FYI: Acura’s 2025 RDX sports a refreshed look, new features, and three new colors, but the anticipated total redesign is still a few years off.
Acura Updates the 2025 RDX with Refreshed Styling and Enhanced Features
The third-generation Acura RDX, having been on the market for seven years, has received a facelift rather than a complete redesign for the 2025 model year. Despite speculation of a major makeover or new generation, Acura opted to refine the existing model with several notable updates.
Exterior Upgrades
Acura’s popular SUV aligns with the brand’s latest design language through a new meshed "frameless" grille. Standard 19-inch Berlina Black painted rims offer a stylish touch, while the top-tier Advance Package trim boasts new body-color lower exterior trim and exclusive 19-inch, multi-spoke, machined-finish wheels. The A-Spec trim, positioned just below the Advance Package, now features distinctive 20-inch wheels. Three new colors—Canyon River Blue Metallic, Solar Silver Metallic, and Urban Gray Pearl—expand the SUV’s visual appeal.
Interior Enhancements
Inside the RDX, Acura has retained the True Touchpad infotainment system, a less popular choice when compared to the more traditional touchscreen setup introduced in the 2025 MDX. Nonetheless, the 10.2-inch display now supports widescreen mode for wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which significantly enhances usability. Further interior upgrades include redesigned larger cup holders and a more efficient wireless charging pad. The Advance Package trim steps up the luxury with full leather upholstery, ambient lighting, and backlit door speakers.
Performance and Pricing
The 2025 RDX continues to be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This power is delivered to both axles via a 10-speed automatic transmission, with Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system ensuring optimal traction and control.
Despite minor price increases, the RDX remains competitively priced below rival models like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Volvo XC60, and Genesis GV70. The MSRP after the $1,350 destination charge is as follows:
- RDX: $46,050 (+$700)
- RDX with Technology Package: $48,650 (+$300)
- RDX A-Spec: $51,650 (+$300)
- RDX with Advanced Package: $53,800 (+$300)
- RDX A-Spec with Advanced Package: $55,800 (+$300)
Market Performance and Future Outlook
The RDX saw a dip in sales in 2022 but began to recover last year, though it still hasn’t reached the high sales volumes of 50,000 to 60,000 units seen between 2015 and 2021. With a completely new model expected soon, this mid-cycle update aims to maintain the RDX’s competitiveness in a crowded market until the expected full redesign arrives.
Conclusion
The 2025 Acura RDX may not be the new generation some anticipated, but it offers meaningful upgrades that enhance both aesthetics and functionality. While it might fall short of the major overhaul hoped for by many, these enhancements ensure it remains a solid contender among luxury SUVs.
For those in the market for a stylish, well-rounded SUV, the RDX continues to be a compelling option.
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Lawrence Jacobs, Editor of Automotive.fyi
