Acura tagged posts

Test Car Information:

2014 Acur RLX with Navigation
3.5L naturally aspirated i-VTEC V6 with Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®), 310 hp @ 6,500 RPM, 272 lb-ft @ 4,500 RPM
6-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel-drive
MSRP as tested: $51,845 (including $895 S&H)

Review Index

2014 Acura RLX – Part 1 (Exterior)
2014 Acura RLX – Part 2 (Interior)
2014 Acura RLX – Part 3 (Electronic Features, Controls)
2014 Acura RLX – Part 4 (Powertrain)
2014 Acura RLX – Part 5 (Chassis)

Luxury sedans which are around the $50,000 mark are typically battle fields among candidates such as the Lexus GS, Infiniti Q70, BMW 5-series, Mercedes-Benz E-class and Audi A6...

When talking about the Accord outside of US market, please pay attention that it usually means a different car. For example the 8th-gen Honda Accord in Japan and Europe is actually the Acura TSX in US.

The foreign-market Accord also has another name in China: it is called the Honda Spirior. Last month, Honda revealed the redesigned 2015 Spirior. The higher-level Si trim, can be consider to be the equivalent to the Acura TLX 2.4 8-DCT.

The Spirior has the same wheelbase as the TLX, and the Si trim comes with the same 2.4L direct-injection 4-cylinder engine as in the TLX and also the Honda-developed 8-speed DCT. The 2...

Review Index

2014 Acura RDX – Part 1 (Exterior)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 2 (Interior)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 3 (Interior – Gauges/Seats/Capacity)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 4 (Powertrain)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 5 (Suspension and Chassis)

Two things impressed me most when testing the RDX are: the ride comfort the suspension provides, and also the solidness of the car chassis.

First I will talk about the suspension. For the RDX, the front suspension is MacPherson strut type, and multi-link for the rear suspension.

A close look at the multi-link suspension in the rear wheel area. The majority of the rear wheel suspension parts are made of steel.

Automotive adhesive materi...

Review Index

2014 Acura RDX – Part 1 (Exterior)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 2 (Interior)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 3 (Interior – Gauges/Seats/Capacity)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 4 (Powertrain)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 5 (Suspension and Chassis)

The 2014 RDX only has one engine option: a 3.5L naturally aspirated V6, good for 273 hp @ 6,200RPM and 251 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 RPM. Also there is only one transmission is available on the RDX: a Honda-self-developed 6-speed automatic transmission.

Let’s first talk about the V6 engine (Honda code name: J35Y)...

Review Index

2014 Acura RDX – Part 1 (Exterior)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 2 (Interior)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 3 (Interior – Gauges/Seats/Capacity)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 4 (Powertrain)
2014 Acura RDX – Part 5 (Suspension and Chassis)

In this section, we will continue to review the interior features of the RDX.

The gauges are simple, if you just look at it you won’t tell the difference between it and a Honda-branded vehicle. However it is practical and considering the RDX’s price, it is reasonable too.

This is the layout overview of the dash. Frankly speaking, it cannot distinguish itself from some cars bearing the Honda badge...