Acura RDX (2021 year). Manual in english - page 1

11

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Auto Idle Stop Function

To improve fuel economy, the engine stops and then restarts as detailed below. When Auto Idle Stop is on, the Auto Idle Stop indicator 
(green) comes on. 

(P436)

At

Automatic transmission

Engine status

Deceleration

Stop

Start-up

Stop the vehicle and depress the brake pedal.

On

Keep the brake pedal 
depressed.

U.S.

Canada

With the automatic brake hold system activated, 
you can release the brake pedal when the 

 

indicator comes on.

Off

Release the brake pedal.

With the automatic brake hold system activated, 
depress the accelerator pedal.

Restarting

*

 Not available on all models

12

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Safe Driving 

(P 31)

Airbags 

(P 44)

●

Your vehicle is fitted with airbags to help protect you and 
your passengers during a moderate-to-severe collision.

Child Safety 

(P 62)

●

All children 12 and younger should be seated in the rear seat.

●

Smaller children should be properly restrained in a forward-facing child seat.

●

Infants must be properly restrained in a rear-facing child seat.

Exhaust Gas Hazard 

(P 75)

●

Your vehicle emits dangerous exhaust gases that contain carbon 
monoxide. Do not run the engine in confined spaces where carbon 
monoxide gas can accumulate.

Before Driving Checklist 

(P 36)

●

Before driving, check that the front seats, head restraints, 
steering wheel, and mirrors have been properly adjusted.

Seat Belts 

(P 37)

●

Fasten your seat belt and sit upright well 
back in the seat.

●

Check that your passengers are wearing 
their seat belts correctly.

Fasten your lap belt as 
low as possible.

13

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Instrument Panel 

(P 77)

Indicators 

(P 78)

/Multi-Information Display 

(P 131)

/Gauges 

(P 130)

/

Head-Up Display

*

 

(P 142)

Speedometer

Fuel Gauge

Multi-Information Display

Temperature Gauge

Tachometer

Head-Up Display

*

Immobilizer System Indicator/
Security System Alarm Indicator

Gear Position Indicator/
Transmission System Indicator

Turbo Meter

M

 (sequential mode) Indicator/

Gear Selection Indicator

G-meter

*

 Not available on all models

14

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Controls 

(P 147)

Clock 

(P 148)

The clock is automatically updated through 
the audio system.

You can adjust the time using the A-zone 
touchpad.

a

Press the 

 (home) button.

b

Select 

Settings

.

c

Select 

System

.

d

Select 

Date & Time

.

e

Select 

Set Date & Time

.

f

Select 

Automatic Date & Time

.

g

Select 

Off

.

h

Select 

Set Date

 or 

Set Time

.

i

Select 

(

+

/

(

-

 to adjust the dates, hours 

and minutes.

j

Press the 

 (back) button to set the 

date or time.

ENGINE START/STOP 
Button 

(P 186)

Press the button to change the vehicle’s 
power mode.

Turn Signals 

(P 189)

Lights 

(P 190)

Turn Signal Control Lever

Right

Left

Light Control Switches

Low Beam

High Beam

Flashing

15

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Wipers and Washers 

(P 197)

Wiper/Washer Control Lever

Adjustment Ring

(

-

: Low Sensitivity

*1

: Lower speed, fewer sweeps

*2

(

+

: High Sensitivity

*1

: Higher speed, more sweeps

*2

MIST
OFF
AUTO

*1

: Wiper speed varies automatically

INT

*2

: Low speed with intermittent

LO

: Low speed wipe

HI

: High speed wipe

Pull toward 
you to spray 
washer fluid.

*1 : Models with automatic intermittent wipers
*2 : Models without automatic intermittent 

wipers

AUTO

 should always be turned 

OFF

 before 

the following situations in order to prevent 
severe damage to the wiper system:

●

Cleaning the windshield

●

Driving through a car wash

●

No rain present

Steering Wheel 

(P 206)

●

To adjust, push the adjustment lever 
down, adjust to the desired position, then 
lock the lever back in place.

Models with automatic intermittent wipers

Unlocking the Front 
Doors from the Inside 

(P 164)

●

Pull either front door inner handle to 
unlock and open it at the same time.

●

Unlocking and opening the driver’s door 
from the inner handle unlocks all the 
other doors.

16

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Tailgate 

(P 167)

●

Press the tailgate outer handle to unlock 
and open the tailgate when you carry the 
keyless access remote.

●

Press the power tailgate button on the 
driver’s door or the remote transmitter to 
open and close the power tailgate.

Use a forward and back kicking motion 
under the center of the rear bumper to 
open or close the power tailgate while 
carrying the keyless access remote.

Models with Hands Free Access

1 sec.

Power Door Mirrors 

(P 208)

●

With the power mode in ON, move the 
selector switch to 

L

 or 

R

.

●

Push the appropriate edge of the 
adjustment switch to adjust the mirror.

●

Press the folding button

*

 to fold in and 

out the door mirrors.

Selector Switch

Adjustment Switch

Folding Button

*

17

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Power Windows 

(P 180)

●

With the power mode in ON, open and 
close the power windows.

●

If the power window lock button is in the 
off position, each passenger’s window 
can be opened and closed with its own 
switch.

●

If the power window lock button is in the 
on position (indicator is on), each 
passenger’s window switch is disabled.

Power Window Lock Button

Window Switch

Indicator

*

 Not available on all models

18

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Climate Control System 

(P 234)

●

Press the 

AUTO

 button to activate the climate control system.

●

Press the 

 button to turn the system on or off.

●

Press the 

 button to defrost the windshield.

Driver’s Side Temperature 
Control Buttons

 (Windshield Defroster) Button

A/C

 (Air Conditioning) Button

Air flows from floor and 
windshield defroster vents.

Air flows from floor vents.

Air flows from floor and 
dashboard vents, and back 
of the center console.

Air flows from dashboard 
vents and back of the 
center console.

SYNC

 (Synchronization) Button

 (Recirculation) Button

AUTO

 Button

Passenger’s Side Temperature 
Control Buttons

MODE

 Control Button

 (ON/OFF) Button

Fan Control Button

19

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Features 

(P 241)

Audio Remote Controls 

(P 247)

●

VOL

(

+

/

VOL

(

-

 (Volume) Switch

Press up or down to adjust the volume. 

●

 (Power) Button

Press to turn the audio system on and off.

●

Left Selector Wheel
When selecting the audio mode
Press the 

APPS

 button, then roll up or 

down to select an item on the multi-
information display or the head-up 
display

*

, and then press the left selector 

wheel.

Left Selector Wheel

APPS

 Button

VOL

(

+

/

VOL

(

-

 (Volume) Switch

 (Power) Button

Roll up or down:

 To cycle through the 

following items, roll up or down and then 
press the left selector wheel:

You can add or remove the items and 
change their order on multi-information 
display or the head-up display

*

.

Navigation

*

Phone

Audio Modes (

FM Radio

, 

USB 

Audio

, etc)

Select Driving View

*

Customize Apps

●

When listening to the radio

Move to a side to change the favorite 
radio station or channel.

●

When listening to an iPod, USB flash 
drive, 

Bluetooth

®

 Audio, or Smartphone 

Connection

Move to a side to skip to the beginning of 
the next song or return to the beginning 
of the current or previous song.

*

 Not available on all models

20

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Audio System 

(P 249)

 (Home) Button

 (Cards List) Button

 (Back) Button

Audio/Information Screen

For navigation system operation 

()

 See the Navigation System Manual

A-zone touchpad

 (Seek/Skip) Button

 (Seek/Skip) Button

 

VOL

/

AUDIO

 

(Volume/Power) Knob

B-zone touchpad

21

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Driving 

(P 405)

Automatic Transmission 

(P426)

●

Select 

(

P

 and depress the brake pedal when starting the engine.

Park

Press the 

(

P

 button.

Used when parking or before 
turn off or start the engine.
Transmission is locked.

Reverse

Pull back the 

(

R

 button.

Used when reversing.

Neutral

Press the 

(

N

 button.

Transmission is not locked.

Drive/S Position

Each time you press the 

 button, the mode 

switches between Drive and S Position mode.

●

Normal driving (gears change between 1st 
and 10th automatically)

●

Temporarily driving in the sequential mode

●

Automatically changing gears between 1st 
and 8th (8th gear is used only at high speed)

●

Driving in the sequential mode

D/S

Drive

S Position

Gear Position Indicator

The gear position indicator and the 
shift button indicator indicate the 
current gear selection.

Gear Position Indicator

Shift Button 
Indicator

Gear selection

22

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Sequential Mode 

(P432)

Paddle shifters allow you to shift gears much like a manual 
transmission (1st through 10th). This is useful for engine braking.

When the transmission is in 

(

D

●

The transmission will shift back to 
automatic mode once the system 
detects that the vehicle is cruising.

When the transmission is in 

(

S

●

Holds the selected gear, and the 

M

 (sequential mode) indicator 

comes on.

●

The sequential mode gear 
selection is shown in the 
instrument panel.

Gear Position Indicator

Shift Down 

(

-

 

Paddle Shifter

Shift Up 

(

+

 

Paddle Shifter

Selected Gear Number

M

 Indicator

23

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

VSA

®

 On and Off 

(P 443)

●

The Vehicle Stability Assist

TM

 (VSA

®

) 

system helps stabilize the vehicle during 
cornering, and helps maintain traction 
while accelerating on loose or slippery 
road surfaces.

●

VSA

®

 comes on automatically every time 

you start the engine.

●

To partially disable or fully restore VSA

®

 

function, press and hold the button until 
you hear a beep.

CMBS

TM

 On and Off 

(P459)

●

When a possible frontal collision is likely 
unavoidable, the CMBS

TM

 can help you to 

reduce the vehicle speed and the severity 
of the collision.

●

The CMBS

TM

 is turned on every time you 

start the engine.

●

To turn the CMBS

TM

 on or off, press and 

hold the button until you hear a beep.

Tire Pressure Monitoring 
System (TPMS) with Tire 
Fill Assist 

(P 446)

●

The TPMS monitors tire pressure.

●

TPMS is turned on automatically every 
time you start the engine.

●

TPMS fill assist provides audible and visual 
guidance during tire pressure adjustment.

Refueling 

(P 527)

Fuel recommendation: Unleaded premium gasoline, pump octane number 91 or 

higher

Fuel tank capacity: 17.1 US gal (64.7 L)

a

Unlock the driver’s door.

2

Locking/Unlocking the 
Doors from the Inside 

(P163)

b

Press on the edge of the 
fuel fill door to make it 
pop up slightly.

c

After refueling, wait for 
about five seconds before 
removing the filler nozzle.

Wait for five seconds

24

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

AcuraWatch

TM

 

(P 453)

AcuraWatch

TM

 is a driver support system 

which employs the use of two distinctly 
different kinds of sensors, a radar sensor 
located behind the emblem and a front 
sensor camera mounted to the interior side 
of the windshield, behind the rearview 
mirror.

The camera is located 
behind the rearview 
mirror.

Front Sensor 
Camera

Radar Sensor

The radar sensor is 
behind the emblem.

Collision Mitigation 
Braking System

TM

 

(CMBS

TM

) 

(P456)

Can assist you when there is a possibility of 
your vehicle colliding with a vehicle or a 
pedestrian detected in front of yours. The 
CMBS

TM

 is designed to alert you when the 

potential for a collision is determined, as 
well as to reduce your vehicle speed to help 
minimize collision severity when a collision is 
deemed unavoidable.

Adaptive Cruise Control 
(ACC) with Low Speed 
Follow 

(P466)

Helps maintain a constant vehicle speed and 
a set following-interval behind a vehicle 
detected ahead of yours and, if the detected 
vehicle comes to a stop, can decelerate and 
stop your vehicle, without you having to 
keep your foot on the brake or the 
accelerator.

Lane Keeping Assist 
System (LKAS) 

(P483)

Provides steering input to help keep the 
vehicle in the middle of a detected lane and 
provides audible and visual alerts if the 
vehicle is detected drifting out of its lane.

Road Departure 
Mitigation (RDM) System 

(P491)

Alerts and helps to assist you when the 
system detects a possibility of your vehicle 
unintentionally crossing over detected lane 
markings and/or leaving the roadway 
altogether.

25

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Maintenance 

(P 533)

Under the Hood 

(P 544)

●

Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer 
fluid. Add when necessary.

●

Check brake fluid.

●

Check the battery condition monthly.

a

Pull the hood release handle under the corner of the 
dashboard.

b

Locate the hood latch lever, push it to the side, and then 
raise the hood. Once you have raised the hood slightly, you 
can release the lever.

c

When finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly 
locked in place.

Lights 

(P 557)

●

Inspect all lights regularly.

Wiper Blades 

(P 561)

●

Replace blades if they leave streaks 
across the windshield.

Tires 

(P 566)

●

Inspect tires and wheels regularly.

●

Check tire pressures regularly.

●

Install snow tires for winter 
driving.

26

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Handling the Unexpected 

(P 589)

Flat Tire 

(P 591)

●

Park in a safe location and repair the flat 
tire using the tire repair kit.

●

Park in a safe location and replace the 
flat tire with the compact spare tire 
located under the cargo area.

Indicators Come On 

(P 620)

●

Identify the indicator and consult the 
owner’s manual.

Vehicles with tire repair kit

Vehicles with a compact spare tire

Engine Won’t Start 

(P 613)

●

If the battery is dead, jump start using a 
booster battery.

Blown Fuse 

(P 627)

●

Check for a blown fuse if an electrical 
device does not operate.

Overheating 

(P 618)

●

Park in a safe location. If you do not see 
steam under the hood, open the hood, 
and let the engine cool down.

Emergency Towing 

(P 634)

●

Call a professional towing service if you 
need to tow your vehicle.