Compare the2023 Acura RDXVS 2023 GMC Terrain

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Acura RDX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The GMC Terrain doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Terrain doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The RDX has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Terrain’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RDX has standard Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, helping the driver avoid collisions. GMC charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Terrain.

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

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 Acura RDX is safer than the GMC Terrain:

	RDX	Terrain
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	63	109
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	130 lbs.	195 lbs.
Hip Force	217 lbs.	357 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	124	288
Spine Acceleration	52 G’s	55 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	630 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	704 lbs.	730 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Acura RDX is much safer than the Terrain:

	RDX	Terrain
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	112 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.26 in	1.73 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.5 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	692 lbs.	781 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Injury Criterion	206	733
Head Peak Forces	no contact	101 G’s
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Neck Compression	156 lbs.	491 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.18 in	1.65 in
Shoulder Force	357 lbs.	402 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the RDX is 1.4% to 3.5% less likely to roll over than the Terrain.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RDX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Terrain has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The RDX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Terrain’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the RDX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than GMC covers the Terrain. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Terrain ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The RDX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Terrain’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the RDX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Terrain.

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 RDX’s reliability 16 points higher than the Terrain.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 13 places higher in reliability than GMC.

Engine

The RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 97 more horsepower (272 vs. 175) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The RDX has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.1 vs. 14.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The RDX has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank (17.1 vs. 15.6 gallons).

Transmission

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 Terrain.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	RDX	Terrain
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	11.3 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RDX has larger standard tires than the Terrain (235/55R19 vs. 225/65R17). The RDX A-Spec’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Terrain (255/45R20 vs. 235/50R19).

The RDX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Terrain SLE/AT4’s standard 65 series tires. The RDX A-Spec’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Terrain’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Terrain SLE/AT4. The RDX A-Spec’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Terrain.

Suspension and Handling

The RDX has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the RDX flat and controlled during cornering. The Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The RDX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RDX is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Terrain.

The RDX AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Terrain Denali AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the RDX has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Terrain SLE (8.2 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the RDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The RDX’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Terrain SLT/AT4/Denali (8.2 vs. 7.9 inches).

Passenger Space

The RDX has .7 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Terrain.

Cargo Capacity

The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Terrain with its rear seat up (31.1 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Terrain with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 63.3 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RDX. The Terrain doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The RDX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Terrain uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than GMC. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 18% lower rating, GMC is ranked 15th.

Ergonomics

The RDX’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Terrain’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the RDX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Terrain can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RDX has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Terrain doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The RDX’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Terrain’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The RDX Advance’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The RDX has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Terrain.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the RDX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RDX will cost $55 to $1060 less than the Terrain over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the RDX is less expensive to operate than the Terrain because it costs $373 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the RDX than the Terrain, including $57 less for a water pump, $524 less for a muffler, $207 less for fuel injection, $207 less for a fuel pump and $493 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

The Acura RDX has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	RDX	Terrain
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	n/a

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