Parlaying a very successful refreshed 2016 model, the 2017 Acura RDX returns with two new colors, a new exterior/interior color combination and no increase in price
Coming off an all-time annual sales record last year, the 2017 Acura RDX goes on sale tomorrow with incredible momentum and a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) starting at $35,370 – unchanged from the current model. The 2017 RDX is offered by the luxury marque that KBB.com named as the luxury brand with the lowest projected 5-year cost of ownership and that Edmunds.com voted as the 2015 Best Retained Value® Luxury Brand. The upgraded 2016 Acura RDX earned a 2016 Consumer Guide® Automotive Best Buy Award in the Premium Compact Crossover/SUV segment and Edmunds.com 2015 Best Retained Value® model-level award.
Significantly refreshed for the 2016 model year, the 2017 RDX retains the upgrades made last year, including a more powerful and fuel-efficient 3.5-liter i-VTEC® V-6 engine, ride and handling refinements, an expanded list of available AcuraWatch™ safety and driver-assistive technologies, restyled exterior and interior elements, and an increased compliment of luxury features and technologies, including Acura’s signature Jewel Eye™ LED projector headlamps and LED taillights. New for 2017 are two exterior colors, Lunar Silver Metallic (replacing Slate Silver Metallic) and Modern Steel Metallic (replacing Graphite Luster Metallic), and for the first time, the Ebony interior is available with the popular White Diamond Pearl exterior.
The 2017 RDX interior has a premium black trim plus standard luxury features including heated front seats, second-row air conditioning vents, a power tailgate and Multi-View Rearview Camera. The 2017 RDX with Technology Package has numerous upgrades including a high-contrast silver and black trim, an 8-way power-operated front passenger seat, Acura’s dual-screen On-Demand Multi-Information Display (ODMD), HD Radio®, blind spot information (BSI), Rear Cross Traffic Monitor and Multi-View rearview camera with dynamic guidelines.
The range-topping RDX with Advance Package features a grade-exclusive machined alloy wheel with grey painted surfaces along with a host of added luxury features including rain-sensing wipers, front fog lights, remote engine start, front and rear parking sensors, ventilated front seats, and an auto-dimming driver’s side mirror, along with standard AcuraWatch™ safety and driver-assistive technologies.
While offered as standard equipment on the new Advance Package, all 2017 RDX models can be equipped with the AcuraWatch™ suite of technologies that includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System™ with Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Departure Warning. In addition to available AcuraWatch™, the RDX includes the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure that enhances frontal collision performance. The 2016 RDX received top-in-class safety ratings – a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), when equipped with the Collision Mitigation Braking System™ – ratings that are expected to carry over to the 2017 model.
All 2017 RDX models with AcuraWatch™, which includes all Advance Package models, also get a 4.2-inch, full-color TFT Multi-Information Display with customizable information readouts such as average vehicle speed, fuel economy, fuel range, tire pressure monitoring system (TMPS) and turn-by-turn navigation prompts (when equipped with navigation).
2017 Acura RDX Pricing and EPA Fuel Economy Ratings
| TRIM | MSRP1 | EPA MPG Rating2 |
|---|---|---|
RDX (FWD) | $35,370 | 20/28/23 |
RDW (FWD) with AcuraWatch™ Plus Package | $36,670 | 20/28/23 |
RDX (FWD) with Technology Package | $39,070 | 20/28/23 |
RDX (FWD) with Technology Package and AcuraWatch™ Plus Package | $40,370 | 20/28/23 |
RDX (FWD) with Advance Package | $42,020 | 20/28/23 |
RDX (AWD) | $36,870 | 19/27/22 |
RDX (AWD) with AcuraWatch™ Plus Package | $38,170 | 19/27/22 |
RDX (AWD) with Technology Package | $40,570 | 19/27/22 |
RDX (AWD) with Technology Package and AcuraWatch™ Plus Package | $41,870 | 19/27/22 |
RDX (AWD) with Advance Package | $43,520 | 19/27/22 |
Engine & Powertrain
Providing exceptional power and fuel efficiency performance, the 2017 RDX’s 3.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) has a peak output of 279 horsepower at 6,200 and 252lb.-ft. of torque at 4,900 rpm. The powerplant’s broad torque curve delivers immediate and powerful acceleration response across the engine’s full operating range.
The engine’s Variable Cylinder Management™ cylinder deactivation system allows for deactivation of three of the engine’s six cylinders under light engine loads, helping the RDX earn EPA fuel-economy ratings of 19/27/22 mpg (city/highway/combined) for AWD models and 20/28/23 mpg for FWD models. The 2017 RDX complies with EPA TIER 2 – BIN 5 and CARB LEV II ULEV emissions standards.
