Compare the2024 BMW X5VS 2023 Acura RDX

The X5’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.

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 X5 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.

The X5 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 X5 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 X5 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.

Both the X5 and RDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the X5 has Cross Traffic Warning with Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The RDX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

The X5’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 X5 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 and available all wheel drive.

The BMW X5 weighs 861 to 1798 pounds more than the Acura RDX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The X5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the RDX’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 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 X5’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Acura.

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.

The X5 s/xDrive40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 103 more horsepower (375 vs. 272) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X5 xDrive50e’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 211 more horsepower (483 vs. 272) and 236 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X5 M60i xDrive’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 251 more horsepower (523 vs. 272) and 273 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the X5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the RDX:

The X550e xDrive can travel with zero emissions for 40 miles. The RDX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the X5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The RDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X5 has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (21.9 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The X5’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.

For better stopping power the X5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RDX:

The X5’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 X5 has larger standard tires than the RDX (265/50R19 vs. 235/55R19). The X5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RDX (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The X5’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 X5’s optional 275/35R22 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 X5 offers optional 22-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 available on the X5 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.

The X5 M60i 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 X5 M60i xDrive 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 X5 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 X5’s wheelbase is 8.8 inches longer than on the RDX (117.1 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X5 is 2 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the RDX.

The X5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.7% to 50.3%) than the RDX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the X5 more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the X5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RDX (8.7 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the X5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the X5 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 X5 has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the RDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X5’s rear seats recline. The RDX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The X5 has a much larger cargo volume than the RDX with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 31.1 cubic feet).

The X5’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The RDX’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The X5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (5952 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Acura RDX is only 1500 pounds. The X5 offers up to a 7209 lbs. towing capacity.

Optional Trailer Stabilization Control on the X5 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 X5 has a much higher standard payload capacity than the RDX (1054 vs. 838 lbs.).

The X5 has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the RDX (1193 vs. 838 lbs.).

The engine in the X5 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 X5 M60i has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The X5’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 X5 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RDX doesn’t offer cornering lights. The X5 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The X5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RDX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the RDX.

The X5’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking 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.

The BMW X5 outsold the Acura RDX by over three to one during 2022.