2026 Acura RDX: Redesign, Hybrid, Release Date, Rumors. The current generation of Acura’s compact crossover has been around for a while and even though it still makes pretty good sales numbers, the management believes it’s a perfect time for a refresh. The next year is about to bring a typical mid-cycle update, which will be mostly about styling changes. The 2026 Acura RDX will get new front and rear ends, along with a couple more novelties. On the other side, we believe that the rest of the vehicle will remain pretty much the same.
This means that you may count on familiar design characteristics. This model has a lot of good things to offer, starting from refined mechanics, capable engine, good driving dynamics, comfortable and spacious cabin etc.
At this point, we are still waiting to hear more about the launch date. The officials are quiet but we believe the new 2026 Acura RDX will arrive sometime in the second half of the year.
2026 Acura RDX Engine
Under the hood, the 2026 Acura RDX will continue with a familiar 2.0-liter turbo-four. This engine is good for 272 horsepower of torque and comes coupled with a 10-speed automatic transmission. We like its good driving dynamics, while the engine and transmission feel perfectly matched. Everything works smoothly and feels very refined. Of course, the company’s well-known SH-AWD is available.
You may count on about 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway when it comes to fuel economy. That’s about average for the segment. Of course, AWD models are slightly thirstier.
2026 Acura RDX Redesign
When it comes to the 2026 Acura RDX design, the focus of this update will be on aesthetics. The mechanical aspect of the car will remain the same, though we might see some fine suspension and chassis tunings. On the other side, the styling will include a number of interesting novelties.
The testing model has been spotted and we can see that it wears a camouflage on both ends. At the front, we presume that this update will be a face that will look even more like the recently introduced MDX. Still, keep in mind that differences between these two are minor and that we could only see smaller revisions, such as a new bumper, new grille pattern etc. On the other side, headlights and grille shape will probably remain the same.
The camouflage can be found on the rear bumper as well, which indicates a new design. One of the rare new things that can be seen on the test mule is the new exhaust system. Instead of round pipes, the 2026 Acura RDX will get new, rectangular ones.
Interior
When it comes to interior design, the 2026 Acura RDX is still a mystery. At this point, we can only speculate but we believe that not many things will change for the next year. Simply, the current cabin already looks pretty nice. It comes with a good-looking dashboard, while materials and build quality are at a high level. We believe that the best thing we could see is new color schemes and few new materials.
Of course, the overall cabin layout will remain the same. This crossover is spacious and offers two comfortable rows of seats. Furthermore, the cargo area offers 29.5 cubic feet with the back seats up and a maximum of 58.9 cubic feet with the back seats down. That’s above-average for the class.
Features
Without any doubt, the upcoming facelift will also bring novelties in terms of standard equipment, as well as some reorganization of equipment groups. Still, we don’t believe that too many changes could happen. Simply, the current model already comes with a pretty long list of standard equipment. It comes standard with goodies like dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, a 10.2-inch display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Siri Eyes Free, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hot spot, HD Radio, satellite radio, two USB ports, a nine-speaker stereo system, voice recognition etc.
If you’re willing to pay extra, the current model offers options like navigation, two rear-seat USB ports, a 12-speaker premium audio system, a 16-speaker premium surround-sound audio system, and a 10.5-inch head-up display.
The list of safety features is also pretty long. All models come standard with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and automatic high-beam assist.
2026 Acura RDX Release Date and Price
We expect to see 2026 Acura RDX sometime in the second half of the year, as we already mentioned. When it comes to the price, we don’t expect to see a bigger increase compared to the current model, which starts at around 39.000 dollars.
The competition in the segment is tough. Some of the key competitors are models like Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC etc.
