Acura RDX Tops German Competitors for KBB.com 5-Year Cost to Own Award

Car buyers tend to fixate on the price tag when shopping, but Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com points out that a vehicle's total purchase cost usually accounts for less than half of its total cost of ownership during a five-year period. The automotive site recently found that the redesigned 2013 Acura RDX offers the best long-term investment in its segment when all costs are considered, presenting the compact crossover with a 2013 KBB.com 5-Year Cost to Own Award.

KBB.com determines its 5-Year Cost to Own Awards by evaluating each vehicle on a broad range of criteria, including Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, projected depreciation and costs for financing, insurance, fuel, repairs, scheduled maintenance and state fees. Besting the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class and 2013 BMW X3 in the Luxury Compact SUV/Crossover category, the Acura RDX is projected to cost $49,620 during the first five years of ownership, with KBB.com editors citing its combination of style, performance and fuel efficiency as reasons for its lasting appeal.

"To maintain value in a luxury segment, a vehicle not only has to be able to keep day-to-day costs down, but it needs to have a look and feel that won't lose their luster after a few years," said Joel Avery, general manager of Acura of Peabody, a Massachusetts Acura dealership. "The new Acura RDX is designed to meet both those needs; it has sophisticated style lines and a sportier ride, but it also maintains the brand's signature quality and reliability."

On sale since last spring, the 2013 Acura RDX boasts a sport-tuned suspension and a 3.5-liter V6 that outputs 273 horsepower, an increase of 33 horsepower compared to the previous engine. Even with that added responsiveness, the crossover can return up to 28 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive, while an available all-wheel-drive system gives those in the Snow Belt added confidence on wintry roads. Outside, a sleeker design simultaneously improves aesthetics and aerodynamics.

The redesigned Acura RDX was attracting buyers to dealerships long before getting the nod from KBB.com, with nine straight monthly sales records through January. Last month, the RDX moved 2,489 units in the United States, a 182 percent sales increase year-over-year. Those strong results helped Acura's overall sales jump by 13 percent year-over-year in January.

"Acura's latest designs and drivetrains appeal equally to the heads and hearts of drivers, and buyers are responding," added Avery. "With the launches of other new models on the way, including the RLX flagship sedan in March, we expect sales numbers to further impro ve as the year goes on."

Source: PRLeap.com