I’ll admit it. The RDX’s inline 4 turbocharged engine gets some getting used too.
Okay, a little 101. Car engines work by the mixture of fuel and air ignited by a spark. The resulting explosion shoves the engine cylinder which in turns moves the appropriate gears which ultimately move the wheels and, in turn, the vehicle. Turbocharged engines basically compresses more air into the cylinder. Combine with the use of a turbine, a turbocharged engine provides more umph than a similar, non-turbocharged engine. End 101.
So how’d it feel in practice? The engine made smooth accelerations sometimes a bit dicy as I quickly discovered. The RDX nimbly navigated a couple of corners faster than I intended, forcing to cut back on the acceleration. Same with some stops. Buyers not familiar with turbos may find the accompanying surge of engine sound a bit disconcerting as well. I’m familiar with CVTs, or continuous variable transmissions, so I wasn’t put off by the noise.
Otherwise, the RDX moved quietly as benefiting a luxury sports crossover. Once I learned how to nurse the engine correctly, I had no problems tapping into the near 250 hp engine or 260 lb-ft of torque. Brakes were progressive, and the crossover had no problems hugging the roads despite the lack of AWD.
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