Yahoo Autos 2022 Acura RDX Is Tweaked for More Luxury and Better Looks
The Acura RDX is restyled for 2022 to share exterior design elements with MDX.
The A-Spec appearance package is now available with the top-level Advance package.
A limited-edition RDX PMC Edition borrows its Long Beach Blue Pearl paint from the NSX Type S.
Acura says its customers for the 2022 RDX wanted more. More, and less. More features, and less outside noise and vibration, so the focus on the 2022 refresh was on added standard features for all trims and increased attention to a quiet cabin, especially on models equipped with option packages.
The exterior refresh borrows design elements from the larger MDX, such as the textured grille and wider air intake in the front, and rectangular exhaust tips in the rear on all but the sporty A-Spec, which gets round gloss-black tips. Wheel sizes go up an inch, to 19-inch 10-spokes as standard, while the RDX A-Spec offers new 20-inch designs. New colors are on the option list too. Liquid Carbon Metallic is available for all 2022 models, while models equipped with the Technology and Advanced packages offer Phantom Violet Pearl, and the limited-edition PMC edition comes in the flashy bright metallic Long Beach Blue Pearl.
Under the hood, the RDX's engine remains unchanged from the 2021 model, continuing to use a 272-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive remains standard and SH-AWD is an option. While Acura made no changes to the drivetrain for 2022, the company says the driving modes have been retuned for a more noticeable range between the Comfort and Sport settings. The previous RDX got high marks from us on handling feel but notes were made about an inconsistent brake pedal. For 2022, the RDX has a retuned electronic brake booster, so we look forward to testing the improvement.
Previous RDX models failed to impress us with their interior design, and here the 2022 RDX steps it up with a mix of interesting materials and colors. Aluminum trim is standard on all models, and Advance package cars get open-pore wood and Milano leather. More tech comes standard, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard safety tech includes blind-spot monitoring and a lane-change assist feature as well as AcuraWatch which has been upgraded to use a camera for traffic-sign recognition and more accurate speed limit information. Rear seatbelts better protect in a crash with pre-tensioning technology, and additional side structure in the doors meets new crash testing requirements.
Like the 2021 model, there will be a limited-edition RDX built at the Acura Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) on the same assembly line as Acura’s supercar, the NSX. The RDX PMC edition comes only in Long Beach Blue Pearl with a two-tone cream (Acura calls it Orchid) and black interior. The PMC editions will all be the fully loaded Advance A-Spec trim and only 200 will be built, so if you want to get a matching set of NSX and RDX, get orders in now.
Pricing and EPA fuel economy ratings have yet to be released, but Acura says entry-level will start under $40,000. With no real drivetrain changes, we expect mpg numbers to be similar to the 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway for the FWD versions, with a slight drop for AWD and A-Spec models. The 2022 RDX goes on sale in early November.
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