2025 Acura RDX gets sportier styling, updated interior

Acura's 2025 RDX compact crossover will offer more aggressive styling and an updated interior when it arrives at dealerships this month.

The RDX is an important vehicle for Acura. The five-seater is the premium brand's No. 2 seller in the U.S. behind its three-row MDX and has been a bright spot this year as the automaker's volume dropped because of production constraints on the TLX and Integra sedans as well as the selldown of the outgoing MDX, also freshened for 2025.

Through the first seven months of the year, Acura sales slid 12 percent compared with last year. RDX sales increased 27 percent to 24,147 in the same period, helping offset some of the decrease in volume.

According to Acura, the RDX has achieved almost 800,000 sales since its introduction in 2006 and is one of the fastest-growing models in its segment. It competes against heavyweights including the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Lexus NX.

Mike Langel, Acura's new head of national sales, said in a statement that it's the "most premium" RDX the brand has offered, and that it helps advance the brand's "Precision Crafted Performance" philosophy.

The RDX front end has a new frameless diamond pentagon grille with a more striking mesh pattern. It also has gloss black exterior trim and 19-inch black wheels. The Advance Package gets body-color lower exterior trim and black machine-finished 19-inch wheels with an exclusive design.

The RDX A-Spec and A-Spec Advance are sportier in appearance with a blacked-out exterior treatments and 20-inch wheels. The A-Spec's wheels are gray, and the A-Spec Advance has black machine-finished wheels.

New paint colors are available: all-new Solar Silver Metallic as well as Canyon River Blue Metallic and Urban Pearl (also available on the freshened 2025 MDX).

The RDX has a revised center console with increased storage and larger cupholders. Acura said the wireless smartphone charger will be easier to access.

The standard 10.2-inch center display features a wide-screen mode for new standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Advance Package and A-Spec Advance feature full-leather upholstery, more ambient lighting on the new center console and new front- and rear-door speakers.

The Acura RDX is assembled alongside the MDX at Honda's East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio.