The Acura RDX is a smaller luxury SUV with a very attractive interior, but it is not the most mount-friendly vehicle once you start looking closely. Like many newer SUVs, it gives you a few workable areas and then takes away some of the traditional easy options.
We previously looked at mounts for the Acura MDX. The RDX is the little brother to the MDX, but when it comes to mounting, the MDX was definitely the easier vehicle. The RDX takes a little more thought.
We also covered the Acura Integra. Thankfully, the RDX is easier than that car, but it still has a few design traits that force you toward certain mount styles.
A photo of the Acura RDX interior accompanies this article. The windshield is easy enough to reach, which is always a positive sign. The cup holders are inset toward the passenger side of the center console, which makes them usable but not ideal for everybody. The vents are vertical and that immediately rules out a lot of universal vent mounts. The dash has the familiar raised center display, so a traditional adhesive dash mount is not the best fit here. And like many newer vehicles, there is no CD slot to save the day.
Quick Comparison: Best Acura RDX Mount Types
| Mount | Type | Best For | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunsdrew Custom RDX Mount | Vehicle-specific screen-area mount | Most RDX owners | Designed around the RDX dash and display area |
| LUWU Magnetic Custom Mount | Vehicle-specific magnetic mount | MagSafe and magnetic users | Cleaner look than a generic windshield arm |
| Arkon MegaGrip Suction Mount | Windshield mount | Universal reliability | Works when custom fitment is uncertain |
| Andobil Vent Mount | Clamp-style vent mount | Drivers wanting a simpler setup | Better match for vertical vents than arm-style vent clips |
| APPS2Car Cup Holder Mount | Cup holder phone/tablet mount | Phones and small tablets | Best realistic tablet option in the RDX |
Mount Analysis
The Acura RDX interior has a few traits that immediately shape the decision. The windshield is accessible and close enough to the driver to be practical, so that is always in play. The vents are vertical, which is a problem for many universal vent mounts because the common “two arms grab the slats” design usually does not behave well on this type of vent. The cup holders are usable, but because they sit slightly toward the passenger side, they are better for lower-reference apps and smaller tablets than constant glance-at-it navigation.
The dash is the bigger challenge. The raised display and general dashboard shape do not leave you with the kind of broad flat real estate that makes adhesive dash mounts easy. That is why the RDX used to feel like a compromise vehicle for phone mounts. But the nice change now is that there are finally some custom-fit mounts built specifically around the RDX display and trim, which is exactly the sort of solution this interior needed.
Best Custom Mount for Acura RDX
The best development for the RDX is that there are now several vehicle-specific mounts made for the current-generation interior. These mounts clip or brace around the display area or surrounding trim, which gives them a much more integrated look than a generic suction or vent mount.
This is exactly the kind of mount to would start with for most Acura RDX owners. The interior is upscale enough that a random universal mount can look out of place. A custom mount better matches the character of the cabin, stays closer to the center display area, and avoids the weak spots of the vertical vents.
ProClip also continues to offer Acura RDX-specific dashboard mount bases, which is another strong signal that the RDX now has a real custom-fit mount ecosystem instead of just generic workarounds.
| Why a Custom Mount Makes Sense in the RDX | Potential Drawback |
|---|---|
| Better fit with the raised-screen layout | Fitment may depend on exact generation or screen layout |
| Cleaner appearance in a luxury interior | Less transferable to another vehicle later |
| Usually more stable than forcing a vent mount | Need to verify compatibility before ordering |
Best Magnetic Custom Mount for Acura RDX
If you prefer a magnetic setup, there are also Acura RDX-specific magnetic mounts on the market. Consider a custom-fit magnetic or charging-style mounts designed around the RDX display area rather than relying on a generic vent clip.
This kind of mount is attractive for RDX owners because it keeps the install looking tidy and makes daily use easier. If you are getting in and out of the vehicle often, magnetic mounting is simply faster than dealing with a spring-loaded cradle every time.
