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A manufacturer can add all the heated leather seats or the largest touchscreens in the world, but if it’s always in the shop, where’s the fun in that? That’s why we like to look at reliability of an SUV. There are a number of ways to measure it, and several sites rank compact luxury SUVs differently. But, one seems to top several of the lists, the 2023 Acura RDX.

What’s new for the new 2023 Acura RDX?

2022 ACura RDX in blue parked
2022 Acura RDX | Acura

Acura launched the third generation of RDX for the 2019 model year, and itwas refreshed in 2022. At the time, the company made a big deal of its sporting intentions, and it generally delivers on that with its 272-horsepower turbocharged engine, and its sport-biased SH-AWD system. For 2023, it gets AcuraLink phone apps standard, as well as a new complimentary maintenance package.

The base RDX SUV, in front-wheel drive trim starts at $41,350, and all-wheel drive is a $2,000 option. You can order the RDX with a technology package, the A-Spec appearance package, and an Advance package and each slightly different options. But, all RDXs get a 10.2-inch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as AcuraWatch, which is the brand’s suite of driver’s aids.

The RDX luxury SUV should be reliable and have fewer expensive repairs

The RDX tops the list in its category at RepiarPal, which rates repair expenses and frequency. The RDX earns 4.5 of 5.0 stars in the site’s reliability rating breakdown, which means it’s 1st of 11 in the category. But, the RDX impresses with a lower annual repair cost than others in the class, as well. Overall, RepairPal says the annual repair cost for the RDX is much lower than other vehicles in the class, as well as a lower frequency of repairs.

iSeeCars calls the RDX the most reliable luxury small SUV. In the rankings at iSeeCars, it beat 28 others, and earns a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10. Interestingly, though it tops its category, it doesn’t even come close to the big, three row, MDX for reliability, which has a score of 9.3 of 10.

J.D. Power says the RDX is reliable. But there are better SUVs.

Interior of the 2022 Acura RDX
2022 Acura RDX PMC Edition | Acura

While it scores very highly at other sites, at the best known, J.D. Power, it simply earns a “great” score for quality and reliability. While a “great” score of 81 of 100 isn’t bad at all, the BMW X4 and X3 beat it by a couple of points, while it ties with the Mercedes-Benz GLC for a third place. But it does beat the Porsche Macan for quality and reliability. The quality and reliability scores at J.D. Power measure the number of defects, malfunctions, and design flaws in the vehicle as reported by owners. The scoring covers the whole vehicle, not just the engine.

While the RDX earns top marks for reliability, that’s not all to this SUVs story. In fact, it seems to be lacking in features and the class that other luxury SUVs in this class offer.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.