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Comments
les
After reading a lot of the discussions on this forum, I'd say I'm probably not alone in having mixed feelings about the RDX. It is a car that's been engineered more for the left brain than the right brain. It's built for mass appeal, with a best-in-class balance between performance and fuel economy, and just enough luxury and safety features to make it a superior value for the money.
My frustrations, however, were many. The rear cargo area is terrible when compared to wagons like the Subaru Outback and even small SUVs like the Honda CR-V. Many of the little ergonomic touches I expect from Honda managed not to reach this vehicle. Lousy cup holders, no bag hooks in the back, no fold-flat seat, no rear 120V outlet, no passenger lamps. 91 octane gas pisses a lot of people off. And frankly while the V6 is responsive and smooth compared to turbo 4 competitors, I wouldn't call it fun to drive. After 2+ months, I'm still not used to the way VCM responds when I take my foot off the gas. It's not quite a lurch, but it's not coasting either. It requires that I drive differently than any other car I've owned. I thought it would be a good road car, but passengers who loved riding in my old TL find the RDX makes them nauseous.
I did find the cargo area to be a bit tight. That could be an issue. But, it did fly (seriously quick). And most people buying one of these are going to be more interested in smooth comfort, not nimble sports car handling!
as to the lurch, that may not be the VCM. Honda trannys work a bit differently than other ones, and it may be that you are feeling, not VCM kicking in or out.
basically, I look at the RDX as a fancy trim level V6 CRV for an extra 5K or so. My wife liked the CRV when we checked it out, but then I made the (financial) mistake of stopping at the Acura dealer since I wanted to see one. After that, getting her into a more budget friendly ride was going to be hard!
right now, we are waiting for the Santa Fe to hit showrooms. We got to play around in a pre-release one a few weeks back, and it was really nice. And much roomier, with neat features. Depending on price, that might be the winner.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Personally I would have rather lived with a derated (no turbo) I4 with a CR cognizant with DFI than lose the SH-AWD system. Maybe add a throttle body fuel injector, or 2, to prevent intake valve and the entire intake manifold from EGR contamination
And you still need to de-clutter the dash area.
The good new is that maybe this new turbocharging fad is on the wane. I hear the CX-7 is now on the chopping block.
And the CX-7, like the old RDX, was "old school" turbos that got lousy mileage. The modern ones (like Ecoboost) are still growing.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The new RDX is selling tons better than the old RDX. The SH-AWD is a better system and all but the people who were actually looking to buy a small Acura CUV didn't have the want or need for it. It seems that the people that liked it the most, like internet poster enthusiusts, weren't the ones that were actually buying the vehicle, they were just talking about it. Acura can't pay it's bills jsut because internet posters say they like something but don't buy it!
The dash has been decluttered and is now no more cluttered than most other competitors.
integrated Engine remote start on the key fob.
Now, the remote start is something that also doesn't interest me but I can understand where some people want them. I guess if it came standard I would use it a few times a year in very extreme cold but certainly wouldn't pay extra for it. Maybe I'm just cheap.
I'll drop back in from time to time as I get more familiar with the new ride. So far, I'm very glad I went with the Tech pkg vs the frequently updated Sensus in the newer Volvos. I was considering the 3.2 engine in the Volvo, but I'm pretty sure the RDX powerplant is superior(certainly is on paper). DW loves the 'entertainment' features and I've got a feeling I'll get to drive the C70 convertible a bit more because of that.
Only time will tell if we will miss the 'city safe' features of the Volvo. I didn't care for BLIS, but a couple of the systems were interesting(if not frequently used).
I guess the rain that moved in today could be attributed to our vehicle purchase. The rain gods likely consider the shiny NEW vehicle as a greater commitment than JUST washing the car!
Another thought would be something that looped over the rear seat head restraints so the seatbacks could be left up and the 'net' could be 'hanging' from the head restraints. I have a never used cargo net from two decades ago(Sable wagon) that might work for that. Hmmm...
I am here in md and saw 6 Rdx 2013 on the lot . Haven't talked price yet but hoping to get a tech pkg for less than 40k?
One key to enjoying any car over the years is having a good service technician you can trust that is convenient to your home or office. I have ruled out some car brands for this reason. It so happens I have an Acura dealer near me that doesn't over charge for service, provides free loaners and inspections, and has extremely convenient service hours, so that's a big deal for me.
Pre-2013
1. Press Call-Pick Up
2. Say name (and dialing initiated immediately).
2013
1. Press Voice Command
2. Say "Dial by Voice Tag"
3. Wait for beep, and Press Voice Command
4. Say name.
5. Wait for system to repeat name back and beep.
6. Press Voice Command
7. Say "Dial."
Not only is the new approach slow and frustrating, in my view it's downright dangerous since it lengthens substantially the interval when the driver is distracted trying to get through what is now a 7-step process. I have called Acura and a separate help line for HFL, as well as the dealer. No love. A lame and vague explanation about Acura wanting to enhance safety. I can't even fathom how this enhances safety other than forcing a driver to pull over and pull out his/her phone to make a call.
I would love to be proven wrong with a good shortcut using HFL itself (as opposed to workarounds on your phone, which necessitates getting the phone out, etc.), but no luck so far. I truly regret getting the car. In 2012, safe and efficient voice dialing is a fundamental car attribute, especially for a luxury car. Does anyone else have this issue? Thanks.
What kills me is that in 2012 I should have to pre-record voice dials at all. It should just search my address book for a match.
