo MeasurementFuelReliability History Reliability History
Trouble
SpotsTrouble
SpotsNEW CAR
PREDICTIONNEW CAR
PREDICTIONEngine Major
Engine Minor
Engine Cooling
Transmission Major
Transmission Minor
Drive System
Fuel System
Electrical
Climate System
Suspension
Brakes
Exhaust
Paint/Trim
Noises/Leaks
Body Hardware
Power Equipment
In-Car Electronics
USED CAR
VERDICTSEngine Major
Engine Minor
Engine Cooling
Transmission Major
Transmission Minor
Drive System
Fuel System
Electrical
Climate System
Suspension
Brakes
Exhaust
Paint/Trim
Noises/Leaks
Body Hardware
Power Equipment
In-Car Electronics
USED CAR
VERDICTSCR.ORG/CARS NEW CARS 61Acura RLX
Acura’s large sedan has been freshened recently, gaining a new
10-speed automatic transmission and styling updates. Still, it falls
well short of its competitors and misses some of the key attributes
that make up a luxury sedan. The ride is unsettled, undermining the
car’s main mission. Lack of handling agility makes the car ungainly
in corners. A high point is the smooth, responsive 310-hp V6 engine.
Our tested front-wheel-drive model averaged 23 mpg overall with
the old six-speed automatic transmission. The pricey all-wheel-drive
hybrid gets an EPA-rated 28 mpg combined. The spacious cabin is
well-made, but it isn’t particularly luxurious and the complicated
controls are frustrating to use. The RLX comes standard equipped
with a suite of safety feature such as forward collision warning, auto-
matic emergency braking, blind spot and rear cross traffic warning.Overall Score 71
Predicted Reliability 30
Owner Satisfaction 20
Road-Test Score 75
Front-Crash Prevention Std./ 05Base Price: $54,900-$61,900
Body Styles: sedan
Trim Lines: Advance, Hybrid
Advance, Hybrid Tech, Tech
Drive Wheels: Front, AWD
Seating: 2 front, 3 rear
Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (310 hp); 3.5-liter
V6 hybrid (377 hp)
Transmissions: 10-speed automatic;
7-speed sequentialLength (in.)..................... 198
Width (in.) ......................74
Height (in.) ......................58
Wheelbase (in.) ................. 112
Weight (lb.) ..................3,930
% weight front/rear ...........61/39Max. Load (lb.) ................ 850
Cargo Volume, cu.ft............... 15
Towing Capacity (lb.) ............NRPremium
CR overall mpg ..................2316 17 18
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Acura RDX
The RDX drives nicely, but its very confusing and distracting controls
hurt the overall package. The 2.0-liter, turbo four-cylinder is paired
with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It’s an energetic powertrain
once it gets past its initial hesitation. We got 22 mpg overall. The RDX
is enjoyable to drive. It feels lively and engaging, and has nimble han-
dling. We did, however, find the controls to be extremely distracting
because of the fussy touchpad that interacts with the center screen.
It forces drivers to divert their attention from the road too often and
for too long. The RDX is also saddled with a cumbersome push-but-
ton gear selector. The seats are comfortable, and interior room is on
a par with the class. All RDXs come standard with the AcuraWatch
safety system, which includes forward collision warning and auto-
matic emergency braking; blind spot warning is optional, however..
Overall Score 67
Predicted Reliability 02
Owner Satisfaction 04
Road-Test Score 80
Front-Crash Prevention Std./ 50Base Price: $37,600-$47,700
Body Styles: 4-door SUV
Trim Lines: Advance, A-Spec, Base,
Tech
Drive Wheels: Front, AWD
Seating: 2 front, 3 rear
Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (272 hp)
Transmissions: 10-speed automatic
Length (in.)..................... 187
Width (in.) ......................74
Height (in.) ..................... 66
Wheelbase (in.) .................108
Weight (lb.) ..................4,005
% weight front/rear ...........58/42
Max. Load (lb.) ................ 940
Cargo Volume, cu.ft.............. .33
Towing Capacity (lb.) ..........1,500
Premium
CR overall mpg ..................22 Worse than average
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A