2013 Acura RDX

It appears Acura did something right with the all-new 2013 Acura RDX, as April sales numbers were up nearly 50 percent over the same month last year. RDX owners said the first-generation lacked a little refinement, so that became the main focus with the second-gen’s redesign. With the 2013 RDX, the new compact crossover from Acura has adopted a mini-MDX look and clearly done some growing up.

The 2013 RDX’s overall appearance is similar to the previous generation’s, but it’s been smoothed out to lend the CUV a sleek look. The front end looks much more fluid, thanks to a lower hood line that meets a new front grille. While the new RDX still wears a pointed nose, it’s not as razor-sharp as the outgoing model’s. The new shape of the grille’s chrome bar makes it appear as though it’s floating inside the upside-down trapezoidal grille, which also had its sharp edges filed down. The less polarizing front grille is flanked by more graceful-looking headlights, while the foglamp housings have been squished and elongated.

 Looking at the RDX’s profile, smoother door panels are offset by a more crisp body line that runs through the door handles. Wider wheel arch lips also give the RDX a more refined design, while a more tapered roofline creates a triangle-shaped rear quarter window. The RDX also wears new split 5-spoke 18-inch diameter wheels, and the fuel cap cover has also transformed from a circle to a square.

 The crisp body lines from the side panels flow to the rear of the RDX, where they meet at the bottom of the liftgate. A slim chrome bar connecting the taillights is also new, while the large exhaust pipes disappear from sight. The RDX’s overall rear appearance looks broader.

 Inside, the 2013 RDX features softer and more rounded shapes than before, with matte silver and leather trim to help move the RDX a bit more upscale than before. The sporty three-dial instrument cluster has been replaced with a single housing for all gauges, and the navigation display has been moved higher for improved visibility.