Compare the2023 BMW X5VS 2022 Acura RDX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The X5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RDX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The X5 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The RDX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X5 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The RDX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X5 offers optional Active Park Distance Control 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.

The X5’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The RDX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X5 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The BMW X5 weighs 748 to 1472 pounds more than the Acura RDX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the BMW X5 is safer than the Acura RDX:

	X5	RDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	130 lbs.	130 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	124
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	52 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	308	486

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

Warranty

The X5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the RDX’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Acura doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the RDX.

There are over 30 percent more BMW dealers than there are Acura dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X5’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the X5’s reliability 24 points higher than the RDX.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X5 third among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The RDX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 16 places higher in reliability than Acura.

Engine

The X5 40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 63 more horsepower (335 vs. 272) and 51 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X5 M50i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 251 more horsepower (523 vs. 272) and 273 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the X5 40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Acura RDX:

	X5	RDX
Zero to 60 MPH	5 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	13.6 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98.5 MPH	90.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the X5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The RDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X5 has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (21.9 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The X5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The RDX doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RDX:

	X5 xDrive40i	X5 M Sport	RDX
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	15.6 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	14.6 inches	12.2 inches

The X5’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 X5 stops shorter than the RDX:

	X5	RDX
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X5 has larger standard tires than the RDX (265/50R19 vs. 235/55R19). The X5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RDX (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 255/40R20).

The X5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RDX’s standard 55 series tires. The X5’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the RDX A-Spec’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X5 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The RDX’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X5 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The RDX doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The X5 M50i offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The RDX doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X5 M50i offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Acura doesn’t offer an active suspension on the RDX.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5’s wheelbase is 8.8 inches longer than on the RDX (117.1 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X5 is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the RDX.

The X5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.2% to 49.8%) than the RDX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the X5 more stable handling and braking.

The X5 xDrive40i 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 X5 xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the RDX AWD (25.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RDX (8.7 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the X5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the X5 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.

Passenger Space

The X5 offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the RDX can only carry 5.

The X5 has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the RDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X5’s middle row seats recline. The RDX’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The X5 has a much larger cargo volume than the RDX with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 31.1 cubic feet).

The X5’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The RDX’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Payload and Towing

The X5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (5952 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Acura RDX is only 1500 pounds. The X5 offers up to a 7209 lbs. towing capacity.

The X5 has a higher maximum payload capacity than the RDX (1030 vs. 838 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RDX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the RDX, the X5 M50i has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The X5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The RDX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the X5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The RDX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the X5 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RDX doesn’t offer cornering lights. The X5 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The X5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RDX.

The X5’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The RDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the X5 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the X5 with a number “1” insurance rate while the RDX is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the X5 is less expensive to operate than the RDX because typical repairs cost less on the X5 than the RDX, including $91 less for front brake pads.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X5 and the Acura RDX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X5 outsold the Acura RDX by 1204 units during the 2021 model year.

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