2010 Acura RDX 2WD Drive Review

Now three years into its lifecycle, it is no secret that the versatile Acura RDX is about due for a refresh. Photos purported to show an updated 2010 model have surfaced online today along with a few details.

The biggest cosmetic change is the addition of the big "beak" that is now Acura's corporate face, though it works much better on the RDX than on other Acuras, such as the TL, likely because it appears smaller on a larger vehicle. Also modified up front are a new lower fascia and faux air ducts around the fog lights that add a bit of visual flair. A new set of wheels also helps set the new model apart. Only a partial picture of the rear end is available, but it's enough for us to see new hexagonal tail pipes and a slightly revised lower rear fascia.

On the road since 2006, the Acura RDX was about due for a makeover. Acura has delivered a relatively minor update, but one that is certainly noticeable. The RDX now sports Acura’s controversial new corporate styling and has picked up a host of minor improvements that put it back on par with modern luxury crossovers.

Most who take a gander at the new RDX for the first time are going to see one thing: the beak. Acura has updated the RDX’s exterior styling to encompass the company’s new direction, one that features a large, solid overhang on the front grille that resembles a can opener. Because the RDX is a larger vehicle than many of its corporate brethren, the new grille doesn’t look as bulky and awkward on the RDX as it does on, say, the TL. Along with the beak, Acura has added new HID headlights and a revised front fascia to spruce up the nose. Around back, the RDX gets new tail lights, satin trim pieces, and hexagonal tailpipes. Completing the sharper, edgier new look is a new set of shoes, with18-in. aluminum alloys in a split five-spoke design.
After three years on the market, the Acura RDX is getting its first comprehensive makeover for the 2010 model year. Unlike the automaker's new TSX V6, where the changes were largely restricted to the bits you don't see, the opposite is true of the RDX. Acura's cute 'ute gets a mid-cycle facelift to bring it in-line with the rest of the Acura line-up – meaning if you haven't warmed up to Acura's shield grille you might want to look elsewhere.

If, on the other hand, you're partial to the new corporate beak, the RDX benefits from a few well-designed tweaks to boost its exterior appeal. The shape of the headlamp clusters remains the same, although the internal arrangement has been shuffled around, while below the bumper you'll spot a new air intake sitting in between the revised fog-lamp housings. Out back, the taillights receive a few minor revisions that most observers probably won't notice and the satin frame around the license plate pocket now matches the finish on the front grille.