Compare the2023 Land Rover Range Rover VelarVS 2023 Acura RDX

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Land Rover Range Rover Velar have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Acura RDX doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

Both the Range Rover Velar and RDX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Range Rover Velar has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The RDX’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Range Rover Velar. But it costs extra on the RDX.

The Range Rover Velar’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 Range Rover Velar and the RDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

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

The battery on the Range Rover Velar is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Range Rover Velar’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The RDX’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

The Range Rover Velar P340’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 63 more horsepower (335 vs. 272) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Range Rover Velar HST P400’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 123 more horsepower (395 vs. 272) and 125 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

The Range Rover Velar has 4.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (21.7 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The Range Rover Velar’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 Range Rover Velar stops shorter than the RDX:

For better traction, the Range Rover Velar has larger standard tires than the RDX (255/50R20 vs. 235/55R19). The Range Rover Velar’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RDX (265/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The Range Rover Velar’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RDX A-Spec’s 45 series tires.

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

The Range Rover Velar 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 Range Rover Velar has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Range Rover Velar’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 Range Rover Velar’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the RDX (113.1 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

The Range Rover Velar’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.1% to 49.9%) than the RDX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the Range Rover Velar more stable handling and braking.

The Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic S handles at .84 G’s, while the RDX A-Spec AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the RDX AWD (26.2 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Range Rover Velar has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RDX (8.4 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Range Rover Velar to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Range Rover Velar w/Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the RDX (9.9 vs. 8.2 inches).

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Range Rover Velar’s available rear seats recline. The RDX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Range Rover Velar’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (5291 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Acura RDX is only 1500 pounds. The Range Rover Velar offers up to a 5511 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the Range Rover Velar uses the Dynamic 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 engine in the Range Rover Velar 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 Range Rover Velar has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Range Rover Velar’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 optional on the Range Rover Velar 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.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Range Rover Velar offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The RDX doesn’t offer headlight washers.