The RDX is Acura's best attempt at a driver's SUV, the SH-AWD torque vectoring really does make it corner like a sedan, and the cabin feels genuinely luxurious for the money. But the third-gen 2.0T drinks gas like a V6 (20-22 MPG in the real world), the 2019-2024 models have a rear glass shattering problem that keeps coming back even after the TSB fix, and the 2025s suffered complete power steering failures at low speeds, now under recall. If you want the handling and can live with the fuel bill, a 2022-2024 makes sense; skip the 2025 until the recall work proves durable, and know that Acura is killing the line in 2026 with no replacement for two years.
This scrappy little off-roader will keep you safe in a crash and get you through a snowstorm, but it drinks gas like a full-size truck and accelerates like it's towing one. Owners who bought it for winter capability and weekend trail duty tend to love it, several report 150k+ miles of reliable service. But if you're commuting on the highway or hauling a family, the anemic engines (15-18 mpg combined, genuinely), cramped back seat, and frequent fuel stops will wear you down fast. The 2015-2017 models suffer electrical nightmares; stick to 2019+ if you're buying used. It's the right tool for a specific job, just make sure that job isn't 'efficient daily driver.'