Compare the2023 Acura RDXVS 2023 Toyota Venza

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Venza doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the RDX and the Venza 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura RDX is safer than the Toyota Venza:

	RDX	Venza
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	26%	29.3%
Neck Stress	262 lbs.	306 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	56 lbs.

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

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 Toyota Venza:

	RDX	Venza
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	63	83
Abdominal Force	130 lbs.	138 lbs.
Hip Force	217 lbs.	246 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	124	146
Hip Force	462 lbs.	508 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	14 inches
Hip Force	704 lbs.	835 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 safer than the Venza:

	RDX	Venza
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	692 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	206	542
Head Peak Forces	no contact	104 G’s
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	156 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

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 Venza is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2023.

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 Venza’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 Toyota covers the Venza. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Venza ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Engine

The RDX’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 53 more horsepower (272 vs. 219) than the Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Acura RDX is faster than the Toyota Venza:

	RDX	Venza
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	7.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.9 sec	20.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.9 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	89 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the RDX and Venza have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The RDX has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The RDX has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Venza (17.1 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Venza doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	RDX	Venza
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	11.1 inches

The RDX stops much shorter than the Venza:

	RDX	Venza
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	129 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RDX has larger standard tires than the Venza (235/55R19 vs. 225/60R18). The RDX A-Spec’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Venza (255/45R20 vs. 225/60R18).

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 Venza LE’s standard 60 series tires. The RDX A-Spec’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Venza LE. The RDX A-Spec’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited.

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 Venza doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

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 Venza’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The RDX has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Venza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RDX’s wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the Venza (108.3 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RDX is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .9 inches wider in the rear than on the Venza.

The RDX A-Spec AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Venza Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The RDX AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Venza Limited (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

The RDX has 5.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Venza (104 vs. 98.3).

The RDX has 1 inch more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear legroom and 4.7 inches more rear hip room than the Venza.

Cargo Capacity

The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Venza with its rear seat up (31.1 vs. 28.8 cubic feet). The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Venza with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the RDX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Venza doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The RDX has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Venza has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The RDX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Venza 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 Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 23% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

The RDX offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Venza doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Venza’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The RDX’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Venza’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

When the RDX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Venza’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The RDX’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Venza offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The RDX has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited. The RDX Advance also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Venza.

Model Availability

The RDX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Venza doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

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

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

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