2020 Acura RDX vs 2019 Ford Edge

The 2019 Ford Edge received a facelift that included a new grille, headlights, and lower front fascia, giving it a sportier appearance. The rear also saw updates with new taillights and a larger black panel replacing the red connector between the taillights. Despite these exterior changes, the interior remained largely unchanged from previous models, feeling dated and heavily reliant on plastics. The cabin did offer useful features like a new rotary shifter and plenty of standard and available features across its SE, SEL, Titanium, and ST trims.

In contrast, the 2020 Acura RDX maintained its sleek design from the previous year, featuring a beamy grille and rakish headlights. The large logo within the grille was a notable styling element. The RDX's interior boasted sharp, precise styling with eye-catching red leather upholstery in the test model. The cabin was well-equipped with standard features like synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power moonroof, and a 10.2-inch infotainment screen. The RDX also offered various packages, including the Technology, A-Spec, and Advance Packages, each adding unique features and enhancements.

The 2019 Ford Edge came with a 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque for non-ST trims. This engine was paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The ST trim featured a more powerful 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. The Edge ST offered impressive acceleration and handling, especially in Sport Mode, while maintaining a smooth ride over rough roads. Fuel economy for the base engine was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the ST returned 19/26/21.

The 2020 Acura RDX was powered by a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine, generating 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, with power sent to either the front wheels or the available Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD). The RDX offered solid acceleration and impressive handling, with drive modes including Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport-Plus. Fuel economy for the SH-AWD model was 22 mpg city, 27 highway, and 24 combined. The RDX's performance was complemented by its comfortable ride and minimal turbo lag.

The 2019 Ford Edge's cabin, though dated, was practical with deep cargo bins, USB ports, and large in-door pockets. The front seats were comfortable, but the ST trim's bucket seats were not ideal for taller individuals. The rear seats provided ample head- and legroom, and the cargo space was generous with 39 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expandable to 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2020 Acura RDX offered a spacious cabin with comfortable and supportive front seats, ample head- and legroom, and practical storage solutions like large water bottle holders and a pass-through cargo tray. The rear seats were also spacious, with a fold-down center console and in-door cup holders. The RDX provided 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 58.9 cubic feet, with additional hidden storage under the load floor.

The 2019 Ford Edge's base infotainment system featured a small 4.2-inch non-touchscreen with basic functionality, including a USB port, WiFi hotspot, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration, providing a more user-friendly experience despite average graphics.

The 2020 Acura RDX's infotainment system was a letdown, operated via a touchpad that lacked intuitive functionality. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the touchpad interface made it cumbersome to use. Standard tech features included Bluetooth, two USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and a 9-speaker audio system. The Technology Package added navigation and an ELS premium audio system, while the A-Spec and Advance Packages offered further enhancements like the ELS Studio 3D sound system and a head-up display.

The 2019 Ford Edge came standard with a reversing camera, traction control, and a full set of airbags. It also included Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims could be upgraded with the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, adding adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and lane-centering.

The 2020 Acura RDX was equipped with front- and side-impact airbags, LATCH child-seat mounting systems, a tire pressure monitoring system, hill-start assist, and a rear-view camera. It also featured a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technologies, including lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, road-departure mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The Technology Package added parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring, while the Advance Package included a 360-degree camera and a head-up display. The 2019 RDX received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.