2019 Acura RDX vs 2019 Jeep Cherokee

Small luxury crossovers are among the hottest selling new cars today. Within that group, the Acura RDX has dominated as one of the most popular entrants, but like any successful, competitive company, Acura is not one to rest on past achievements: The RDX has been completely redesigned for 2019.

It appears one of Acura’s goals with the RDX revolves around perception. Sure, the RDX has been a sales success, but the folks at Acura want buyers to consider it alongside pricier options in the segment. While the 2018 RDX has been compared to vehicles like the Lexus NX and Lincoln MKC, Acura wants shoppers to view the 2019 model as a serious rival to the likes of the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Mercedes GLC. So, how can Acura successfully make that pivot, while maintaining the values and attributes that have made it a success this whole time?

The Jeep Cherokee, in its various forms, is not like the rest of the compact crossover set. While most rivals offer rugged, capable vehicles, the Cherokee delivers more. Its 4-wheel-drive and terrain-management systems are proven, and the Cherokee’s Trailhawk trim is the only small SUV that can actually hang off-road with the likes of the iconic Jeep Wrangler.

This capability puts it at a unique crossroads—it provides Jeep shoppers with a pretty capable SUV, but one that's more affordable than the Grand Cherokee. The Trailhawk also offers Wrangler buyers a potential alternative with better on-road manners.

Add to this that the Cherokee has been redesigned for 2019. Are the looks enough to make compact SUV buyers flock to it? And is the Trailhawk capable enough to make a Jeep shopper consider a Cherokee over the Wrangler?