Acura RDX vs. Lexus NX

Designed to Stand Apart

Both SUVs have sleek silhouettes, though each takes a distinct approach to making a lasting impression. The Acura RDX embraces a bolder, more contemporary aesthetic with its frameless Diamond Pentagon grille, aggressive grille mesh, gloss-black exterior accents, and standard Berlina Black 19-inch wheels that reinforce its athletic character.

The Lexus NX adopts a more traditional luxury-sport profile, highlighted by a long hood, shortened rear overhang, and smaller 18-inch Gray Metallic wheels.

LED lighting comes standard on both models, but the Acura RDX adds extra visual drama with its illuminated Dragon Tail taillights. Up front, Jewel Eye® LED Headlights cast a wide, uniform beam designed to mimic daylight conditions, helping reduce driver fatigue while minimizing glare for oncoming traffic.

Luxury Beyond the Expected

Step inside either cabin and you'll find an impressive collection of comfort-focused amenities, including standard heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control with air filtration, along with available perforated leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. Look closer, however, and the Acura RDX reveals a more comprehensive approach to luxury.

Features available on the RDX that the Lexus NX requires an upgrade—or aren't offered at all—include:

• Standard 12-way power front seats
• Available 16-way power front seats with thigh extension and side bolsters
• Standard ambient LED cabin lighting
• Available Iconic Drive™ Ambient LED Cabin Lighting with 27 color themes
• Available GPS-linked Climate Control

The Acura RDX also comes standard with a Panoramic Roof that fills the interior with natural light and fresh air. While the Lexus NX offers both a moonroof and a Panorama Glass Roof, each is available only as an optional upgrade.

The Connected Advantage

As expected of vehicles in this class, the Acura RDX and the Lexus NX begin on similar footing with wireless smartphone integration, wireless device charging, Wi-Fi® hotspot capability, and voice recognition. Both also offer available premium audio systems for an immersive listening experience. The Lexus NX comes with a 9.8-inch central touchscreen as standard, while the Acura RDX provides a larger 10.2-inch display for enhanced visibility.

The Acura RDX continues to distinguish itself with several standard infotainment features that aren't available on any Lexus NX trim:

• HD Radio® — Expands your listening options with up to four digital audio channels or subchannels on a traditional AM or FM frequency.
• True Touchpad Interface™ — Features a customizable layout with intuitive graphics, allowing you to interact using natural-language voice commands or handwriting recognition.
• Alexa Built-in — Lets you play music, access navigation, check the weather, control compatible smart-home devices, and more.
• Active Sound Control — Helps reduce wind noise, tire roar, and highway drone to create a quieter cabin environment.

Together, these features help make the Acura RDX a more connected, intuitive, and accommodating companion for everyday driving and long-distance travel alike.

Confidence Built In

Because protecting you and your passengers is a top priority, the Acura RDX and the Lexus NX come equipped with their respective standard suites of advanced driver-assistance technologies: AcuraWatch™ and Lexus Safety System+ 3.0. These packages include brand-specific versions of many key features, such as:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System™ with Pedestrian Detection
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
• Lane Keeping Assist System
• Lane Departure Warning System
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Blind Spot Information System with Rear Cross Traffic Monitor

The Acura RDX takes safety a step further by starting with a stronger foundation. Its exclusive ACE™ (Advanced Compatibility Engineering™) body structure is designed to help distribute crash energy away from the passenger compartment in the event of a collision, enhancing occupant protection and peace of mind.

Further reinforcing its commitment to safety, the latest Acura RDX earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)—the agency's highest distinction. By comparison, the latest Lexus NX has not received an NHTSA safety rating.

Subtle Strength, Everyday Power

Both SUVs are powered by similar turbocharged engines producing more than 270 horsepower, delivering confident acceleration for highway merging, passing, and daily driving situations where smooth, responsive power matters most. Despite their performance-oriented nature, both also achieve nearly identical EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings, ensuring efficiency remains part of the equation.

The key difference lies in how that power is delivered. The Acura RDX pairs its engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission, while the Lexus NX uses an 8-speed automatic. On paper, the gap may seem small, but those extra gears matter. With closer gear ratios, the RDX keeps the engine in its optimal power band more consistently, resulting in smoother acceleration, more seamless shifts, and improved responsiveness in both low-speed driving and highway cruising.

Composed in Every Condition

Both include standard all-wheel drive, but the Acura RDX's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) goes further than conventional all-wheel drive. SH-AWD® enhances high-performance dry-road performance while maintaining the same all-weather confidence and reliability. It continuously monitors conditions and adjusts power delivery between the front and rear wheels, and side to side, based on traction, weight distribution, and driver input for smoother, more agile response.

To further tailor the driving experience, they each offer selectable driving modes as standard equipment. The Lexus NX features Drive Mode Select with Normal, ECO, and Sport settings. The Acura RDX builds on that foundation with Integrated Dynamics System, offering Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Snow modes for a broader range of driving conditions and preferences.

Both models deliver reassuring capability, but the RDX stands out for its added precision and adaptability when the road demands more from the drive.