Acura is launching the third generation RDX in the US market and is time to find out if the new model has what it takes to carry on the best-selling status of its predecessor.

The 2019 RDX is a very important model for Acura as the outgoing model managed to sell over 50,000 units each year for three years in a row, outselling pretty much every rival in the premium compact SUV class.

The new chassis is stiffer and larger than before, with the new Acura RDX riding on a 2.6-inch longer wheelbase which translates into more interior space. It’s also the brand’s first model that features Acura’s new, more modern design language.

The new Acura RDX is available with a single engine option, a turbocharged 2.0-liter turbo-four unit which is essentially a differently tuned Civic Type R engine. Power is rated at 272hp and 280lb-ft of torque, 20hp and 28lb-ft more than the previous model’s naturally aspirated V6.

Acura also offers its Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system with the new RDX paired to a ten-speed automatic transmission, a first for an SUV of this segment. The advanced system can sent up to 70 percent of the torque to the rear axle, creating “the quickest and best-handling RDX ever”.

So, is the new Acura RDX ready to continue the best-selling career of its predecessor? Edmunds delivers their first driving impressions on the video that follows.