Yeah, I have read that the lease rates for Acura's are not nearly as competitive as BMW/Mercedes, which is a shame. They tend to have pretty good resale value, so there's no reason not to do it...

 

The RDX looks like a slightly upscale CRV.. too much Honda, too little luxury for the price they are asking on it. Granted, the X3 is no looker, even the updated version, I think it still looks slightly better than the RDX. After driving both, it also feels like there's more usable space inside the X3 where the RDX feels small and cramped inside.

 

That's what really sealed the deal for us, the X3 sticker (for ours) was $9k more than the RDX, but the lease rate was $30 less a month (RDX), for the same terms, just goofy...
FTR, the same was true for the 328xi (sedan) vs the TSX, no brainer there either, BMW all the way. BMW leases are really aggressive.

OT - I don't like the nose of the RDX.

 

I'm not a fan of the styling either. I live in the heart of Honda/Acura country where the RDX, MDX, Accord, Civic, Pilot, Element, TL etc. etc. are made, and see them all the time. The thing with Honda/Acura styling though, is that it always grows on me. There hasn't been one Honda/Acura with the exception of the TSX and S2000 that i've liked. I eventually warm up to all of them, but it takes a while. I assume this will be the case with the RDX.

 

but the RDX still looks ugly

(that speaks volume on how i think about the X3 )

 

To me, the RDX looks very sporty, but not fancy.

 

We bought the RDX -- I love that thing. Its wicked quick for a porker pseudo-SUV... and I enjoy the ground clearance compared to worrying about potholes in the S.

Around Houston, they were going for right around invoice - so dollar for dollar, I thought it a better value than the X3.

 

I have a hard time liking the RDX. It's got a face only a mother could love (I feel the same about the new MDX). The turbo motor my be all sorts of things but when a V6 RAV4 and I6 BMW return better mileage for similar or better performance I really can't really fall for it. As far as I'm concerned I'll take a 6 pot over a turbo 4 if it's going to deliver better performance and mileage.

 

I love the new MDX, and I have to award it with the best use of DRLs of any car-- using the fog lamps as DRL tricks the eye and makes it look lower than it really is. Great understand of down-road-graphics on the part of the designers.

 

Wife has the RDX. She loves it. I'm not all that excited about the exterior styling; its OK. I do like the inside, and the performance is pretty good as well. The drive between my house West of Austin and San Antonio has some good curvy roads and her RDX did quite nicely on them. She has the tech package too, and it has some nice goodies.