Compare the2022 Cadillac XT4VS 2021 Acura RDX

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the XT4 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RDX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The XT4 Premium/Sport offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The RDX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the XT4 and the RDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac XT4 is safer than the Acura RDX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The XT4’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the RDX’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 3 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the XT4’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT4 first among compact premium suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The RDX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac 14th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in reliability, above the industry average. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 7 places higher in reliability than Acura.

On the EPA test cycle the XT4 gets better fuel mileage than the RDX:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT4’s fuel efficiency. The RDX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac XT4 higher (7 out of 10) than the Acura RDX (6). This means the XT4 produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RDX every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the XT4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RDX:

The XT4’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the RDX are solid, not vented.

The XT4 stops much shorter than the RDX:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT4’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the RDX (109.4 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

The XT4 Sport AWD handles at .89 G’s, while the RDX A-Spec AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XT4 Sport AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the RDX AWD (26.3 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the XT4’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the RDX’s (38 feet vs. 38.9 feet).

The XT4 is 5.7 inches shorter than the RDX, making the XT4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The XT4 has 2.5 inches more front legroom and 1.1 inches more rear legroom than the RDX.

The XT4’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (2500 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Acura RDX is only 1500 pounds. The XT4 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Acura. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 16% lower rating, Acura is ranked 6th.

The XT4’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The RDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the XT4 (except Luxury) offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RDX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RDX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac XT4 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The RDX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional Automatic Park Assist can parallel park by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The RDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the XT4 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the XT4 with a number “8” insurance rate while the RDX is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT4 is less expensive to operate than the RDX because typical repairs cost much less on the XT4 than the RDX, including $209 less for front brake pads, $139 less for a starter, $175 less for a fuel pump, $101 less for front struts and $416 less for a power steering pump.