Compare the2025 Genesis GV80VS 2024 Acura RDX

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Genesis GV80 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.

The GV80’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RDX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the GV80 and RDX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The GV80 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The RDX’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 GV80 are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The RDX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The GV80 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The RDX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The GV80 offers an optional Multi-Collision Brake, 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 GV80 offers optional Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse 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 GV80 and RDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GV80 has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (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 GV80’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 GV80 and the RDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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 Genesis GV80 weighs 448 to 1090 pounds more than the Acura RDX. 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 Genesis GV80 is safer than the Acura RDX:

	GV80	RDX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24.1%	26%
Neck Stress	157 lbs.	262 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	254/334 lbs.	328/464 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	263	353
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Compression	65 lbs.	84 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 Genesis GV80 is safer than the Acura RDX:

	GV80	RDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	29	63
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	101 lbs.	130 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	70	124
Spine Acceleration	26 G’s	52 G’s
Hip Force	458 lbs.	462 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	290	486
Hip Force	640 lbs.	704 lbs.

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

The Genesis GV80 (built after August 2023) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The RDX is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

Warranty

The GV80 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The RDX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the GV80 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Acura covers the RDX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the RDX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The GV80’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the RDX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the GV80 for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the RDX (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GV80 third among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The RDX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis above average in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 16 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Genesis higher than Acura.

Engine

The GV80 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (300 vs. 272) and 31 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The GV80 3.5T’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 103 more horsepower (375 vs. 272) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (391 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Genesis GV80 is faster than the Acura RDX:

	GV80 2.5T	GV80 3.5T	RDX
Zero to 30 MPH	2.3 sec	2.2 sec	2.6 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	6 sec	7.1 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10.7 sec	9.6 sec	11.8 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.3 sec	3 sec	3.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	14.4 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.3 MPH	98.8 MPH	90.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The GV80 has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (21.1 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GV80’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RDX:

	GV80 2.5T	GV80 3.5T	RDX
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	14.9 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	14.2 inches	14.2 inches	12.2 inches

The GV80’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 GV80 stops much shorter than the RDX:

	GV80	RDX
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GV80 has larger tires than the RDX (265/40R22 vs. 235/55R19). The GV80’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RDX (265/40R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The GV80’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RDX A-Spec’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GV80 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The RDX’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The GV80 offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The RDX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GV80’s optional drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The RDX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GV80’s wheelbase is 8 inches longer than on the RDX (116.3 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GV80 is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the RDX.

The GV80’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51% to 49%) than the RDX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the GV80 more stable handling and braking.

The GV80 Prestige handles at .86 G’s, while the RDX A-Spec pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GV80 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the RDX (26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the GV80 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The GV80 offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the RDX can only carry 5.

The GV80 has 36 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RDX (140 vs. 104).

The GV80 has .6 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the RDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GV80’s middle and third row seats recline. The RDX’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The GV80’s cargo area provides more volume than the RDX.

	GV80	RDX
Third Seat Removed	38.7 cubic feet	31.1 cubic feet

Towing

The GV80’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (6000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the GV80 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.

Ergonomics

The GV80’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.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GV80 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RDX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The GV80’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.

The GV80 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the RDX.

The GV80 Prestige/3.5T has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RDX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Genesis GV80 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the RDX. The GV80 also offers Qi charging in the second row seat. The RDX doesn’t offer wireless charging in its rear seat.

The GV80 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 GV80 Advanced/Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The RDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The GV80 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2021. The RDX has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.