Oh, Acura – how you vex me. I want to like your cars, I really do. I was even willing to overlook your entries in the luxury car category and pinned my hopes on your SUV – the RDX. Alas, Acura, I am once again disappointed.

To compete in today’s market; an SUV has to score on all points. It has to be sporty, and it has to be a utilitarian vehicle that works in the real world – not just in the designers’ imagination. The 2009 Acura RDX delivers on the sportiness, but in the real world, it just doesn’t work that well.

This is a compact crossover SUV, Acura’s entry into the mini-SUV market. Using the super handling, all wheel drive of their SH-AWD system, Acura added a tight suspension and big tires. At this point, they could have had a really successful sporty sedan, but instead, they added a little extra cargo space and called the resulting vehicle an SUV.

The technological gadgets that Acura is known for make their expected appearances, but it’s almost as if they’re designed for people who want the pretty package, but aren’t necessarily interested in what the package holds. In this case, Acura seems to be targeting the people who are mad about their gadgets, but don’t demand any kind of performance out of their SUVs.

The RDX is comparable in size to the Honda CR-V, but the cabin isn’t as versatile – again, missing out on that “utility” part of the SUV classification. There’s only 61 cubic feet of cargo room when the rear seat is folded down, which is a great deal more than most sedans, but less than other small SUVs. The Honda CR-V, for example, has 73 cubic feet of cargo space, and this discrepancy makes a big difference in terms of functionality. Speaking of those rear seats, they neither recline, nor move back and forth, both of which you’d expect to see in a SUV that claims the “luxury” label for itself.

In its defense, the RDX does have Acura’s advanced all wheel drive system, leather seats, and an awesome audio system with Bluetooth connectivity. It does a quick job accelerating from 0 to 60, and is less expensive than BMW’s X3 – one of its main competitors. If you’re serious about getting a luxury SUV, however, you’d be better off considering the BMW X3, the Infiniti EX35, the more utilitarian Mazda CX7, or the larger, more practical Toyota RAV4.

The fuel economy of the Acura RDX is disappointing, with a 17 mpg rating in the city, and only 22 mpg on the highway. The towing capacity is similarly disappointing at only 1500 pounds.

Every 2009 Acura RDX has standard front side air bags, side curtain air bags with a rollover sensor, active front head restraints, anti lock brakes, stability control, and traction control. In front and side impact crash tests, the RDX got 5 out of 5 stars, and for a luxury SUV, you should expect nothing less.

So, when it comes to buying an Acura, if you really love the car or if its amenities are something you consider essential, then the Acura is a good choice. However, if you want to the get the most SUV for your money, keep looking.