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A large portion of the younger auto buying consumer population has been
indicating their increased desire for luxurious crossover vehicles, something
between a station wagon and a sport utility vehicle with the features of a
luxury sport sedan. Acura delivered an intriguing model to fulfill these desires
with the introduction of the Acura RDX.
The 2007 RDX was Acura's entry level crossover SUV. Unlike the Acura MDX, which
is a larger, seven passenger SUV and geared more towards utility, the RDX is a
compact, five passenger luxury crossover SUV and was first introduced at the
2006 New York Auto Show. The vehicle is a four door, all wheel drive with a
2.3L, four cylinder turbocharged engine. Receiving praise for both performance
and style, it is also noteworthy to mention the vehicle also received the
highest safety ratings from both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and
the NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Some of the more poignant features of the RDX include all wheel drive with
enhanced handling to improve stability, dual-zone automatic climate control,
heated leather upholstered front seats, a savvy sound system and a large
dashboard display screen that allows the driver and passengers to easily view
audio and climate control information. The optional Technology Package includes
a wireless cell phone link and a full featured navigation system.
Though RDX boasts an increased focus on technological conveniences, sport
performance and luxury, there are a couple of drawbacks. As compared with
traditional SUVs and even some comparable crossover models, the Acura RDX has
limited cargo space. In addition, the turbo charged engine requires high octane
fuel to perform optimally and fuel efficiency is not recognized as a high
priority.
There are few differences between the introductory version and the new 2008
Acura RDX. Minor improvements for 2008 include a rear view mirror that will
automatically dim and a driver seat memory positioning feature. Bluetooth
connectivity is also now a standard feature as opposed to an option and
represents Acura's dedication to providing the technological conveniences that
seem to be most important to the new younger generation of drivers. |
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