This week’s ride is the Acura RDX, a compact luxury crossover that draws inspiration from Acura’s high-performance NSX sports car.

One key feature: A new touchpad on the center console to control the 10.2-inch infotainment screen, high atop the dash, close to the driver's natural line of sight. Instead of dragging a cursor across the screen (which is next to impossible while driving) you just click the spot on the pad that corresponds to the function you want to control on the screen.

It takes a couple of days to get used to it. But with practice, it becomes intuitive and helps reduce driver distraction.

• You can also use handwriting or voice commands to operate the system.
• High-end versions come with a large color head-up display so all the information the driver needs is in the windshield.

Driver-assist technologies are standard: lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and a system called "road departure mitigation." The lane-keeping assist sometimes makes you feel like you're not alone, but at least you know you won't be driving into a ditch.