Best Windshield Mount for Acura RDX
If you want the most universal and least complicated option, the windshield is still a very good location in the RDX. The windshield is easy enough to reach and there is enough cabin space to make a suction mount practical without it feeling awkward.
An easy-to-use windshield mount for consideration is still the Arkon MegaGrip suction cup windshield and dash mount. The expandable cradle opens wide enough to fit most phones, even bulkier ones with substantial cases. The mount uses a vacuum-locking suction cup and adjustable arm, and the phone can swivel into any orientation. It remains a good fallback recommendation because it simply works in a wide range of vehicles. For the Acura RDX in particular, it avoids the vent problem altogether.
The other nice thing about this style is that it can still pull double duty for a Garmin GPS if needed, which is something some RDX owners will still appreciate.
Best Vent Mount for Acura RDX
The Acura RDX air vent presents a challenge, as does practically any vehicle with a vertical vent. Not all vent mounts will work on this vehicle. The common vent mounts that depend on arms grabbing horizontally across slats are not the best answer here. You want a vent mount that uses a clamp, hook, or vice-style attachment instead.
If opting for a vent mount, the Andobil Air Vent Mount is still one of the better universal styles to consider because it uses a stronger clamp-style approach than the cheapest vent mounts. Andobil also sells a MagSafe version for iPhone users. This is still not my first recommendation in the RDX if a good custom screen-area mount is available, but it is a reasonable option if you want something more universal.
We also wrote a full review of the Andobil mount, and it is worth reading if you want more detail on how that style works.
Best Tablet Mount for Acura RDX
The Acura RDX cup holders are inset within the console near the passenger side. Cup holder mounts for a phone or small tablet will fit, although it can get a little tight, especially with a front passenger. This is not the ideal place for an app you need to glance at every few seconds, but it is a perfectly workable location when using apps that do not need constant attention while driving.
The cup holder is also the most realistic place in the RDX to mount a small to midsize tablet. We like the APPS2Car cup holder mount for tablets and phones because it includes two different cradles, one for a phone and another for a tablet. That is still a useful distinction because there really is no single universal cradle that comfortably spans both phones and larger tablets. The tablet cradle is listed to hold larger devices, but in a vehicle like the RDX but would still treat something around iPad Mini size as the practical upper limit.
We like to recommend the APPS2Car brand as it includes a tablet and phone cradle. Nice touch.
| Cup Holder Mount Pros | Cup Holder Mount Cons |
|---|---|
| Best place for a small tablet in the RDX | Sits farther from eye level than a windshield or custom dash mount |
| No windshield clutter | Can feel tighter with a front passenger |
| Works for both phones and small tablets | Uses one cup holder |
If looking to entertain back seat passengers with a tablet or smartphone, consider a headrest mount as well. We covered several of those in our article on Car Headrest Mounts for Tablets, Phones or Cameras.
Common Mounting Problems in the Acura RDX
| Problem | Why It Happens | Best Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Vent mounts feel awkward | The RDX uses vertical vents that do not favor many universal designs | Use a clamp-style vent mount or a custom screen-area mount |
| Dash mount looks wrong | The raised display and trim leave poor adhesive surfaces | Use custom-fit, windshield, or cup holder mounting instead |
| Tablet feels too large up high | The RDX cabin does not leave much elegant space for a large tablet near the dash | Use a cup holder or headrest mount |
| Generic mount looks out of place | The RDX interior is upscale enough to make cheap universal mounts feel obvious | Use an RDX-specific custom mount |
Bottom Line
So when it comes to the Acura RDX, the windshield and a carefully chosen vent mount are still workable locations for a phone or GPS. But the biggest improvement for this vehicle is that there are now real custom-fit Acura RDX mounts available, and that is where you would start for most owners.
The cup holder remains the best location for a small tablet, while the dash itself is still not the easy answer it is in some other vehicles. The CD player does not exist, the vents require care, and the RDX really rewards choosing the right mount style instead of forcing a generic one into place.
