2020 Acura RDX vs 2021 Lexus GX
Overview | |
MSRP$37,800 | MSRP$53,450 |
Average price$34,023 | Average price$63,623 |
Listings47 | Listings8 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews8.5 out of 10 | Expert reviews5.3 out of 10 |
Pros
| |
2020 Acura RDX Reviews SummaryIt 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 Lexus GX Reviews Summaryost modern SUVs are really car-based crossovers—lifted station wagons, or minivans without the sliding doors. That’s not the case with the 2021 Lexus GX 460. Like the mythical Loch Ness Monster, the GX is a creature that time forgot. It’s one of the last SUVs with truck-like body-on-frame construction and true off-road capability. That’s because the GX is actually a rebadged Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (a smaller version of the iconic Toyota Land Cruiser not sold in North America), and is related to the Toyota 4Runner. It’s also genuinely old: the current generation dates back to the 2010 model year, and Lexus has kept it in production with some updates of styling and tech over the years. That makes the GX a fairly odd proposition on the new-car market. It has the off-road capability, not as a lifestyle statement, but because that’s what was still expected of SUVs when it was launched. The GX sits between the RX and LX in the Lexus lineup but has little direct competition. Its only real rival is the much newer Land Rover Discovery. For the 2021 model year, the GX gets some minor updates. Lexus continues to offer only the GX 460 model, with a single powertrain option, a standard four-wheel drive (4WD) drivetrain, and two pricing levels: base, or the Executive package. | |
No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine2.0L 272 hp I4 | Engine4.6L 301 hp V8 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainAWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity7 |
Horsepower272 hp @ 6500 rpm | Horsepower301 hp @ 5500 rpm |
MPG City22 | MPG City15 |
MPG Highway28 | MPG Highway19 |
Engine | |
Engine Name2.0L 272 hp I4 | Engine Name4.6L 301 hp V8 |
Torque280 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm | Torque329 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm |
Horsepower272 hp @ 6500 rpm | Horsepower301 hp @ 5500 rpm |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainAWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City22 | MPG City15 |
MPG Highway28 | MPG Highway19 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity7 |
Key Features | |
Sunroof/MoonroofStandard | Sunroof/MoonroofOptional |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall4 | Front Crash Overall |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space29.5 cu ft | Cargo Space11.6 cu ft |
Curb Weight3783 lbs | Curb Weight5130 lbs |
Height65.7 in | Height74.2 in |
Length186.8 in | Length192.1 in |
Width74.8 in | Width74.2 in |
Wheelbase108.3 in | Wheelbase109.8 in |
Maximum Payload1001 lbs | Maximum Payload1315 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Maximum Towing Capacity1500 lbs | Maximum Towing Capacity6500 lbs |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $37,800 | $53,450 |
Average price | $34,023 | $63,623 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | ||
Expert reviews | 8.5 out of 10Read full review | 5.3 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
| |
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. | ost modern SUVs are really car-based crossovers—lifted station wagons, or minivans without the sliding doors. That’s not the case with the 2021 Lexus GX 460. Like the mythical Loch Ness Monster, the GX is a creature that time forgot. It’s one of the last SUVs with truck-like body-on-frame construction and true off-road capability. That’s because the GX is actually a rebadged Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (a smaller version of the iconic Toyota Land Cruiser not sold in North America), and is related to the Toyota 4Runner. It’s also genuinely old: the current generation dates back to the 2010 model year, and Lexus has kept it in production with some updates of styling and tech over the years. That makes the GX a fairly odd proposition on the new-car market. It has the off-road capability, not as a lifestyle statement, but because that’s what was still expected of SUVs when it was launched. The GX sits between the RX and LX in the Lexus lineup but has little direct competition. Its only real rival is the much newer Land Rover Discovery. For the 2021 model year, the GX gets some minor updates. Lexus continues to offer only the GX 460 model, with a single powertrain option, a standard four-wheel drive (4WD) drivetrain, and two pricing levels: base, or the Executive package. |
Video | No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 2.0L 272 hp I4 | 4.6L 301 hp V8 |
Drive Train | FWD | AWD |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 7 |
Horsepower | 272 hp @ 6500 rpm | 301 hp @ 5500 rpm |
MPG City | 22 | 15 |
MPG Highway | 28 | 19 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 2.0L 272 hp I4 | 4.6L 301 hp V8 |
Torque | 280 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm | 329 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm |
Horsepower | 272 hp @ 6500 rpm | 301 hp @ 5500 rpm |
Drivetrain | FWD | AWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 22 | 15 |
MPG Highway | 28 | 19 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 5 | 7 |
Key Features | ||
Sunroof/Moonroof | Standard | Optional |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 4 | |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 29.5 cu ft | 11.6 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 3783 lbs | 5130 lbs |
Height | 65.7 in | 74.2 in |
Length | 186.8 in | 192.1 in |
Width | 74.8 in | 74.2 in |
Wheelbase | 108.3 in | 109.8 in |
Maximum Payload | 1001 lbs | 1315 lbs |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
Maximum Towing Capacity | 1500 lbs | 6500 lbs |
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