New face, new rump, (sale tech?).
Let's try the 2012 Acura RDX super handling all-wheel drive with the tech package and check the tech.
Now, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this RDX is like a dressed up Honda CRV.
It's actually not.
One of the key reasons is it has a turbo 2.3 liter 4. It also offers Acura super handling all-wheel drive.
You won't find that on a Honda either.
The difference is, continue inside.
Okay.
Now we have the fully optioned RDX, the tech package.
That means we get the navigation heavy but otherwise, have a very basic screen for audio and climate.
But this color LCD is not touch.
You can drive it with the Acura control knob or you can use the voice command over here.
Not the bluetooth voice button.
The other one that hides behind it.
It's a perfectly good system.
It's got traffic, weather, they got restaurant rating.
The problem is it looks like hell.
This is a crunchy old interface they've had since the dawn of time and I'm dying for them to overhaul it which apparently is due soon.
Now, the navigation as I mentioned is optional.
It's part of what they call the tech package.
Well, not really.
It's actually a technology trim level package and this is also gonna bring you the ELS sound system.
That bumps up the speakers from 7 to 10, the wattage from 360 to 410 I think.
It has Dolby PL2 which will turn any digital stereo source into synthetic surround.
It works pretty well and you've got a sub (??) lots of additional sound settings.
That's $3100 package.
Also brings your rear view camera out of the mirror and brings it to the screen.
Oh.
One of the thing we have in the tech package, you have a 10-second clipping ability of any song on XM Satellite Radio.
Stores a little music note to remind you you want to go by that song.
It's kind of like a really crunchy version of iTune tagging.
We also have bluetooth streaming, USB for iPod or some drive, bluetooth also standard for hands-free calls , and also that Acura hands-free linking to set up service appointment or talk to an advisor.
One choice on the gear box, 5 speed automatic, back and forth.
No (slot gate?).
You can go to drive or you can go to sport.
And when you want to pick gears, you do that on the paddles which are standard on all RDX.
It's a 2.3 litter in line for...
sitting in a size saddle here.
Normally driving the front wheel but it's also available with Acura's very impressive, super handling all-wheel drive.
240 horse power, 260 foot pounds of torque.
Get this roughly 3800 pound (vehicle?) up to 60 and above, 6-1/2 seconds delivering, 1924 MPG.
But flap the super handling all wheel drive on here and you drop down to 1722.
Now you're starting to get into guilt territory.
The turbo on here as you can see is intercooled.
It's also a variable flow unit which means it can kinda optimize its own dynamic for low and high RPM to get rid of turbo lag.
We'll see about that.
And the first thing I noticed on this RDX is through my ears not through my butt, the noise.
The car's got kind of a grindy sounding motor when it's under low and I'm not really a big fan of that in an Acura.
I don't expect that from these guys.
You'll forget it's a turbo either.
You got a really kind of a surgey, pulsey, peeky power band on this thing no matter what they do with their dual mode turbo flow technology.
You got to get on it and then it suddenly rushes power to you.
Plenty of power.
Just not as much responsiveness as I would like with that power.
The real winner here is super handling all-wheel drive which works as well here as it does in any of the pricier Acuras.
You can really feel that grabbing and clawing in corners and it has the ability to over rotate the outside right wheel by, I think it's almost 2%.
So in other words, that guy can really push the rump around on the outside when you need to vector in to a turn.
Nice driver, good compliance on the road and good build quality but...
I'm not totally impressed by the power drain.
Okay.
2012 RDX starts at 34 grand, then you're gonna add $2,000 for super handling all-wheel drive.
It's your call.
3100 to go to the tech package trim level.
You're gonna want the tech but you're gonna hate yourself for getting this tech in some way so I'm kinda (ugh?) on that.
What I would do is make sure you check out Kia Sorento with a V6 or maybe wait up a little bit till that 2013 Ford Escape comes out with a new line of eco boost engines then decide if you want to pull the trigger on this guy.
