Compare the2023 Porsche Cayenne CoupeVS 2023 Acura RDX

The Cayenne Coupe has a standard Multi-collision Brake System, 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.

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

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Cayenne Coupe 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.

Both the Cayenne Coupe and the RDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe weighs 605 to 1898 pounds more than the Acura RDX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

The Cayenne Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 63 more horsepower (335 vs. 272) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Cayenne S Coupe’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 produces 162 more horsepower (434 vs. 272) and 125 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Cayenne GTS Coupe’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 181 more horsepower (453 vs. 272) and 177 lbs.-ft. more torque (457 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 183 more horsepower (455 vs. 272) and 236 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 398 more horsepower (670 vs. 272) and 383 lbs.-ft. more torque (663 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cayenne Turbo Coupe 4.0 turbo V8 is faster than the Acura RDX:

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne Coupe running on electricity gets better mileage than the RDX:

The Cayenne Coupe can travel with zero emissions for 15 to 17 miles (dependent on model). The RDX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

The Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (19.8 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Cayenne Coupe’s standard fuel tank has 6.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (23.7 vs. 17.1 gallons).

The Cayenne Coupe’s optional 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.

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

The Cayenne Coupe’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 Cayenne Coupe offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The RDX doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Cayenne Coupe Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The RDX doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne Coupe stops much shorter than the RDX:

For better traction, the Cayenne Coupe has larger standard tires than the RDX (F:275/45R20 & R:305/40R20 vs. 235/55R19). The Cayenne Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RDX (F:285/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The Cayenne Coupe’s standard 275/45R20 front and 305/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RDX’s standard 55 series tires. The Cayenne Coupe’s optional 285/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the RDX A-Spec’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne Coupe has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the RDX. The Cayenne Coupe’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the RDX A-Spec.

The Cayenne Coupe 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 Cayenne Coupe 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.

The Cayenne Coupe has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The RDX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cayenne Coupe’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the RDX (114 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cayenne Coupe is 2 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the RDX.

The Cayenne Turbo GT handles at 1.03 G’s, while the RDX A-Spec AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne Turbo Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.6 seconds quicker than the RDX AWD (24.1 seconds @ .82 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne Coupe w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 3.8 feet tighter than the RDX’s (35.1 feet vs. 38.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne Coupe Air Suspension has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the RDX (9.6 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Cayenne Coupe to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the Cayenne Coupe 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.

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

The Cayenne Coupe’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (7700 vs. 1500 pounds).

Standard trailer sway control on the Cayenne Coupe uses the Porsche Stability Management 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 Cayenne Coupe has a much higher standard payload capacity than the RDX (1150 vs. 838 lbs.).

The Cayenne Coupe has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the RDX (1499 vs. 838 lbs.).

The engine in the Cayenne Coupe 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Acura. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With an 8% lower rating, Acura is ranked 6th.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the RDX, the Cayenne Coupe offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Cayenne Coupe’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.

The Cayenne Coupe’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.

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

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Cayenne Coupe offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The RDX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne Coupe has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The RDX doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The Cayenne Coupe 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 Cayenne Coupe’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The RDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Porsche Cayenne Coupe and the Acura RDX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne Coupe third among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The RDX isn’t in the top three.