Compare the2024 Acura RDXVS 2024 Lexus UX

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
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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

The RDX Advance has a standard Surround-View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the RDX and the UX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The Acura RDX weighs 409 to 575 pounds more than the Lexus UX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Lexus UX:

	RDX	UX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	26%	33%
Neck Stress	262 lbs.	371 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	328/464 lbs.	376/433 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30%	36%
Neck Stress	99 lbs.	163 lbs.
Neck Compression	84 lbs.	94 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	362/441 lbs.	345/566 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 Lexus UX:

	RDX	UX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	130 lbs.	149 lbs.
Hip Force	217 lbs.	323 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	462 lbs.	633 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	12 inches
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	704 lbs.	919 lbs.

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

Warranty

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the RDX for 1 year and 14,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the UX (2/24,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 11 percent more Acura dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the RDX’s warranty.

Engine

The RDX’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 91 more horsepower (272 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Acura RDX is faster than the Lexus UX:

	RDX	UX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.7 MPH	87.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the RDX and UX 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 6.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (17.1 vs. 10.6 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 UX 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 UX:

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

The RDX stops much shorter than the UX:

	RDX	UX
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	129 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RDX has larger standard tires than the UX (235/55R19 vs. 225/50R18). The RDX A-Spec’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the UX (255/45R20 vs. 225/50R18).

The RDX A-Spec’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the UX’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the UX. The RDX A-Spec has standard 20-inch wheels.

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 UX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The RDX has a standard space-saver spare (not available on A-Spec) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RDX’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the UX (108.3 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RDX is 3.2 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than on the UX.

The RDX A-Spec handles at .82 G’s, while the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RDX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the RDX has an electronically controlled liquid-filled main engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The UX uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

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

Passenger Space

The RDX has 13.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (104 vs. 90.4).

The RDX has 2.4 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 4.7 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear headroom, 5.3 inches more rear legroom and 3.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

Cargo Capacity

The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (31.1 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

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

Towing

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

Servicing Ease

The RDX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The UX 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.

Ergonomics

The RDX’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the UX.

The power windows standard on both the RDX and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the RDX is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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

The RDX has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the UX, and aren’t available on the UX Base. 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 UX.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the RDX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RDX will cost $1190 to $2670 less than the UX over a five-year period.

Recommendations

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

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

The Acura RDX outsold the Lexus UX by over three to one during 2023.

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