Compare the2022 Acura RDXVS 2021 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon

The Acura RDX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RDX’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RDX has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Both the RDX and the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RDX its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 68 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has not been tested, yet.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the RDX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Acura 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura RDX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The RDX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Acura RDX higher (6 out of 10) than the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (5). This means the RDX produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon every 15,000 miles.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura RDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

For better traction, the RDX A-Spec’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (255/40R20 vs. 245/45R18).

The RDX A-Spec’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional 45 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon. The RDX A-Spec’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

The RDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The RDX AWD has a standard space-saver spare (not available on FWD/A-Spec) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For greater off-road capability the RDX has a 2.45 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (8.2 vs. 5.75 inches), allowing the RDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Acura RDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 750 pounds less than the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

The RDX is 7.4 inches shorter than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon, making the RDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The RDX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The RDX has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and 2.3 inches more rear legroom than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 64 cubic feet).

The RDX’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s parking brake has to released manually.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RDX has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The RDX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the RDX is less expensive to operate than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon because it costs $109 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the RDX than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon, including $359 less for a water pump, $634 less for a muffler, $314 less for a starter, $261 less for fuel injection, $34 less for front struts and $830 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Car Book by Jack Gillis recommends the Acura RDX, based on economy, maintenance, safety and complaint levels.