2020 Acura RDX With A-Spec Package - Used Car Review - By Jules Stayton

By Jules Stayton
Senior Editor
Mid-South Bureau
The Auto Channel

I must admit, the last time I drove an Acura I was fresh out of college with stars in my eyes and hopes for the future. I set goals for myself and one of them was buying a new car when I made it through school and had my first job. Contract in hand, I was shopping rides and the Acura Integra was on my list.

A little luxury and lots of sport, the Integra, in a manual transmission, was a young person's dream. Speed, looks, good MPG, all added up to perfect. The only thing holding this eager beaver back was the price tag. It was just a little too rich for my blood at the time if I ever wanted to move out of my childhood home in the next five years.

Loved it, but left it.

Never forgot it.

Fast forward to my test drive of the 2020 Acura RDX.

The thrill was back. From stem to stern Acura has created a compact luxury SUV for the ages. Back is the look, performance and MPGs to attract young and old. First-time buyer, empty-nester and everyone in-between can find a reason to love the third generation RDX.

My chariot was well equipped with Acura's SH-AWD (Super Handling-All Wheel Drive) and the A-SPEC package that included leather trimmed sport-seats with suede inserts (ventilated of course), ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio with 16 speakers, and 20" black alloy wheels. No creature comforts were excluded. It enveloped when entered and made one never want to leave.

A standout feature for me was the technology in the RDX and how handy all of the controls were. As you see in the photo above the screen wasn't distracting in size and had a simple mouse-like control pad with wrist rest on the console. Typical radio, menu, Bluetooth, and paddle shifters kept the steering column clean and the two dial display was familiar. Having a 12-way power driver's seat wasn't lost on this driver either.

Legroom for rear seat passengers was ample and heads were not even close to touching the panoramic moon-roof. Cargo capacity seemed to throw the "compact" concept out the window. Rear seats up, 60/40, or down, "making room" wasn't necessary, it was already there.

Riding along was the AcuraWatch Safety system complete with Collision Mitigation Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and Road Departure Mitigation. Other safety options were available in my vehicle, as driven, through the Technology Package, like navigation, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot information and rear cross-traffic monitoring.

If all that wasn't enough, out-run the doubters with a 272 hp 2.0L Direct Injection VTEC Turbo 4-cylinder engine with its 10-speed automatic transmission.

Circle complete.

Whether you're looking for your first car or your last, the 2020 Acura RDX fits the bill.

In comparison to other luxury SUVs its starting price tag of $37, 600 is competitive, to say the least.

Mine was nicely equipped at $45,800 and had a 22 city/26 hwy MPG combined for an overall 23 MPG rating.

**Current price for a new 2022 Acura RDX with the A-Spec Package priced from $45,750. MPG up to 22 city/28 hwy.