Compare the2023 BMW X3VS 2023 Acura RDX

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

Safety

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The X3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RDX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The X3 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The RDX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X3 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X3 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control 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.

The X3’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 X3 and the RDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW X3 is safer than the Acura RDX:

	X3	RDX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	300
Neck Injury Risk	21%	26%
Neck Stress	202 lbs.	262 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	116/280 lbs.	328/464 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	176	353
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Compression	72 lbs.	84 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	183/114 lbs.	362/441 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 BMW X3 is safer than the Acura RDX:

	X3	RDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	45 G’s	52 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	281	486
Hip Force	624 lbs.	704 lbs.

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

Warranty

The X3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the RDX’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the RDX (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

There are over 30 percent more BMW dealers than there are Acura dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X3’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X3 first among compact premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The RDX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 27 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 BMW vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Acura is ranked 8th.

Engine

The X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 110 more horsepower (382 vs. 272) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Acura RDX:

	X3	RDX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.5 MPH	90.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X3 gets better mileage than the RDX:

			MPG
X3
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
RDX
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
		A-Spec 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
		A-Spec 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the X3’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The RDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Transmission

The X3 M40i’s 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.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RDX:

	X3	X3 M40i	RDX
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.7 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.5 inches	12.2 inches

The X3’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 X3 stops much shorter than the RDX:

	X3	RDX
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the RDX (245/50R19 vs. 235/55R19).

The X3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RDX’s standard 55 series tires. The X3’s optional 245/40R21 front and 275/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the RDX A-Spec’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 offers optional 21-inch wheels. The RDX’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X3 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The RDX doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the RDX (112.8 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

The X3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49% to 51%) than the RDX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the X3 more stable handling and braking.

The X3 M40i xDrive handles at .88 G’s, while the RDX A-Spec AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X3 M40i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the RDX AWD (25.9 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the X3 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.

Passenger Space

The X3 has 1.5 inches more front headroom and .8 inches more rear headroom than the RDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X3’s rear seats recline. The RDX’s rear seats don’t recline.

Payload and Towing

The X3’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (4400 vs. 1500 pounds).

The X3 has a higher standard payload capacity than the RDX (902 vs. 838 lbs.).

The X3 has a higher maximum payload capacity than the RDX (941 vs. 838 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X3 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.

Ergonomics

The X3’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.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the X3 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RDX doesn’t offer cornering lights. The X3 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The X3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The RDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the X3 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the X3 with a number “5” insurance rate while the RDX is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

The X3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the X3 will retain 49.78% to 50.55% of its original price after five years, while the RDX only retains 47.35% to 49.21%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the X3 is less expensive to operate than the RDX because typical repairs cost less on the X3 than the RDX, including $162 less for front brake pads.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X3 and the Acura RDX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X3 outsold the Acura RDX by almost three to one during 2022.