Compare the2023 Jeep Grand CherokeeVS 2023 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 Grand Cherokee 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 Grand Cherokee has standard ParkSense Rear Park Assist with Stop that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The RDX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk/Overland/Summit helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The RDX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Grand Cherokee Summit’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 Grand Cherokee and the RDX 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, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 3 visits) on the Grand Cherokee for 1 year and unlimited miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the RDX (3/unlimited vs. 2/24,000).

There are almost 9 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 16 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 Jeep vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 43 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Jeep higher than Acura.

The Grand Cherokee’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 21 more horsepower (293 vs. 272) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Grand Cherokee’s optional 5.7 V8 produces 85 more horsepower (357 vs. 272) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (390 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Grand Cherokee 4xe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 103 more horsepower (375 vs. 272) and 190 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Grand Cherokee 4xe 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Acura RDX:

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee running on electricity gets better mileage than the RDX:

The Grand Cherokee 4xe can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The RDX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Grand Cherokee V8’s fuel efficiency. The RDX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Grand Cherokee 4xe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The RDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Grand Cherokee 4xe Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (19 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Grand Cherokee’s standard fuel tank has 5.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (23 vs. 17.1 gallons).

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

The Grand Cherokee’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.

For better traction, the Grand Cherokee has larger standard tires than the RDX (245/70R17 vs. 235/55R19). The Grand Cherokee Summit’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RDX (275/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Grand Cherokee Summit offers optional 21-inch wheels. The RDX’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the RDX; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk has 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 Grand Cherokee offers an optional automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grand Cherokee’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The RDX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Cherokee’s wheelbase is 8.4 inches longer than on the RDX (116.7 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Grand Cherokee is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .7 inches wider in the rear than on the RDX.

The Grand Cherokee’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the RDX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the Grand Cherokee more stable handling and braking.

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

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RDX (8.4 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 2.7 inches higher than on the RDX (10.9 vs. 8.2 inches).

The front grille of the Grand Cherokee 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 Grand Cherokee has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RDX (107 vs. 104).

The Grand Cherokee has .3 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 6.4 inches more rear hip room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the RDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Grand Cherokee’s rear seats recline. The RDX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume than the RDX with its rear seat up (37.7 vs. 31.1 cubic feet).

The Grand Cherokee’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Acura RDX is only 1500 pounds. The Grand Cherokee 4x4 offers up to a 7200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Grand Cherokee 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Grand Cherokee can be unhitched and driven around locally. The RDX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Grand Cherokee uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The RDX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Grand Cherokee has a much higher standard payload capacity than the RDX (1240 vs. 838 lbs.).

The Grand Cherokee has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the RDX (1280 vs. 838 lbs.).

The engine in the Grand Cherokee 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.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the RDX, the Grand Cherokee 4xe/Limited/Trailhawk/Overland/Summit offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Grand Cherokee’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.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Grand Cherokee’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The RDX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Grand Cherokee Overland Lux Tech/Summit has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RDX.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The RDX doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Grand Cherokee Summit’s Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The RDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Acura RDX by over 9 to one during 2022.