Compare the2024 Acura RDXVS 2024 Buick Envista

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Acura RDX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Envista doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Envista doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The RDX has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Envista doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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 Envista only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RDX has standard Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, helping the driver avoid collisions. Buick charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Envista.

Both the RDX and the Envista have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Acura RDX weighs 899 to 1028 pounds more than the Buick Envista. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

The Acura RDX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Envista has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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

The RDX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Envista’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the RDX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Envista.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the RDX’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Envista’s camshafts. If the Envista’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura fourth in overall reliability. Buick is ranked 12th.

Engine

The RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 135 more horsepower (272 vs. 137) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 162) than the Envista’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Acura RDX is faster than the Buick Envista:

	RDX	Envista
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	9.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.9 sec	32.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.9 sec	10.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The RDX has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envista (17.1 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

For more complete vehicle control the RDX has a manually controlled automatic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. A manually controlled automatic allows the driver to eliminate unwanted shifts and maximize engine braking by down shifting while cornering. The Envista doesn’t offer a transmission that allows complete gear control.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura RDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Envista.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	RDX	Envista
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	11.3 inches

The RDX stops much shorter than the Envista:

	RDX	Envista
70 to 0 MPH	180 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RDX has larger standard tires than the Envista (235/55R19 vs. 225/60R17). The RDX A-Spec’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Envista (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R19).

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 Envista’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Envista. The RDX A-Spec’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Envista.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Acura RDX has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Buick Envista has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RDX’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the Envista (108.3 inches vs. 106 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RDX is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Envista.

The RDX’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57% to 43%) than the Envista’s (60% to 40%). This gives the RDX more stable handling and braking.

The RDX A-Spec handles at .82 G’s, while the Envista Sport Touring pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RDX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Envista Sport Touring (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The RDX has 6.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Envista (104 vs. 97.5).

The RDX has .2 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front hip room, 3.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear hip room and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envista.

Cargo Capacity

The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envista with its rear seat up (31.1 vs. 20.7 cubic feet). The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envista with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 42 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RDX. The Envista doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the RDX Advance’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Envista doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

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

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the RDX, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Envista doesn’t offer a memory system.

The RDX Advance has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Envista doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The RDX’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Envista’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The RDX’s standard Smart Entry allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the Envista only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle The RDX’s optional 4-Door Smart Entry also allows you to unlock the doors from either rear door handle. The Envista’s optional Keyless Access doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RDX has a standard rear wiper. The Envista doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The RDX has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Envista. 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 Envista.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the RDX A-Spec/Advance keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Envista doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The RDX’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Envista doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the RDX and the Envista offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the RDX has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Envista doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The RDX’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Envista’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Recommendations

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

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

The Acura RDX outsold the Buick Envista by almost three to one during 2023.