Before You Buy

Acura RDX: Buy Score, Reliability & Ownership Costs

Entry Luxury Compact SUV · SUV

MSRP Range$45,100–$54,850
A blue 2026 Acura RDX parked outside a suburban coffee shop in bright midday daylight, shot candidly.
Engine2.0L turbo 4-cylinder, 272 hp, 280 lb-ft
Transmission10-speed automatic
Fuel Economy23 mpg combined
DrivetrainStandard SH-AWD

Our Verdict

Based on model-specific reliability data, ownership costs, and longevity signals.

Buy
84/100

Buy Score™

Pros

  • 4.5/5.0 RepairPal score — among the best in the entry-luxury SUV class
  • Standard SH-AWD on every trim, not a paid option
  • iSeeCars rates it a strong bet for 250,000+ miles

Cons

  • 2019-2020 model years had a class-action-settled infotainment defect (freezing/crashing touchscreen) — a specific years-to-avoid flag for used buyers
  • 21-23 mpg combined trails compact-SUV hybrids by a wide margin
  • Takata airbag inflators affected some earlier model years — confirm recall completion via VIN before buying used

Can this car reach 300,000 miles?

Likely

iSeeCars puts the RDX among the Acuras with a strong predicted shot at 250,000-300,000 miles with normal maintenance.

First-Time Buyer Friendly

62/100

Approachable overall, though a first-time buyer should budget a little extra for insurance or upkeep.

Reliability Timeline

What tends to need attention, and when — based on model-specific reliability data.

RoutineModerateMajor

30,000 miles

Oil changes, tire rotations

60,000 miles

Brake pads — 2016 and 2019 model years had a documented squealing-brake complaint pattern

100,000 miles

Spark plugs and turbo intercooler hose inspection

150,000 miles

Suspension components and SH-AWD driveline service

200,000+ miles

iSeeCars flags the RDX among SUVs with a strong shot at 250,000+ miles

What It Actually Costs to Own

One of the strongest RepairPal scores of any entry-luxury SUV, but the 2019-2020 model years had a well-documented infotainment defect that led to a class-action settlement — worth checking on used examples from those years specifically.

Estimated Annual Fuel Cost$1,780
Estimated Annual Insurance$1,520
Estimated Annual Maintenance$460
Estimated Annual Repairs$497
Estimated Annual Registration$240
5-Year Depreciation~48% of purchase price

Full Specifications

Engine2.0L turbo 4-cylinder, 272 hp, 280 lb-ft
Transmission10-speed automatic
Fuel Economy23 mpg combined
DrivetrainStandard SH-AWD
TrimsBase, Technology, A-Spec, Advance, A-Spec Advance

Check for open recalls before you buy

We don't yet have a live recall feed wired up for the Acura RDX, so we won't guess at a number here. Before you buy any specific RDX, run its VIN throughNHTSA's free recall lookup tool— it takes about 30 seconds and confirms whether that exact vehicle has any open, unrepaired safety recalls.

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Sources: RepairPal model score (4.5) and annual repair cost ($497), plus “safest entry-luxury pick” framing: deep-research-report-car-buying-guide.md, entry-luxury section. iSeeCars 250,000-300,000 mile longevity context: supplemental web research, verified July 2026 (copilotsearch.com, referencing iSeeCars study data). 2026 MSRP by trim ($45,100-$54,850), 2.0L turbo/272-hp powertrain, standard SH-AWD, and EPA fuel economy: supplemental web research, verified July 2026 (acura.com, edmunds.com). Common-problem history (2016/2019 brake squeal, 2019-2020 infotainment class-action settlement, Takata airbag recall exposure): supplemental web research, verified July 2026 (carparts.com, hbsslaw.com, acuraproblems.com).