Compare the2024 Acura RDXVS 2023 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RDX’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RDX has standard Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, helping the driver avoid collisions. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Both the RDX and the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and available 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 Acura RDX is safer than the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon:

	RDX	E-Class All-Terrain Wagon
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	26%	30%
Leg Forces (l/r)	328/464 lbs.	387/481 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 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon:

	RDX	E-Class All-Terrain Wagon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	63	132
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	130 lbs.	149 lbs.
Hip Force	217 lbs.	223 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	124	215
Hip Force	462 lbs.	594 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	704 lbs.	836 lbs.

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

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Warranty

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the RDX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon ends after only 4 years or 50,000 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. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the RDX’s reliability 51 points higher than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura fourth in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 29th.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura RDX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura RDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RDX A-Spec’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R19).

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon; 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

For greater off-road capability the RDX has a 2.45 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (8.2 vs. 5.75 inches), allowing the RDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Acura RDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 550 pounds less than the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

The RDX is 7.4 inches shorter than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon, making the RDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The RDX has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and 2.3 inches more rear legroom than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Cargo Capacity

The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 64 cubic feet).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 22% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

The RDX’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s parking brake has to be released manually.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RDX has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the RDX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RDX will cost $9395 to $9705 less than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon over a five-year period.

The RDX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the RDX will retain 53.7% to 55% of its original price after five years, while the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon only retains 49.45%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the RDX is less expensive to operate than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon because it costs $109 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the RDX than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon, including $359 less for a water pump, $634 less for a muffler, $314 less for a starter, $261 less for fuel injection, $34 less for front struts and $830 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Acura RDX will be $28719 to $35814 less than for the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Recommendations

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

	RDX	E-Class All-Terrain Wagon
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE

The Acura RDX outsold the Mercedes E-Class/CLS by over two to one during 2023.

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