Body & Chassis
The RDX utilizes high-strength steel for 56 percent of the body construction, which not only provides increased strength at a lower weight but also results in a stiffer body for improved dynamic performance and reduced NVH.
The RDX rides on 4-wheel independent suspension with a MacPherson strut design in front and a multi-link design in back. Amplitude Reactive Dampers at all four corners and motion adaptive electronic power steering system further aid sporty handling and refined driving performance.
All RDX models except the Advance Package feature split 5-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels. The RDX with Advance Package gets a machined 18-inch aluminum alloy wheel with painted grey surfaces. All RDX models have 4-wheel disc brakes that include an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.
Interior
The 2017 RDX comfortably accommodates five passengers. In front, its “dual personal” cockpit design caters to the driver and front passenger, creating a personal and accommodating space for each. Its available leather seating surfaces (leatherette in base models) and ergonomically designed seat contours provide ample support during spirited drives or long road trips. The power actuated driver seat is 10-way adjustable for a custom fit. For the driver, there is a leather-wrapped steering wheel, LED backlit gauges with progressive illumination and a Multi-Information Display (MID) that allows access to multiple electronic functions. The Advance package as well as all base and Technology Package models equipped with AcuraWatch™ feature a 4.2-inch, full-color TFT Multi-Information Display with customizable information readouts such as average vehicle speed, fuel economy, fuel range, tire pressure monitoring system (TMPS) and turn-by-turn navigation prompts (when equipped with navigation, standard on Technology and Advance packages).
Among the advanced electronic technologies in the 2017 RDX is a 360-watt audio system with seven speakers, a CD player, AM/FM radio, XM® Radio with Note function, Bluetooth® Audio, USB port and AUX jack connectivity, and Speed Volume Control.
The transformability of the RDX for passenger and cargo hauling is accomplished with the aid of “one touch” activation of the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks offering easy configuration of the 76.9 cubic feet of storage rear cargo area (with rear seatbacks folded down)3. Interior storage compartments include a large center console between the front seats and there are numerous other storage pockets and cubby spaces throughout the RDX. The RDX has a total EPA passenger volume of 103.5 cubic feet.
With the Technology Package, the interior includes a high-contrast silver and black design plus a host of driver relevant features, including AcuraLink® Satellite Communication System, Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™, and AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting™. Additional standard features include an 8-way adjustable power passenger’s front seat, Acura’s intuitive dual-screen On-Demand Multi-Information Display (ODMD), HD Radio®, blind spot information (BSI), Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, and Multi-view Rear Camera with dynamic guidelines. The navigation system also makes use of an 8-inch W-VGA color screen that is also used for a new rear view camera system.
The RDX with Technology Package also includes the Acura/ELS Surround® 10-speaker, 410-watt premium audio system with CD, DTS™, AM/FM radio, XM® Radio, and Bluetooth® Audio. Also part of the Technology Package is a GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone automatic climate control system.
The line-topping Advance Package delivers even higher levels of luxury comfort, convenience and technology, adding rain-sensing wipers, front fog lights, remote engine start, front and rear parking sensors, ventilated front seats, an auto-dimming driver’s side mirror, and AcuraWatch™ as standard equipment.
Safety
The RDX offers the AcuraWatch™ suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies as a standalone option on the base RDX and RDX with Technology Package and as standard equipment on the new RDX with Advance Package. AcuraWatch™ technologies are as follows:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
The 2017 RDX with Technology or Advance packages adds blind spot information and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, further enhancing the driver’s situational awareness.
In the event of a collision, the RDX’s advanced, energy-absorbing body structure, supplemental restraint systems (seatbelts and airbags) and strategically designed interior components are all designed to mitigate the potential for injury.
The RDX utilizes Acura’s acclaimed Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure – a network of connected structural elements to help distribute and direct crash energy in a range of frontal collision scenarios, including offset and oblique impacts. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment and can help to more evenly disperse the forces transferred to other vehicles in a crash. The RDX features additional engineering elements in the front body, roof and side pillar areas that further improve frontal collision and roof crush resistance performance.
The passive safety technologies of the RDX includes six airbags including dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags (SRS), dual-chamber front seat side airbags, and side curtain airbags for the front and outboard rear seating positions. Safety features continue with 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions, while the driver and front passenger have front seatbelts with an automatic tensioning system with load limiters. The RDX offers head restraints for all seating positions. The rear seat features Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH), which permits easy attachment of up to two child seats in the outboard seating positions.
