Every 2026 RDX runs a 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder with 16-valve DOHC VTEC, rated at 272 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque across a wide 1,600 to 4,500 rpm band. That low-rpm torque plateau is what gives the RDX its effortless midrange, since the engine is already pulling hard before most rivals' turbos have spooled.

The 10-speed automatic shifts through steering-wheel paddles when you want control, and idle-stop trims fuel use at lights. Acura recommends premium 91-octane fuel; EPA ratings come in at 21 city/27 highway/23 combined, or 21/26/23 on the 20-inch wheels of the A-Spec trims.

• 272 horsepower at 6,500 rpm
• 280 lb-ft of torque from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm
• 2.0-liter turbocharged DOHC VTEC four-cylinder
• 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters
• Premium 91-octane fuel recommended
• EPA-estimated 21 city/27 highway MPG on 19-inch wheels

SH-AWD is standard on all five 2026 trims, and it is a torque-vectoring system rather than a slip-and-grip setup: it actively shifts drive torque between the rear wheels to rotate the RDX into a corner, which is why the SUV feels planted in ways front-drive-based rivals do not. Agile Handling Assist adds subtle brake-based cornering support.

The Integrated Dynamics System lets you pick the vehicle's character with Snow, Comfort, Normal, and Sport modes, changing throttle mapping, steering effort, and the engine-sound character delivered through Active Sound Control as you rotate the dial.

• Super Handling All-Wheel Drive standard on every trim
• Torque vectoring across the rear axle
• Agile Handling Assist standard
• Integrated Dynamics System drive modes
• Snow, Comfort, Normal, and Sport settings
• Drive-by-wire throttle with mode-specific mapping

The base RDX, Technology, and A-Spec ride on Amplitude Reactive Dampers, a two-valve passive design that separates small-bump compliance from big-hit control. The Advance and A-Spec Advance step up to the electronically controlled Adaptive Damper System, which firms or relaxes the ride with the selected drive mode. Braking runs through 12.4-inch ventilated front rotors, and the turning circle is a tidy 38.9 feet.

Properly equipped with the Acura accessory hitch, the RDX tows up to 1,500 pounds, enough for a small utility trailer or a pair of jet skis headed to Lake Weir. Curb weight starts at 4,014 pounds, with a 57/43 front-to-rear weight distribution on the 19-inch-wheel trims and 58/42 on the A-Spec models.

• Amplitude Reactive Dampers on RDX, Technology, and A-Spec
• Adaptive Damper System on Advance trims
• 12.4-inch ventilated front brake rotors
• 38.9-foot turning circle
• 1,500 pounds of towing with the accessory hitch
• 19-inch wheels standard, 255/45R20 tires on A-Spec trims