Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2013 Acura RDX VS 2013 Lexus RX Near Scottsdale, AZ

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the RDX deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The RDX’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The RX Series’ side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the RDX and the RX Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and available all wheel drive.

There are over 37 percent more Acura dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the RDX’s warranty.

The engine in the RDX has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the RX Series have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

The RDX’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 3 more horsepower (273 vs. 270) and 3 lbs.-ft. more torque (251 vs. 248) than the RX 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The RDX’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 251 lbs.-ft. more torque (251 vs. ) than the RX 450h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Acura RDX is faster than the Lexus RX Series:

On the EPA test cycle the RDX gets better fuel mileage than the RX Series:

An engine control system that can shut down half of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the RDX’s fuel efficiency. The RX Series doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The RDX stops much shorter than the RX Series:

For greater off-road capability the RDX has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the RX 450h (8.1 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the RDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The RDX’s minimum ground clearance is .8 inch higher than on the RX 350 (8.1 vs. 7.3 inches).

The Acura RDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus RX Series.

The RDX is 4.3 inches shorter than the RX Series, making the RDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The RDX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RX Series doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The RDX has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RX Series (103.5 vs. 100.9).

The RDX has .2 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.5 inches more rear legroom than the RX Series.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the RDX easier. The RDX’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.4 inches, while the RX Series’ liftover is 30.9 inches.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the RDX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The RX Series doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The RDX’s 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 RX Series’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Standard smartphone integration for the RDX allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including reading text messages aloud, playing internet radio stations and other online activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The RX Series doesn’t offer factory integrated smartphone program access.