2012 Acura RDX audio jack and an interface for USB and iPod

The 2011 Acura RDX, now in its fifth year of production, is a compact luxury SUV that is one of the most pleasing compact crossovers to drive. Five can sit comfortably inside the vehicle. Standard features include heated mirrors, wheels 18 inches in diameter, privacy glass, xenon headlamps, fog lamps, cruise control, sunroof, automatic climate control that is dual mode to allow different temperature settings for the two front passengers, tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, satellite radio, six-CD changer with seven-speaker sound system, audio jack and an interface for USB and iPod.

An additional technology package is available for the Acura RDX that provides a navigation system and climate control that senses solar rays, a rearview camera, traffic and weather in real-time, voice controls, a display screen as an infotainment center, and a surround-sound audio system with 10 speakers and DVD audio capability.

The sophistication of the Acura RDX continues with the interior with plush leather seats that are ergonomically designed to provide the support of a luxury sport sedan. Dual-level heaters for the front seats afford warmth during the cold winter months and a 10-way setting for the driver’s seat helps to create the driving position that best suits the driver. Side mirror positions are maintained with two memory settings. Room for three in the rear lets passengers have enough space to be comfortable with a flat floor and generous space under the front seats. You would be hard pressed to find a more accommodating compact SUV on the market.

A turbo-charged 2.3 liter four cylinder 240 horsepower engines powers the Acura RDX with a five-speed automatic transmission. Front wheel drive is standard on the vehicle with all-wheel drive optional. Acura’s specially designed all-wheel drive system determines how power can be best distributed between the front and rear wheels as well as the wheels on either side of the vehicle so that optimal traction is achieved in all road conditions.

The front-wheel drive only Acura RDX is rated at 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway with a combined rating of 21 mpg. The heavier Acura RDX with all-wheel drive comes in at 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and a combined rating of 19 mpg. Fuel economy is about average for this class of vehicle.

Cargo space in the Acura RDX is 27.8 cubic feet which is enhanced by the square shape of the vehicle’s roofline. Belongings can be hidden with a hard cargo cover lid when the rear seats are up. When the seats are titled forward and seatbacks are down, the cargo capacity increases to 60.6 cubic feet.

The 2011 Acura RDX is worth consideration if you are in the market for a smaller, compact luxury SUV combined with the features of a sports sedan that makes for a taut but comfortable highway ride. With its more technological elements, the interior offers sophistication and features a high-tech ambiance that is dynamic yet serene. The front grilling and design may detract somewhat from the vehicle’s appearance yet the turbo-charged engine and its ability to handle tight corners make this car unique in its class.