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.

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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.

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- 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....
  
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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.

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