2007 Acura RDX with Technology Package

I'll take mine loaded with tech

When Acura brings an all-new SUV to market, I take notice. The Acura lineup already features one of my favorite sedans, the RL, and one of my favorite large SUVs, the MDX. The 2007 Acura RDX Tech is the first Crossover vehicle from Honda's upscale offspring, and it's a doozy. The 2007 Acura RDX Tech arrives fully loaded with a base price of $36,495 ($37,165 as tested including $670 destination charge), a 4 year/50,000 mile basic warranty, a 6 year/70,000 mile powertrain warranty and an EPA estimate of 19 mpg city/23 mpg highway. With a turbo-charged engine, the 2007 Acura RDX Tech is raring to go. Let's drive.

Acura has had the advantage of sitting back and watching the competition scramble to fill a niche, the sport compact SUV. RDX is very different from MDX, Acura's mid-size SUV, and from CR-V and Pilot, corporate siblings at Honda. In my eyes, it sits somewhere in between the BMW X3 and the Lexus RX 350 -- sportier than the cushy Lexus and more luxurious than the sporty X3. Perhaps there's some room right in that gap.

RDX has got looks on its side. It's aggressive stance makes the RDX look like it is ready to pounce forward. A short hood and short overhang both front and rear contribute to the athletic appearance. A rising shoulder line and moderate wedge shape have the RDX leaning into the wind. Flowing body lines accentuate body and fender bulges. The big tailgate wears part of the wrap-around horizontally-arrayed taillights. Simple badging in chrome adds sparkling accent jewelry. The RDX comes standard with 18" alloy wheels, Xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, fog lamps, and turn indicator lights built into the side mirrors.

My test vehicle was painted in Nighthawk Black Pearl, and man, did it look good in that color (well, technically in that absence of color). Fit and finish were at Acura standards -- glossy paint, even seams and gaps, secure trim -- that is to say, pretty near perfect.

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It's not always feasible to spend a lot of time in a vehicle during a test. That wasn't a problem with the RDX. I drove it from LA to Las Vegas and back over the course of a couple of days. It's not just the miles, it's the time -- I was trapped in a construction nightmare on US 15 North, and my drive to Vegas, normally a four hour trip, took almost twelve hours. So I got to know the RDX quite well. I am able to report that the RDX's driver's seat is very comfortable for a long drive, with just the right blend of support and cushioning. I especially appreciated the power lumbar support and the electrically heated leather seats -- it gets cold in the desert at night.

The RDX is available in two levels of trim -- RDX ($32,995 base) and RDX with Technology Package or "RDX Tech" ($36,495 base). The difference between the trim levels, as you might have guessed, is the technology. The RDX Tech comes with a 410-watt Acura/ELS Surround sound system with a six-CD changer, DVD-Audio and XM Satellite Radio, along with a GPS navigation system with real-time traffic, a power moon roof, a rearview camera, voice recognition, hands-free telephone interface and -- my favorite high-tech feature -- GPS linked solar-sensing dual-zone automatic climate control. That's a lot of technology for $3,500. There's not a whole lot you can add, other than an iPod link ($214) and an automatic day/night rear view mirror ($290).

The interior of the RDX is modern and clean, with high quality plastics and brushed aluminum trim. No fake wood in this cabin, just a symphony of pleasing shapes and forms.

That short hood is hiding a turbocharged 2.3 liter, 16-valve double-overhead cam four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing that cranks out 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque through a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. With a curb weight of just under two tons (3935 lbs), that means that the RDX is a lively performer on the road. RDX gets the super-handling all-wheel drive (SH-AWD) package that works so well in the RL, along with four-wheel independent suspension (front MacPherson struts/rear independent multi-link), front and rear stabilizer bars, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, variable power-assist rack-and-pinion steering, vehicle stability control and traction control. There are a ton of standard safety features as well, including dual-stage dual-threshold front air bags, front side airbags and side-curtain airbags with rollover sensor.

In the early days of turbocharging, the big trick was getting the power to the wheels as quickly as possible after you pressed on the gas. There is always a brief wait for the turbo to spool up -- turbo lag. The modern turbocharger behaves so linearly that you might not even notice the exact moment that it kicks in, but you'll certainly reap the benefits when it gets going. RDX's power delivery is linear and exhilarating. Pair that power with outstanding handling and vehicle dynamics, it is more fun to drive than most SUVs, and even some sedans.

In case I haven't made it clear, I really like this new RDX. I like its style, I like its performance. I even like its price, considering all that you get for the money. You can save over 10% by opting for the RDX without the technology package, but don't do it -- this is a tech package that will make every day you spend in the RDX more pleasurable and productive.

There are other sport compact SUVs to consider. The Infiniti FX45 is a rip-snorting monster of a vehicle, with its 4.5 liter V8 engine -- remember, there is no replacement for displacement. The FX35 is a little tamer, but still aggressively styled. The BMW X3 comes complete with German sporting heritage, and is impressively sharp on the road. Lexus' RX 350 is all cushy smoothness. Mazda's CX-7 is another new kid on the block, another turbo contender in the pack. General Motors' GMC Acadia/Buick Enclave/Saturn Outlook don't have the handling of the RDX, but offer surprising refinement and flexibility. If the price of the RDX makes you flinch, you might want to check out the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, both excellent vehicles with much smaller price tags. You won't get the same level of performance or luxury, but you will have a much thicker wallet at the end of each month.

For a gear- and tech-head guy like myself, the choice is pretty clear -- the SUV with the most bells and whistles wins. Somebody up there at Acura agrees with me, and they've built a sport compact SUV to my specifications. Now I just need to go back to Las Vegas and try to win back some of the money I lost on my last test drive . . .