2016 Acura RDX voted 'Favorite Compact Premium Crossover'

2016 Acura RDX is the highest safety rated award winning premium compact SUV in North America. But, is this compact 2-row SUV fun to drive?

We’ve decided, 2016 Acura RDX is our favorite personal ‘everyday’ driver. Hey, RDX is fun to drive!

Having access to an entire maker’s lineup can be a bit perplexing at times. After all, every Acura that we drive and review presents a unique drive and ride experience, with certain features, drive characteristics and quirks specific to the model. We find 2016 Acura RDX crossover to offer the greatest combination of SUV utility meets sports-driving - capability, on the light truck side of the spectrum.

Our favorite 2-row compact crossover, or SUV if you will, with 38,502 units sold for the year, just happens to be the best selling premium compact SUV in the United States.

Granted, while MDX remains Acura’s flagship SUV, we find RDX to be a bit more suitable for daily driving, transporting two people around town, maneuvering in and out of tight traffic, shopping center parking lots, and on occasionally driving off road.

Nancy loves the ‘chunky shoe heel’ versatility of 2016 Acura RDX

My copilot, Nancy King of ‘Jazz Underground” fame, loves the refined good looks, understated premium feel, V6 power and ‘chunky shoe’ heel practicality of Acura’s only compact crossover. Presenting a higher drive and ride seating position than a sedan or hatchback, 2016 RDX instills a sense of added security and safety in the driver, while easily accommodating the ingress and exit of the vertically challenged.

Sizing up the value that is 2016 RDX

While reportedly having dimensional commonality with Honda’s best selling SUV, when parked side by side with 2016 Honda CR-V Touring, the Acura RDX uptick as to body length, wheelbase, front track, width and ground clearance becomes quite evident. Don’t let the Acura ‘haters’ sway you with unsubstantiated propaganda, Acura RDX is not an upgraded Honda CR-V. We know, we’ve driven thousands of miles in both.

2016 Acura RDX is Honda CR-V on steroids

Digging through the pile of specifications that makes Acura RDX a purchase or lease bargain in the premium compact crossover, SUV segment is a bit daunting. And frankly, I’m feeling lazy this Tuesday morning. So here you go, check out RDX specifications and pricing here.

The long and the short of it

For those of us that don’t require the massive passenger and cargo capacity of a premium 3 row, or the space age personal connectivity and active safety features of 2016 Acura MDX, RDX retains much of the electronics, refinement and horsepower of MDX in a smaller 2- row package.

Available in front or all wheel drive, RDX comes to market with a base MSRP of $35,270(basic front wheel drive RDX) to MSRP $43,420 for the fully loaded all-wheel drive with Advance package, electronic and active safety suite.

Measurably lighter and smaller than MDX, RDX comes to market with a 279 horsepower SOHC i-VTEC V6 and a standard 6 speed automatic transmission, for a combined stated MPG of 22 MPG. RDX carries one of the best engine and drivetrain warranties in the business -6 years-70,000 miles.

We love this engine for bulletproof mechanically reliability, ease of maintenance, segment leading horsepower and torque production.

We found the engine and drive performance to be segment setting, sedan smooth, and old-school Town Car quiet. And yet when you take RDX into the dirt, it performs without hesitation. You may read our full drive review here.