Should you avoid the 2022 Acura RDX luxury SUV? Maybe

Trucks & SUVs

6 Reasons to Think Twice About Buying the 2022 Acura RDX

Is the 2022 Acura RDX luxury SUV on your radar? Here are six reasons you might want to look at another vehicle instead.

by Nathaniel Ehinger

Published on July 24, 2022

3 min read

How can anyone find fault with the 2022 Acura RDX luxury SUV? This vehicle is known as one of the top models in the market, but it still has its flaws. Like anything else, there are some drawbacks to this SUV, and it’s time you knew what they are.

1. There’s only one powertrain for the 2022 Acura RDX luxury SUV

Doesn’t buying a luxury vehicle mean you get more options and choices than offered with mainstream models? Apparently not. The RDX has a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine attached to a ten-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain delivers 272 horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque, and 22 city/28 hwy mpg in FWD base models. Selecting AWD lowers the fuel mileage to 21 city/27 hwy mpg. While this powertrain is a good place to start, a luxury SUV should offer more than one.

2. Don’t try towing with this Acura

Acura offers limited towing in the RDX of only 1,500 pounds. That’s not much when you consider how much a trailer weighs alone. If you want better towing in this class, the Land Rover Discover gives you 4,409 pounds of towing capacity.

3. Redundant controls make the touchscreen confusing in the 2022 Acura RDX

2022 Acura RDX truetouch touchpad | Acura

There is a touchscreen for every model of this luxury SUV, but you also have a touchpad controller if you don’t want to reach up to the screen. This redundancy might sound good at first, but the touchpad can be fussy and frustrating. The area where the touchpad resides should be used for something else entirely.

4. Fuel mileage should be better in a compact luxury SUV

The 2022 Acura RDX offers decent fuel mileage, but Car Buying Strategies calls it lackluster. The standard FWD models return 24 mpg combined, and AWD versions see 23 mpg combined. This number is lower than some of the competitors in this class, making it hard to justify the single small powertrain of this SUV.

5. Does the Acura RDX have a spare tire?

You have to choose the right trim, but you can have a proper spare tire with the RDX. This item comes in the Advanced Package, which means you can’t stick to the base model to have a spare. Good luck if you run over a nail on the road or have a blowout. You’ll be stuck calling for help.

6. The options for the Acura RDX luxury SUV are bundled into packages

We expect some options to come in bundles with package names such as the Technology Package or the Advance Package, but not all of the options. With this SUV, you don’t see any stand-alone options. This means you have to accept everything that a package offers or leave it out.

Bonus: Strangely, there isn’t a hybrid version of the RDX

With so many hybrid and electric vehicles on the road, it seems there should be a hybrid option for the 2022 Acura RDX luxury SUV. Of course, this would require at least a second powertrain offered for this crossover, which we know isn’t the case.

Should you buy the Acura RDX?

If you find what you’re looking for in this Acura compact crossover, it certainly can be an excellent vehicle to buy. The RDX is relatively affordable, with a starting price of only $39,300. Keep in mind the limitations mentioned, which could become frustrating in the future.

Next, learn more about some of the best family SUVs that are powered by electricity, or watch the Acura RDX video below that highlights an interior flaw in this luxury SUV.