2010 Acura RDX

Honda

2010 Acura RDX

Acura’s small RDX crossover utility vehicle enters 2010 with a styling refresh, cabin upgrades and more available technology. But the biggest news for RDX is that a new, front-wheel-drive version now takes its place alongside the traditional all-wheel-drive RDX.

All-wheel drive is a mainstay of most crossovers, a byproduct of their lineage as part station wagon, part SUV. By minimizing understeer, Acura’s AWD system boosts the RDX’s cornering capability to a level rarely found in vehicles of this type. But even so, the extra grip that AWD provides when road conditions deteriorate is the largest part of the appeal of SUVs and crossovers in Snow Belt states. Even though the traction increase comes with added cost and a decrease in gas mileage, many find it worthwhile tradeoff.

But a large portion of the U.S. population doesn’t have to deal with snowy weather. For them, the new, front-wheel- drive version offers the promise of RDX luxury in a lighter (about 200 pounds less) package, with a lighter (about $2,000) price tag to boot. Pricing for the 2010 RDX with FWD starts at $32,520. The AWD version of the RDX starts at $34,520.