---
title: "The 2019 Acura RDX: Turbos, Touchpads, and Torque Vectoring"
description: "Acura took the wraps off of its fully-redesigned 2019 RDX at the Detroit Auto Show on Monday, revealing a car that aims to inject a good dose of turbocharged, fashion-forward pragmatism to the ever-lucrative, luxury compact crossover segment."
date: "2018-01-16"
modified: "2018-01-16"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/17700/the-2019-acura-rdx-turbos-touchpads-and-torque-vectoring"
categories:
  - "Acura News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "acura"
  - "crossovers"
  - "detroit auto show"
  - "luxury"
  - "NAIAS"
  - "NAIAS 2018"
  - "rdx"
  - "suv/crossover"
---

# The 2019 Acura RDX: Turbos, Touchpads, and Torque Vectoring

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/01/rdx19_p004-e1516072571487.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Acura took the wraps off of its fully-redesigned 2019 [RDX](<https://thestore.thedrive.com/>) at the Detroit Auto Show on Monday, revealing a car that aims to inject even more turbocharged, fashion-forward pragmatism to the ever-lucrative, largely-turbocharged, fashionably pragmatic segment that is luxury compact crossovers.

As the first Acura wholly designed with the [pentagonal-grilled Precision Concept](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/1637/acura-precision-concept-needs-a-cosmetic-surgeon>) in mind (in contrast with the mid-cycle nose jobs given to the current MDX, TLX, and RLX), the new RDX is wider, longer, and less overhang-y than the car it replaces. Like a freshly-pressed button-up shirt, Acura's overhauled mall crawler looks adequately handsome and by modern standards, conservative. For buyers who not-so-secretly wish they were behind the wheel of an Integra instead, a sportier looking A-Spec trim will be available for the new RDX [as well as every "core" Acura model from here on out](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/17686/acura-to-revive-the-type-s-badge-introduce-turbocharged-v-6>).

![message-editor%2F1516081549207-rdx19\_p001.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516081549207-rdx19_p001.jpg>)
*Honda*

![message-editor%2F1516081554764-rdx19\_p002.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516081554764-rdx19_p002.jpg>)
*Honda*

![message-editor%2F1516081559831-rdx19\_p003.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516081559831-rdx19_p003.jpg>)
*Honda*

![message-editor%2F1516081572444-rdx19\_p006.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516081572444-rdx19_p006.jpg>)
*Honda*

![message-editor%2F1516081581578-rdx19\_p011.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516081581578-rdx19_p011.jpg>)
*Honda*

Sitting on a new, stiffer platform built exclusively for Acuras—no hidden Honda bones here—the third-generation RDX will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission. As power figures have yet to be released, an undisclosed amount of power will be sent to all four wheels via the company's torque-vectoring, Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system for handling that Acura hopes drivers will patently deem as super.

![message-editor%2F1516081669602-rdx19\_p014.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516081669602-rdx19_p014.jpg>)
*Honda*

![message-editor%2F1516081673619-rdx19\_p015.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516081673619-rdx19_p015.jpg>)
*Honda*

![message-editor%2F1516081678157-rdx19\_p012.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516081678157-rdx19_p012.jpg>)
*Honda*

Speaking of super, sitting smack dab in the center of the RDX's center console is an NSX-inspired drive mode selection knob that lets the driver (or any passengers with little sense of boundaries) switch between Sport, Sport+, Comfort, and Snow. Surrounding said knob is a cabin that looks well luxurious, features real leather, aluminum, and wood, and boasts what is apparently the biggest panoramic moonroof in its class.

![message-editor%2F1516081758990-rdx19\_p015a.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516081758990-rdx19_p015a.jpg>)
*Honda*

![message-editor%2F1516081763519-rdx19\_p021.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1516081763519-rdx19_p021.jpg>)
*Honda*

On the tech side of things, Acura is touting its new True Touchpad Interface, a Lexus-style trackpad that maps the position of your finger one-to-one onto the 10.2-inch, Android-based screen it controls. Allowing for the screen to be placed high and in the driver's natural line of sight, the system supposedly takes touchscreens and more remote-based infotainment solutions and offers the best of both worlds.

To be built in East Liberty, Ohio, the 2019 Acura RDX will hit dealerships mid-2018 and is expected to start in the mid-to-high $30,000 range.

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)