Top Safety Pick +

2021 Acura RDX

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system	Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system	Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use	+

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

G
Good
A
Acceptable
M
Marginal
P
Poor

Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Acura RDX Advance 4-door 4wd

The Acura RDX was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Honda.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN1804
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	3
Footrest (cm)	3
Left toepan (cm)	1
Brake pedal (cm)	1
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	1
Upper dash (cm)	2
Lower instrument panel (cm)	1

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN1804
Head
HIC-15	78
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm)	20
Maximum Nij	0.15
Chest maximum compression (mm)	23
Femur (kN)
Left	0.6
Right	0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	1
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.41
Right	0.36
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.4
Right	0.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	61
Right	32

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Acura RDX Advance 4-door 4wd

The Acura RDX was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Honda.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1812
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	7
Footrest (cm)	6
Right toepan (cm)	4
Center toepan (cm)	3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	0
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	5
Upper dash (cm)	3
Right lower dash (cm)	4

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1812
Head
HIC-15	72
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	29
Maximum Nij	0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm)	20
Femur (kN)
Left	1.0
Right	0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	3
Right	2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.39
Right	0.42
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	1.8
Right	1.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	71
Right	38

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1812
Head
HIC-15	31
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.6
Extension bending moment (Nm)	18
Maximum Nij	0.12
Chest maximum compression (mm)	24
Femur (kN)
Left	0.3
Right	0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	1
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.40
Right	0.21
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.8
Right	0.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	35
Right	47

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Acura RDX Advance 4-door 4wd

The Acura RDX was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Honda.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1806
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	3
Left (cm)	8
Center (cm)	5
Right (cm)	6
Brake pedal (cm)	7
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	-1
Right (cm)	-1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	2
Rearward (cm)	-5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1806
Head
HIC-15	125
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm)	23
Maximum Nij	0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm)	24
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	0.8
Femur force - right (kN)	0.7
Knee displacement - left (mm)	1
Knee displacement - right (mm)	1
Maximum tibia index - left	0.26
Maximum tibia index - right	0.30
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	2.1
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	2.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	53
Right	54

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Acura RDX Technology 4-door 4wd

The Acura RDX was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Honda.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	VTS1806
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-14.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1806
Head HIC-15	149
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.3
Compression (kN)	0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	30
Lateral force (kN)	1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	37
Average deflection (mm)	32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.18
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.46
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.9
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.5
Combined force (kN)	2.2
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.2
L-M moment (Nm)	48
A-P moment (Nm)	92

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1806
Head HIC-15	52
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.6
Compression (kN)	0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	18
Lateral force (kN)	1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	27
Average deflection (mm)	13
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	2.96
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.24
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.7
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.1
Combined force (kN)	1.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.5
L-M moment (Nm)	49
A-P moment (Nm)	105

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Acura RDX 4-door 4wd

The Acura RDX was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Two side 2.0 tests of the RDX were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Honda. Ratings are based on both tests, but the vehicle specifications shown below are based on the Institute’s test.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2203	CES2236
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-18.0	-20.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2203	CES2236
Head
HIC-15	128	200
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.3	1.5
Compression (kN)	0.2	0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	29	32
Lateral force (kN)	1.1	1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	39	38
Average deflection (mm)	35	35
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.34	3.55
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.57	0.58
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	3.7	3.1

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2203	CES2236
Head
HIC-15	266	206
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.3	0.3
Compression (kN)	0.4	0.7
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	37	30
Lateral force (kN)	2.1	1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	32	43
Average deflection (mm)	20	27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.35	4.92
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.42	1.05
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	2.1	3.3

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Acura RDX 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	3,983 lbs
Peak force	21,332 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	5.36

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm)	20
Distance below top of head (mm)	28
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	12.2
Head contact time (ms)	57
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	0
Max neck tension (N)	293

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Trim level(s)

All trims

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	All trims
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2019-25 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	114.1 m	None
Straightaway left edge	52.5 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	80.6 m	8.2%
250m radius left curve, right edge	49.4 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	66.8 m	None
150m radius left curve, right edge	55.1 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	169.4 m
Straightaway left edge	156.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	87.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	67.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	67.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	67.2 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Standard Collision Mitigation Braking System

Package name

Standard Acura Watch

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-21 models

Superior

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

standard Collision Mitigation Braking System

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2019-21 models

Advanced

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 8 mph.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 5 mph.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 35 mph. A warning was issued 2.2 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation	+ extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim	base
Seat type	leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation	+ extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim	base
Seat type	leather

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	not too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	not too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	0
Clearance angle (degrees)	93
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	0
Clearance angle (degrees)	85
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	0
Clearance angle (degrees)
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	21
Clearance angle (degrees)
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation