A quick-ratio, rack-and-pinion steering setup along with fully independent suspension assure of quick, precise turn-in, making the RDX a nimble rig to maneuver through city traffic or the rugged outback.

2007 Acura RDX (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Auto123.com)

Although Acura's AWD system is very efficient at directing torque to where it will be of greatest value, the RDX is not equipped with low-range gearing and is not recommended for serious off-road usage. I can though, attest to its usefulness in accessing ski hills. The 2.3 litre I-4 never suffers when faced with hill climbing chores. Few four-cylinder engines are as capable of hauling a loaded SUV up a 12 kilometre hill as Acura's turbo'd little beastie. Not only that, plenty of passing power remained underfoot during the ascent.

Obviously the snappiness of Acura's new engine impressed me, yet all was not up to par. I found the four-banger to be a little coarse in its operation- however I'm sure others might judge it "sporty" sounding, especially the "wooshing" of air driven by the turbo; but sound effects are subjective, based largely on one's age I suspect.

2007 Acura RDX (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Auto123.com)

Operational refinement wasn't alone on my sub-par list. I didn't find throttle response to be as progressive and linear as expected in these days of electronic throttle mapping.

The engine in my tester tended to power surge with only the slightest application of throttle. This was most evident when feathering the throttle to maintain pace with surrounding traffic. Instead of unobtrusively increasing the vehicle's speed slightly, the engine would quickly spin-up the turbo and power surge beyond the desired amount of acceleration. Rather than delivering a ride in which small speed increments were imperceptible, the willingness to power-surge resulted in a ride that passengers might find heavy-footed. After a period of acclimation, one might adapt to the quirks of Acura's turbocharging and compensate for its urge to surge.

In keeping with the RDX's sportiness, Acura has supplied paddle shifters for the automatic transmission. Whether a set of paddles will be fair compensation for the absence of a manual gearbox is yet to be determined. Still, when using the paddles and working the turbo'd mill hard, it's difficult to accept that you're not behind the wheel of a performance-oriented sports sedan.

2007 Acura RDX (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Auto123.com)

Strong, predictable braking simply adds to the deception, which is visually supported by a racy-looking cockpit featuring large, easy to read primary gauges. Plenty of leather and satin steel abound in the meticulously assembled cabin. I was particularly smitten with the front thrones, which offered outstanding support and perfect driver positioning. Despite the cabin's grown-up, boy-racer attitude it was remarkably functional thanks to flat-folding rear seats and a removable rear parcel shelf that kept goodies hidden from criminal eyes.