Compare the2024 Jeep WranglerVS 2024 Acura RDX

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Wrangler have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Acura RDX doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Wrangler 4-Door 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.

Both the Wrangler and the RDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

There are almost 9 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the RDX’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 16 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 Jeep vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 43 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Jeep higher than Acura.

The Wrangler’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 13 more horsepower (285 vs. 272) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler 4xe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 103 more horsepower (375 vs. 272) and 190 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s standard 6.4 V8 produces 198 more horsepower (470 vs. 272) and 190 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Wrangler 4-door running on electricity gets better mileage than the RDX:

The Wrangler 4xe 8-speed Auto can travel with zero emissions for 21 miles. The RDX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s fuel efficiency. The RDX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Wrangler 2.0 Turbo/4Xe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The RDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Wrangler 4-door’s standard fuel tank has 4.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (21.5 vs. 17.1 gallons).

The Wrangler offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The RDX doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392’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 Wrangler’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RDX:

The 4Xe/Wrangler Rubicon Xtreme 35/Rubicon 392’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 Wrangler has larger standard tires than the RDX (245/75R17 vs. 235/55R19). The Wrangler 4-door Rubicon 392/Xteme 35’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RDX (315/70R17 vs. 255/45R20).

The Wrangler has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the RDX; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The Wrangler Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door’s wheelbase is 10.1 inches longer than on the RDX (118.4 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

The Wrangler’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.1% to 49.9%) than the RDX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the Wrangler more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 2-door’s turning circle is 6.2 feet tighter than the RDX’s (32.7 feet vs. 38.9 feet). The Wrangler 4-door’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the RDX’s (38.8 feet vs. 38.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler 2-door has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the RDX (9.7 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Wrangler 4-door Xtreme 35’s minimum ground clearance is 4.7 inches higher than on the RDX (12.9 vs. 8.2 inches).

The Wrangler 4-door has a larger cargo volume than the RDX with its rear seat up (31.7 vs. 31.1 cubic feet).

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

The Wrangler’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Acura RDX is only 1500 pounds. The Wrangler 4-door offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Wrangler can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The RDX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Wrangler uses the Electronic 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 engine in the Wrangler 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.

The Wrangler’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The RDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Wrangler Rubicon/Willys/Sahara/High Altitude/Rubicon has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The RDX doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the Acura RDX isn’t available as a soft top.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The RDX has never been chosen.

The Jeep Wrangler outsold the Acura RDX by over seven to one during 2022.