Interior view of the 2016 Acura RDX with AWD and Advance Package.

Consider the Acura RDX as one of these “grow with you cars.” The RDX is a crossover sport utility vehicle that could grow well with an expanding family. To this add another feature that only grows more valuable over time: A third row of seats, writes Sally Miller Wyatt.

Parents, remember the days before children? Remember how it was to just pick up and go, grab a wallet and purse, coat, maybe a backpack, and off you went.

Now, with children, it is so very different. How can those little tykes require so much stuff? Diaper bags, bottles, portable cribs, play toys, and a stroller that you need an engineering degree to figure how to unfold. Think it’s crazy now? All that morphs, as the kids grow, into piles of sporting gear and ginormous amounts of food from the grocery store.

Exterior view of the 2016 Acura RDX with AWD and Advance Package.
Exterior view of the 2016 Acura RDX with AWD and Advance Package.

So, take some advice from a parenting veteran. Find a vehicle that will grow with you and your family, because all that stuff never gets smaller.

Consider the Acura RDX as one of these “grow with you cars.” The RDX is a crossover sport utility vehicle that could grow well with an expanding family. To this add another feature that only grows more valuable over time: A third row of seats.

The RDX offers several new features for 2016, including a new 3.5-liter SOHC V6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (CM) that gives you more power and an improved fuel economy.

The RDX also has a restyled front and rear, JewelEye LED headlights and taillights, and two new wheel designs for 2016.

Like previous year models, the 2016 versions receive a host of positive awards and accolades – from U.S. News & World Report it garners the “2015 Best Luxury Compact SUV for the Money,” and nods from Consumer Guides, Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book. It also gets high safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, particularly for its performance in front, side, and rear crashes, as well as for is passenger protection performance during rollover collisions.

Exterior view of the 2016 Acura RDX with AWD and Advance Package.
Exterior view of the 2016 Acura RDX with AWD and Advance Package.

The top safety pick for the Acura RDX comes from the way it was built: on a body structure that represents safety from the ground up. First, they are built with an Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure to enhance occupant safety. By using structural physics, crash-force energy is distributed more efficiently throughout the front of the vehicle. The RDX also has structural elements in the roof and side pillar areas to further protect passengers during a rollover situation, basically reducing the crushing forces that would normally be transferred to the passenger compartment during an accident.

To this is added a host of top-drawer safety equipment that includes Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control, ABS, dual-stage front air bags and front-side air bags with passenger side Occupant Position Detection System, side curtain air bags, and active front head rests for driver and front passenger.

Our test version had an added AcuraWatch Package that included a Lane Keeping Assist System, Collision Mitigation Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, and Forward Collision Warning. Basically, it’s a lot of bells and whistles – literally – to let you know when danger is upon you.

Exterior view of the 2016 Acura RDX with AWD and Advance Package.
Exterior view of the 2016 Acura RDX with AWD and Advance Package.

So, just from that list of safety features, you’ll enjoy tons of peace of mind as you and your family head out on the road, without even having left the driveway.

The 2016 Acura RDX’s 3.5-liter V-6 engine, with six-speed automatic transmission with sequential sports shift provided a smooth, effortless acceleration.

On the road, you will notice the RDX’s quiet ride, thanks to Acura’s increased focus on sound-dampening materials. Seats are firmly supportive and there is a generous amount of leg, head and hip room here.

Whether your family is small and growing, or you’re an empty nester with grandkids, the 2016 Acura RDX offers a spacious and comfortable ride, wrapped up in a host of safety and convenience features, and topped with plenty of peace of mind.