2025 Acura RDX A-Spec Advance First Test: Hard to Beat?

We should start off by saying the 2025 Acura RDX A-Spec is more of a light update from the previous model and not a significant refresh. So, if some of our opinions seem familiar, that’s why. There are certainly some changes from last year, but most of them are skin deep. Do the small changes add up to any kind of substantive difference? Let’s dive in.

See All 21 Photos21

Nip, Tuck, and Lift

The Acura RDX receives a subtle but welcome glow-up for the 2025 model year. For starters, it now has Acura’s new “frameless” diamond pentagon-shaped grille with an updated mesh insert. The base RDX gets gloss black trim to make the exterior paint pop, while on the A-Spec Advance trim we tested, the rear diffuser is body color.

Berlina Black 19-inch wheels are standard for 2025, but the A-Spec and A-Spec Advance get new 20-inch designs. There’s also a short list of new exterior colors including Solar Silver Metallic, Canyon River Blue Metallic, and the color of our test vehicle, Urban Grey Pearl.

Even though the exterior updates are subtle, we’re quite happy with the new RDX’s looks. It strikes a great balance between sporty and luxurious. It looks faster and more expensive than it actually is, which is a great bonus if style is a priority for you.

See All 21 Photos21

The Annoying Touchpad Is Still Here

The RDX’s interior is reworked for 2025 with a new center console that provides more storage and easier access to the wireless charging pad. Unfortunately, the much-maligned Acura True Touchpad Interface has carried over.

Our frustration with Acura’s touchpad—where you touch on the pad is mapped to a precise spot on the screen, meaning you need to know exactly where to always touch—is well documented. We were overjoyed when Acura revealed that it was doing away with the touchpad in the updated MDX, so the decision to leave it in the RDX is a bit of a bummer. All Acura would tell us is that the decision to use or not use the touchpad would be a “model-by-model” decision. OK, fine, the RDX gets the touchpad, but is it at least any better to use in this model? It is, but marginally.

The touchpad is better at registering touches, but it’s still terrible at navigating the interface and frequently doesn’t cause the icons we intend to select to highlight. We know on paper a touchpad should work. After all, laptops have had them for decades, right?

The fundamental problem is that laptops also have cursors that work with the touchpad, so you know what you’re selecting. Acura’s interface is missing that very important feature, making navigating the menus a guessing game. The problem is exacerbated when connected to Android Auto as it seems the touchpad was not optimized for navigating UIs outside of Acura’s own.

Fortunately, the RDX provides a plethora of buttons, knobs, and dials to adjust just about every other feature outside of infotainment, which is nice on the one hand but on the other just highlights how bad the touchpad really is.

See All 21 Photos21

Interior Lounge Vibes

Touchpad aside, the 2025 Acura RDX’s interior is excellent. The “waterfall” design of the dashboard which centralizes the HVAC and other function controls is ergonomically solid while also pleasing to look at. The reworked center console provides tons of space for small objects you want to get out of the way, and the new placement of the wireless charging pad gets a thumbs-up.

Our test vehicle was adorned with red leather seats and door paneling with black Alcantara accents exclusive to A-Spec trims. The color combo complements the exterior Urban Grey Pearl paint nicely. The RDX is a midsize SUV, so the back seats aren’t massive, but it offers a fair amount of room for rear passengers and kids. Taller adults may feel a bit tight depending on the positions of the front occupants. At least they can enjoy heated outboard seats.

The Acura ELS Studio 16-speaker audio system not only sounds great, but the dynamic ambient LED lighting package also turns the speakers into art pieces. Altogether, Acura put together a stellar interior experience with the 2025 RDX.

See All 21 Photos21

Delayed Driving Joy

All trims of the 2025 Acura RDX carry over the 2.0-liter turbocharged 272-hp I-4 engine from last year. The engine provides a smooth, zippy experience once on the move, with effortless cruising at higher speeds. The problem is there’s a significant lag off the line; bury your foot in the right pedal, and nothing of consequence happens until roughly 3,500–4,000 rpm. The delayed response makes passing and merging a bit trickier than it should be.

There are various driving modes to choose from: Snow, Comfort, Normal, and Sport. "Even in S Drive, the downshifts and gear-holding were inconsistent.” road test editor Chris Walton said. “I resorted to manual downshifts, and it would still auto upshift thereafter.” Acura’s SH-AWD system monitors steering input in relation to power delivery, so if you try to put your foot down during a corner, the system will reject your request. “The all-wheel-drive system works well on the exit and puts the power down,” Walton said, “however it’s not full power until the steering wheel is straight. Overall, it just feels hemmed in by the electronics."

See All 21 Photos21

Is the Acura RDX A-Spec Right for You?

If you’re looking for a luxury SUV that looks great and has plenty of features and acceptable performance, the 2025 Acura RDX A-Spec Advance is a serious contender. At $56,400 as tested, the RDX A-Spec Advance is cheaper than the top-range Genesis GV70 and Lexus NX while offering more passenger and cargo space than either. In the context of performance-luxury, the Acura RDX A-Spec Advance is hard to beat.

However, it’s not perfect. Anyone who’s a stickler for more holistic performance may find themselves disappointed by the RDX’s laggy throttle response. All things considered, if you can handle the touchpad, the RDX is worth consideration.