2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec Review by David Colman - It's E15 Approved +VIDEO
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8.5 Stars out of 10 Stars
By David Colman
Special Correspondent to The Auto Channel
![]() 2019 Acura RDX A-Spec |
![]() 2019 Acura RDX A-Spec |
A-Spec isn't just entertainment frivolity, however, since Acura includes a substantial wheel/tire upgrade as part of the package. At each corner, 20 inch diameter, 10-spoke black alloy wheels support 255/45R20 Goodyear RS-A tires with a Treadwear rating of 260. These aggressively compounded Goodyears work well with the stiff spring rates and anti-roll bars Acura has selected for this SH (Super Handling) version of the RDX. You can coax the best performance from the suspension's stout basic building blocks by opting for "Sport" or "Sport+" handling. Just twist the mode control dial on the center stack to the right for Sport and further to the right for Sport+. Either of these settings results in more precise steering feedback plus a stiffer ride that defies lean in tight turns. In Sport+ mode, the RDX, with all-wheel-drive (AWD) meting out traction to all four wheels, makes a solid case for top echelon sporting performance.
![]() 2019 Acura RDX A-Spec |
The RDX boasts a stout, 272hp, turbocharged, 2.0 liter, inline four cylinder engine mated to a sweet shifting 10 speed automatic gearbox. You can extract maximum grunt from the efficient, 23MPG overall powerplant by pressing the "D" button for drive twice and using the steering wheel paddles to control up and down shifts at your choosing. Acura's reinvented push button shift layout works better in the RDX than it does in the sedans or other SUVs I have driven from Acura/Honda. This is because, for the first time in my memory, the shift unit is inclined at an angle rather than lying flat on the console. This inclination makes it much easier to see what you are doing, and demands less of your concentration for what should be a relatively simple operation.
2019 ACURA RDX SH-AWD A-SPEC
ENGINE: 2.0 liter inline 4, supercharged, direct injection, VTEC
HORSEPOWER: 272hp
TORQUE: 280lb.-ft.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 21MPG City/26MPG Highway
PRICE AS TESTED: $46,495
HYPES: Spacious, Flat Bottom Storage, Intriguing New TTI
GRIPES: Door Edges Sharp Inside B Pillars, Auto Stop/Start Vibrates
STAR RATING: 8.5 Stars out of 10
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