2022 Acura RDX: Taking After the Older Sibling

by Tim Healey

Published: September 21st, 2021

2022 acura rdx taking after the older sibling

The 2022 Acura RDX is restyled, gaining new duds that are meant to ape the larger MDX.

A special-edition model is part of the offering for this year, too.

Other new goodies include an A-Spec Package that’s available with the Advance Package, a system that actively cancels out road noise, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in Amazon Alex, wireless cell-phone charger, interior lighting that’s offered in 27 color combinations, a Long Beach Blue Pearl paint color, an updated drive-mode system, different tuning for the available adaptive dampers that is meant to make Sport mode sportier and Comfort mode more comfortable, and additions to the AcuraWatch suite of driver-aid tech. A-Specs get a flat-bottom steering wheel.

The special edition is a PMC Edition, and it has the Long Beach Blue Pearl paint, which comes from the NSX Type S, and a unique interior. Just 200 will be built.

The refresh includes a larger air intake that is meant to look like the MDXs and chrome trim for the available LED fog lamps. The rear fascia is redone, with cutouts for rectangular dual-exhaust finishers on most models — the A-Spec gets round exhaust finishers in gloss black.

A-Specs also get a unique grille and grille surround, and gloss-black trim accents. The rear fascia is also unique.

Wheels are either 19- or 20-inches. In addition to the Active Sound Control system, other noise-mitigation efforts include a new front fender liner, thicker carpeted padding with the Technology Package, and more sound-deadening insulation in different parts of the vehicle, along with acoustic glass.

Pedestrian automatic-emergency braking above 6 mph is added to the collision-mitigation braking system. Blind-spot information is now standard and it has a lane-change assist feature.

The engine remains a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 272 horsepower and mates to a 10-speed automatic transmission, and Acura’s SH-AWD all-wheel-drive system remains available.

[Images: Acura]

#2022AcuraRdx #Acura #AcuraRdx #FutureCars #RDX

Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments

Join the conversation

3 of 8 comments

Redapple on Sep 22, 2021

ITS NOW 18 HOURS AFTER posting this from TTAC. Only 4 comments. On A new HONDA SUV. HUM. Honda is joining postings on BEV and autonomous driving in lack of comments. Nobody cares.

Like Reply
- Dave M. on Sep 22, 2021
  
  Meh. It's not new...just some gingerbread added. On one hand, I've felt sorry for auto reporters these past 18 months, with minimal contact and introductions. On the other, it seems many sites (including TTAC) are really stretching for content. Of course, maybe we've all burned out for all sorts of reasons....
  
  Like
Surferjoe on May 27, 2023

Still have a 2013 RDX, naturally aspirated V6, just can't get behind a 4 banger turbo.
Also gloriously absent, ESS, lane departure warnings, etc.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

JK Savoy Blue is a thing, but Sestriere White? Sestriere is a ski town near Turin, so I guess it meant to conjure up thoughts of snow. Pretty car. I hope Pininfarina has success. The industry in and around Turin has taken a big hit and is a shadow of its former self.
Ravenuer My 2023 CRV EX, 6 mo old, 4800 miles: $0.
TheEndlessEnigma My '16 FiST: Oil changes, tires, valve cover gasket (at 112k miles), coolant flush, brakes.....and that's itMy '19 Grand Caravan: Oil changes, coolant flush
John Clyne I own a 1997 GMC Suburban that I bought second hand. It was never smoked in but had lost the new car smell when I got it four years after it was sold new. I own a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche & that still has the new car smell. I like the smell. I could never afford a new car until the Avalanche. It might be my last new car? Why do they build cars with fire retardant materials in them. Smoking rates are falling & if someone continues to smoke in this day & age is a fool especially with all the information out there.
Theflyersfan Non-performance models, probably the Civic based on the fact the interior feels and looks better in the Honda. Both of them are going to drive like adequate appliances with small engines and CVTs and get decent mileage, so this is based on where my butt will rest and things my hands and fingers will touch.Toyota doesn't have an answer to the Civic Si so the Honda wins by default.CTR vs GR Corolla. One dealer by me is still tacking on $10,000 markups for the CTR and good luck with the GR Corolla and the "allocation" system. There's that one dealer in Missouri that I pasted their ad a while back wanting $125,000 for a mid-level GR. Nope. But cars.com is still showing markups. Both of these cars will have little depreciation for a while, so the markups equal instant loss. It looks like Cincinnati-area dealers are done with CTR markups. So this is a tough choice. I don't like the Corolla interior. It looks and feels inexpensive. I'm glad Honda toned down the exterior but the excessive wing still looks immature for such an expensive car that 20-somethings likely cannot afford. FWD vs AWD. With price being an object, and long-term maintenance a thing, I'd go with the Honda with a side eye at the Golf R as a mature choice. All with stick shifts.