2020 Acura RDX vs 2021 Volvo XC40
Overview | |
MSRP$37,800 | MSRP$33,700 |
Average price$35,077 | Average price$34,824 |
Listings52 | Listings43 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews8.5 out of 10 | Expert reviews8.0 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 Volvo XC40 Reviews SummaryIntroduced for the 2019 model year, the Volvo XC40 enters 2021 with one major change—the addition of an all-electric powertrain option. The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is the Scandinavian automaker’s first mass-market pure electric vehicle, in fact. The Recharge will be sold alongside gasoline versions of the XC40, which carry over largely unchanged, and compete against small luxury crossovers like the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, and Lexus UX. With its electric powertrain, the Recharge is a de facto Tesla Model Y competitor. It’s also priced similar to high-end versions of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, although the two electric crossovers have somewhat different philosophies. In addition to that zero-emission powertrain, the Recharge gets an Android-based operating system, over-the-air (OTA) software update capability for all vehicle systems, and some updates to driver-assist tech. These changes don’t apply to gasoline 2021 XC40 models, but Volvo does plan to add the Android operating system to more vehicles in the future. Since the Recharge is the main new thing for the 2021 XC40, that’s what we focused on for this review. While the gasoline XC40 is available in three trim levels—Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription—with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada, the Recharge is only offered in a single trim level. | |
No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine2.0L 272 hp I4 | Engine2.0L 187 hp I4 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainFWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Horsepower272 hp @ 6500 rpm | Horsepower187 hp @ 4700 rpm |
MPG City22 | MPG City23 |
MPG Highway28 | MPG Highway32 |
Engine | |
Engine Name2.0L 272 hp I4 | Engine Name2.0L 187 hp I4 |
Torque280 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm | Torque221 lb-ft @ 1400 rpm |
Horsepower272 hp @ 6500 rpm | Horsepower187 hp @ 4700 rpm |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainFWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City22 | MPG City23 |
MPG Highway28 | MPG Highway32 |
Interior | |
Leather Seats | Leather SeatsStandard |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Key Features | |
Sunroof/MoonroofStandard | Sunroof/Moonroof |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall4 | Front Crash Overall5 |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space29.5 cu ft | Cargo Space20.7 cu ft |
Curb Weight3783 lbs | Curb Weight3627 lbs |
Height65.7 in | Height65.3 in |
Length186.8 in | Length174.2 in |
Width74.8 in | Width80.1 in |
Wheelbase108.3 in | Wheelbase106.4 in |
Maximum Payload1001 lbs | Maximum Payload1133 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Maximum Towing Capacity1500 lbs | Maximum Towing Capacity3500 lbs |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $37,800 | $33,700 |
Average price | $35,077 | $34,824 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | ||
Expert reviews | 8.5 out of 10Read full review | 8.0 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. | Introduced for the 2019 model year, the Volvo XC40 enters 2021 with one major change—the addition of an all-electric powertrain option. The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is the Scandinavian automaker’s first mass-market pure electric vehicle, in fact. The Recharge will be sold alongside gasoline versions of the XC40, which carry over largely unchanged, and compete against small luxury crossovers like the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, and Lexus UX. With its electric powertrain, the Recharge is a de facto Tesla Model Y competitor. It’s also priced similar to high-end versions of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, although the two electric crossovers have somewhat different philosophies. In addition to that zero-emission powertrain, the Recharge gets an Android-based operating system, over-the-air (OTA) software update capability for all vehicle systems, and some updates to driver-assist tech. These changes don’t apply to gasoline 2021 XC40 models, but Volvo does plan to add the Android operating system to more vehicles in the future. Since the Recharge is the main new thing for the 2021 XC40, that’s what we focused on for this review. While the gasoline XC40 is available in three trim levels—Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription—with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada, the Recharge is only offered in a single trim level. |
Video | No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 2.0L 272 hp I4 | 2.0L 187 hp I4 |
Drive Train | FWD | FWD |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Horsepower | 272 hp @ 6500 rpm | 187 hp @ 4700 rpm |
MPG City | 22 | 23 |
MPG Highway | 28 | 32 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 2.0L 272 hp I4 | 2.0L 187 hp I4 |
Torque | 280 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm | 221 lb-ft @ 1400 rpm |
Horsepower | 272 hp @ 6500 rpm | 187 hp @ 4700 rpm |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 22 | 23 |
MPG Highway | 28 | 32 |
Interior | ||
Leather Seats | Standard | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Key Features | ||
Sunroof/Moonroof | Standard | |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 4 | 5 |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 29.5 cu ft | 20.7 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 3783 lbs | 3627 lbs |
Height | 65.7 in | 65.3 in |
Length | 186.8 in | 174.2 in |
Width | 74.8 in | 80.1 in |
Wheelbase | 108.3 in | 106.4 in |
Maximum Payload | 1001 lbs | 1133 lbs |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
Maximum Towing Capacity | 1500 lbs | 3500 lbs |
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