2020 Acura RDX vs 2021 Honda CR-V

2020 Acura RDX
2020 Acura RDX
$37,800MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Honda CR-V
2021 Honda CR-V
$25,350MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Acura RDX
$37,800MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Honda CR-V
$25,350MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP

$37,800

MSRP

$25,350

Average price

$34,023

Average price

$30,519

Listings

49

Listings

386

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

8.5 out of 10

Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10
Pros
  • Powerful engine
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • Unintuitive technology

2020 Acura RDX Reviews Summary

It should no longer be breaking news that, to new-car buyers, crossovers are king. Within that market, the small luxury crossover segment has been growing at an incredible rate. Every automaker wants to get a piece, but Acura has long been an early adopter with its 2-row, 5-passenger RDX.

The Acura RDX, built at Honda's Marysville, Ohio, assembly plant, was first introduced for the 2007 model year. From the start, the RDX enjoyed great success. It entered its third generation with the 2019 model year, and it offers plenty of space, creature comforts, and safety tech. That 2019 model carries over to the 2020 vehicle we tested.

The RDX competes with the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, Audi Q5, and BMW X3, and it holds its own against all three. It offers more content at a lower price, and in some cases, it has better safety technology. It also competes with the Lexus NX, Jaguar F-PACE, and Lincoln MKC.

We reviewed the 2019 RDX and came away with a very favourable conclusion. But seeing as this is one of the best-selling small luxury SUVs—and Acura’s best selling vehicle—it seemed like a good time to take a closer look and unpack more of what we like and dislike about the RDX. We’ll also determine which trim of the RDX provides the best value to shoppers.

2021 Honda CR-V Reviews Summary

Even in a grim year, Honda is selling a staggering number of CR-Vs. The CR-V is the best-selling Honda in Canada, edging out the home-built Honda Civic. The CR-V is also the second best-selling compact SUV, just behind the Toyota RAV4. And it was the sixth best-selling vehicle in Canada in 2021.

So, it’s hard to argue against the CR-V formula. Honda’s been at this almost as long as crossovers have been a thing, launching the CR-V in 1997—a year after the RAV4 debuted.

The funny thing is, aside from sales volume, there’s only one thing the CR-V particularly excels at. Aesthetics are subjective, but it would be hard to argue the CR-V is the best-looking vehicle in its class. It’s not the cheapest. It’s not the best equipped, especially at the middle to lower trim levels. It’s not the fastest, nor is it the quietest, or the most fuel efficient. It’s not even the most reliable, showing up nowhere in J.D. Power's Most Reliable list.

So, what makes it so appealing to Canadian consumers? Let’s see if we can figure that out.

No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.0L 272 hp I4

Engine

1.5L 190 hp I4

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

272 hp @ 6500 rpm

Horsepower

190 hp @ 5600 rpm

MPG City

22

MPG City

28

MPG Highway

28

MPG Highway

34
2020 Acura RDX
2020 Acura RDX
$37,800MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Honda CR-V
2021 Honda CR-V
$25,350MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Acura RDX
$37,800MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Honda CR-V
$25,350MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$37,800
$25,350
Average price
$34,023
$30,519
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews
4.8
4.5
Expert reviews

8.5 out of 10

Read full review

7.8 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Powerful engine
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • Unintuitive technology
Summary

It should no longer be breaking news that, to new-car buyers, crossovers are king. Within that market, the small luxury crossover segment has been growing at an incredible rate. Every automaker wants to get a piece, but Acura has long been an early adopter with its 2-row, 5-passenger RDX.

The Acura RDX, built at Honda's Marysville, Ohio, assembly plant, was first introduced for the 2007 model year. From the start, the RDX enjoyed great success. It entered its third generation with the 2019 model year, and it offers plenty of space, creature comforts, and safety tech. That 2019 model carries over to the 2020 vehicle we tested.

The RDX competes with the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, Audi Q5, and BMW X3, and it holds its own against all three. It offers more content at a lower price, and in some cases, it has better safety technology. It also competes with the Lexus NX, Jaguar F-PACE, and Lincoln MKC.