The system is awful and a major flaw as is not being able to change the navigation system while the vehicle is in motion. Once again I had to pull over so my passenger could change our destination in the navigation system.
And potential customers will go elsewhere for a new SUV. Recently, while pumping gas, a five time Acura owner in a MDX approached to ask me how I liked the 2013 RDX. He was considering the RDX for his wife because of the improved gas mileage but would look to other manufacturers after I described the horrible phone & navigation systems. He found it difficult to believe one can only transfer 20 stored contacts from the phonebook to the voice tag phonebook. He loves Acuras, but said based on that alone he would not buy another Acura until they fix this.
Twwilliam is right. I was referring to the 2013 RDX Tech.
The 2012 RDX has a very different system. Acura will tell you it's better because Voice Control can now do more stuff (mostly useless/superfluous) like turning off your air conditioning.
They have sacrificed simplicity in dialing -- a key safety feature -- for lots more "features" (aka trinkets). It is really tragic, not to mention astonishing. Some class action plaintiffs' lawyer is going to have a field day with this when he/she gets a hold of it. It really is an accident, not to mention a law suit, waiting to happen. Acura, are you out there? Are you listening? Crickets?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Giving you the benefit of the doubt, I am assuming this was a friendly comment intended to be funny.
Can you verify that 7-step voice dialing is not required with non-Tech package 2013 Acuras? The Owners Manual (right-hand box on p. 215) and the instructions for HFL on the My Acura website seem to suggest that it's the same problem . . .
I have never had a car with built in bluetooth, so I would not have any benchmark to compare it to. or obviously, no obvious need for it.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
At least my Garmin does not care what I am doing. Change it any time!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I agree that the locking out the Navigation system when the car is moving is an annoyance, but as a safety matter I can at least understand the logic, even if I may not agree with it. I know there are other comments on this blog that get into that issue.
In the case of the very poor voice dialing in the 2013 RDX, the problem is just the opposite. Acura is taking something that was simple and safe and making it complicated and potentially dangerous. I would love to hear from some programmers or software engineers, but it strikes me that this is just lazy coding by Acura or its supplier. Even if it's technically "necessary," sacrificing straightforward voice dialing for the added features is just stupid. What driver would give up straightforward voice dialing for being able to fiddle with the a/c or radio by voice?
Aren't my findings contradicting all the posts here?? Am I missing something? Are these posts talking about something else? Did Acura already tweak things??
Welcome to the Edmunds forums. I can't speak to using Nav while moving, but my principal issue is with poor/cumbersome/dangerous voice dialing through the 2013 RDX. Can you tell us more clearly how you're using your phone system? What buttons are you using, and in what sequence?
I have an iPhone as well. It's possible on an iPhone to work around the Acura system and use the latter only as a speakerphone, but that kinda defeats the purpose, no?
Thanks for your response. No offense to you, but I don't know if your answer makes me want to laugh or cry. If I understand it, your method adds three ADDITIONAL button pushes in order to at least shorten the painfully SLOW time of the standard method Acura recommends. Good idea on the slowness issue, but I'm afraid this sounds at least as distracting -- and therefore dangerous -- as the standard method, if not more. AFAIK, before pressing the talk button as you suggest, the driver has to wait a second or two to make sure the prior command was heard and processed by the system. Quite a bit of aural choreography, no? And personally, I'd have to take piano lessons first!
Again, I want to emphasize that I don't mean to be critical of you. This is a ridiculous situation Acura has created, and you're just sharing the best workaround you've found. So thanks for that. It must drive you CRAZY that your wife's 2009 RDX is so much simpler to use for voice dialing!
and our Garmin works just fine too.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Save your money and your sanity and get a Garmin.
I will miss the 12v outlet in the cargo area...all the Volvos had that; but my biggest gripe so far is the horrible console compartment cover. While it's large enough and almost tall enough to be an arm rest, it opens about 60% and blocks my right arm from being able to reach in comfortably. The lid should be able to open to a full horizontal position, fully out of the way...and it could double as a tray or extra cup holders IF they wanted to copy one of the Volvo designs from a few years back.
Of course, everyone is entitled to his own opinion about the Tech package on the 2013 RDX, but two aspects of the current voice dialing seem to me to take this issue beyond the realm of just opinion. First, the greater number of steps in making voice-dialed calls means greater driver distraction and that's just a decrease in safety that can't be ignored. Not to mention that the greater number of steps also introduces more points of failure in the process, necessitating yet more steps and more distraction if any of the steps fails. Second, it's important to keep in mind that the new, more complicated voice-dialing on the 2013 RDX Tech package is a retrograde step. Acura has made voice dialing easier in the past, both on Tech packages and in the current 2013 RDX models without Tech. Now, we're going backwards! On a basic and important function in 2012, on $40,000 luxury car, where the Tech package alone costs about $4,000, going backwards is just unacceptable.
Again, you're entitled to your opinion, of course, and you may think the decrease is safety due to distraction is acceptable and that a backward step in voice dialing is not a big deal, but I hope you'll agree that these issues go far beyond the "gee, I wish the RDX came with white leather" kind of issue.
LOL! It's true after all, misery loves company!
I have been really shocked at the muted response the bad voice dialing on the 2013 RDX with Tech has been getting. By now, I would have thought there would be an uprising of dissatisfied owners. Maybe this will come later as the new Tech package gets rolled out across Acura's 2013 product line. Let's buy some popcorn and watch the fireworks!