Acura's RDX is the Real Deal

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They require sensors under the road, and apparently they weren't working or there are none on the major arteries into Manhattan. There's no way of knowing. In my case, most of the roads were highlighted in blue, which the manual helpfully explains either means that "the under-road sensors indicate free traffic flow" or "the road has no sensors and traffic conditions are unknown (they could be congested)."

"Could be congested," indeed! What I really needed was for the nav system's disembodied voice to shout: "Turn back, imbecile! All roads into Manhattan are clogged with revelers in weird costumes driving into the city to party." Or, alternatively: "If you insist on continuing your trip, the Lincoln Tunnel is slightly less clogged than the George Washington Bridge, so take the tunnel. But beware that Manhattan streets are now full of pedestrians and traffic is jammed. It will take forever to get across town and parking lots are charging a premium."

Some day, onboard traffic alert systems may be able to give you that kind of advice. For now, based on my experience, they're about as helpful as tuning the radio to the traffic channel.

Buy It or Bag It?

The RDX is an ideal car for young couples who are planning to start a family but aren't yet ready to join the minivan set. It looks cool and handles well, yet still has enough passenger and cargo space to accommodate one or two young kids. But it doesn't have the third row of seats you need for heavy-duty carpooling. And it isn't rugged enough for genuine off-roading, though the standard full-time all-wheel drive should make it capable enough in snow and muck for weekend ski trips.

If sportiness isn't a priority, there are numerous small to midsize SUVs on the market that cost far less than the RDX. But if you're in the market for a genuinely sporty SUV, the RDX is an excellent alternative to the new BMW X3, as well as to luxury SUVs such as Toyota's (TM) Lexus RX 350 and Nissan's (NSANY) Infiniti FX 35, which cost an average of four or five grand more.

In short, it's a very nice little vehicle—but I wouldn't buy one without checking out the new BMW first.

Peterson reviews cars for BusinessWeek Online.