We reviewed the 2019 RDX and came away with a very favourable conclusion. But seeing as this is one of the best-selling small luxury SUVs—and Acura’s best selling vehicle—it seemed like a good time to take a closer look and unpack more of what we like and dislike about the RDX. We’ll also determine which trim of the RDX provides the best value to shoppers.

Even in a grim year, Honda is selling a staggering number of CR-Vs. The CR-V is the best-selling Honda in Canada, edging out the home-built Honda Civic. The CR-V is also the second best-selling compact SUV, just behind the Toyota RAV4. And it was the sixth best-selling vehicle in Canada in 2021.

So, it’s hard to argue against the CR-V formula. Honda’s been at this almost as long as crossovers have been a thing, launching the CR-V in 1997—a year after the RAV4 debuted.

The funny thing is, aside from sales volume, there’s only one thing the CR-V particularly excels at. Aesthetics are subjective, but it would be hard to argue the CR-V is the best-looking vehicle in its class. It’s not the cheapest. It’s not the best equipped, especially at the middle to lower trim levels. It’s not the fastest, nor is it the quietest, or the most fuel efficient. It’s not even the most reliable, showing up nowhere in J.D. Power's Most Reliable list.

So, what makes it so appealing to Canadian consumers? Let’s see if we can figure that out.

Video
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
2.0L 272 hp I4
1.5L 190 hp I4
Drive Train
FWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
272 hp @ 6500 rpm
190 hp @ 5600 rpm
MPG City
22
28
MPG Highway
28
34
CarGurus logo

By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

Popular vehicle comparisons

2022 Honda CR-V vs 2022 Lincoln Navigator2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Honda CR-V2022 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Honda CR-V2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2023 Honda CR-V2022 Buick Encore vs 2022 Honda CR-V2022 Lexus GX vs 2022 Honda CR-V2022 Lincoln Aviator vs 2023 Honda CR-V2022 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Honda CR-V2022 Toyota Sienna vs 2023 Honda CR-V2022 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2023 Honda CR-V2022 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Honda CR-V2022 Acura MDX vs 2022 Honda CR-V2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Honda CR-V2022 MINI Countryman vs 2022 Honda CR-V2022 Honda CR-V vs 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport2022 Honda CR-V vs 2023 Honda CR-V2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2022 Honda CR-V2022 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Honda CR-V2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Honda CR-V2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Honda CR-V2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2022 Honda CR-V2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Honda CR-V2021 Acura RDX vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Acura RDX2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Acura RDX2021 Honda Passport vs 2022 Acura RDX2021 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Acura RDX2021 Buick Encore vs 2022 Acura RDX2021 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Honda CR-V2021 Honda CR-V vs 2022 Honda CR-V2021 Lexus NX vs 2022 Honda CR-V2021 Acura RDX vs 2021 Honda CR-V2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Acura RDX2021 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Acura RDX2021 Acura RDX vs 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Acura RDX2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Acura RDX2020 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Acura RDX2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Volvo XC902020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2021 Acura RDX2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Honda Odyssey2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport2020 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Acura RDX2020 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2021 Acura RDX2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Nissan Rogue2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Buick Encore2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Lexus RX Hybrid2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Acura RDX2020 MINI Countryman vs 2021 Acura RDX2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator2020 Buick Encore vs 2021 Acura RDX2020 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Acura RDX2019 Toyota Sienna vs 2019 Honda CR-V2019 Acura RDX vs 2020 Buick Encore2019 MINI Countryman vs 2020 Honda CR-V2019 Acura RDX vs 2020 Lexus RX Hybrid2019 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2020 Honda CR-V2019 Acura RDX vs 2020 MINI Countryman2019 Dodge Grand Caravan vs 2020 Honda CR-V2019 Nissan Rogue vs 2020 Honda CR-V2019 Buick Enclave vs 2020 Honda CR-V2019 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2019 Honda CR-V2019 Acura RDX vs 2020 Buick Enclave2019 Dodge Grand Caravan vs 2019 Honda CR-V2019 Volvo XC40 vs 2020 Honda CR-V2019 Acura RDX vs 2020 Honda Passport2019 Volvo XC40 vs 2019 Honda CR-V2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2020 Honda CR-V2019 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2019 Honda CR-V2019 Honda Odyssey vs 2020 Honda CR-V