Compare the2025 Mazda CX-70VS 2024 Acura RDX

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-70 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 CX-70 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 CX-70 Premium has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, 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 CX-70 Premium Plus/Turbo S has standard Rear Smart City Brake Support 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 CX-70 and RDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the CX-70 has Rear Cross Traffic 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 CX-70’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 CX-70 and the RDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-70 weighs 805 to 1184 pounds more than the Acura RDX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are almost 2 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-70’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda 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.

The CX-70’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 8 more horsepower (280 vs. 272) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-70 PHEV’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 51 more horsepower (323 vs. 272) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 68 more horsepower (340 vs. 272) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the CX-70 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Acura RDX:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-70 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the RDX:

The CX-70 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The RDX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-70’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The RDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The CX-70’s standard fuel tank has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (18.5 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (19.6 vs. 17.1 gallons).

For better stopping power the CX-70’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RDX:

The CX-70’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.

The CX-70 stops shorter than the RDX:

For better traction, the CX-70 has larger standard tires than the RDX (265/55R19 vs. 235/55R19). The CX-70 Premium’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RDX (275/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-70 Premium has standard 21-inch wheels. The RDX’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-70’s wheelbase is 14.5 inches longer than on the RDX (122.8 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-70 is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the RDX.

For better maneuverability, the CX-70’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the RDX’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.9 feet).

The CX-70 has 37.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RDX (141.6 vs. 104).

The CX-70 has .1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 1 inch more rear legroom, 5.6 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the RDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CX-70’s rear seats recline. The RDX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume than the RDX with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 31.1 cubic feet).

The CX-70’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Acura RDX is only 1500 pounds. The CX-70 offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the CX-70 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 engine in the CX-70 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 CX-70’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 see further while navigating curves, the CX-70 Turbo S has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The RDX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the CX-70 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RDX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The CX-70 Premium’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The RDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-70 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the RDX.

The CX-70 Premium Plus has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, 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.