Acura is unwilling to phase off the third-gen RDX just yet and replace it with an entirely new one. Thus, it has given it its second facelift, and while the chances are definitely underwhelming, they should be enough to make the company's fanbase speak a bit for a while.
One thing that they will talk is the exterior design. After all, it has been tweaked, though the average Joe and anyone who is unfamiliar with the brand's design language and current vehicle lineup, will probably not notice any updates. But the grille was tweaked, and even though it retains the current shape, it has sportier-looking mesh.
Is that all? Well, pretty much, yes, although the base models have received some glossy black accents on the outside. All versions of the 2025 Acura RDX also get new 19-inch wheels as standard, and should you sprinkle your crossover with the Advance Package, you will also receive body-color lower trim, machine-finished 19-inch alloys, and that's about all.
The A-Spec and A-Spec with Advance Package feature what Acura calls "a more aggressive blacked-out exterior treatment." These models also get A-Spec badges and new 20-inch wheels. The 20-inch alloys with a black machine-finished look are exclusive to the A-Spec with Advance Package, whereas the A-Spec gets new 10-spoke wheels with a Shark Gray look. Speaking of colors, it's worth noting that the 2025 RDX gets three new shades called Solar Silver Metallic, Canyon River Blue Metallic, and Urban Gray Pearl.
Photo: Acura
Opening the door will reveal the same cockpit design, though there are a few novelties here, as well. Acura has redesigned the center console, fitting it with larger cupholders and enhanced storage and making it easier to access the wireless charging pad. A new wide-screen mode was integrated into the 10.2-inch infotainment system, and it should come in handy when using the smartphone integration. The RDX with Advanced Package and A-Spec with Advance Package benefit from full-leather upholstery, improved ambient lighting, and lit speaker covers in the doors.
The safety features are part of the AcuraWatch bundle, and they are included in every version of the 2025 RDX. The bundle comprises road departure mitigation, lane-keep assist, collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. Three years of AcuraLink Security and Remote packages are available at no extra cost, the automaker says in the press release.
But has anything changed in the power department? That would be a no, as just like before, the second facelift of the Acura RDX comes with the same powertrain. It is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit with forced induction, which drives both axles via a 10sp automatic transmission. Depending on the driving situation, up to 70% of the torque is directed to the rear wheels, and 100% of that goes to the outside rear wheel for improved cornering.
The engine still produces 272 horsepower (276 ps/203 kW) at 6,500 rpm, and it is good for 280 pound-foot (380 Nm) of torque, with the peak thrust being available between 1,600 and 4,500 rpm. The outgoing 2024 Acura RDX returns 23 mpg (10.2 l/100 km) combined, 21 mpg (11.2 l/100 km) in the city, and 27 mpg (8.7 l/100 km) on the highway. Given that the powertrain carries over with no modifications whatsoever, we expect identical (or near identical) fuel economy ratings from the 2025 model year on 91-octane fuel.
Photo: Acura
Acura will probably start accepting orders for the refreshed RDX in the coming days or weeks, and when the car finally goes on sale nationwide, it will probably be a tad more expensive than its predecessor. That’s the logical step, anyway, as the automaker can justify making it slightly pricier by reminding interested parties about the novelties that we mentioned above. Thus, we will revisit it when the car manufacturer releases the pricing information and specifications for the 2025 Acura RDX in the United States.
Meanwhile, we will remind you that the outgoing 2024 Acura RDX starts at $44,350 in the base configuration. Picking up the Technology trim level requires coughing out at least $47,000. The A-Spec and Advance carry MSRPs of $50,000 and $52,150, and for the top-of-the-line flavor, the A-Spec Advance, you will have to pay at least $54,150. That excludes dealer markups and destination, as well as any options you might be interested in. We expect the equipment to stay pretty much the same, though Acura could shuffle it a bit to make it more interesting.
This might be a good time to land a great deal on the 2024 RDX, assuming that your local Acura dealer is getting ready to stock up on the 2025 model year and could start offering discounts. But do you dig the 2025 RDX, and do you feel like it was the right call to give it a second mid-cycle refresh?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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