2020 Acura RDX vs 2021 Audi Q3

The 2020 Acura RDX retained its striking design from the previous year, featuring a beamy, imposing grille and rakish headlights. The large logo within the grille, although comically oversized, worked well within the overall design. The upper character line swooped from the windshield to the rear hatch, intersected by another line that gave the appearance of a large spoiler. Inside, the RDX boasted sharp, precise styling with eye-catching red leather upholstery in the test model, creating a strong red-and-black interior aesthetic. Standard features included synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power moonroof, and a 10.2-inch infotainment screen. The A-Spec package added unique 20-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, and a panoramic moonroof, while the Advance Package offered rain-sensing wipers, heated rear seats, and ambient cabin lighting.

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured a massive Audi corporate grille that paired well with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling. The cabin echoed this mechanical, modern aesthetic, with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen. The interior, which debuted with the redesigned Q3 in 2019, still felt modern and refined, though not as special due to similar designs in newer Volkswagen models. The Q3 came in Premium and Premium Plus trims, with standard features like leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Premium Plus trim added remote start, wireless device charging, and a hands-free power liftgate, with additional features available through the Technology Package.

The 2020 Acura RDX was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided solid acceleration and a great engine note, with power routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission to either the front wheels or available Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD). The RDX offered drive modes including Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport-Plus, which controlled throttle response, shift patterns, and steering feel. The A-Spec model with SH-AWD returned an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city, 27 highway, and 24 combined. The RDX excelled in both acceleration and handling, providing a comfortable yet performance-oriented driving experience.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, making 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission to Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD). The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, producing 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Q3 featured Audi’s Drive Select with Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road modes. The base engine had some turbo lag, but the S-Line engine provided a lively performance with solid power for passing. The Q3 balanced nimble handling with a comfortable ride, making it engaging and enjoyable without compromising ride quality.

The 2020 Acura RDX pushed the limits of a “compact” SUV with its spacious cabin and comfortable, supportive front seats. It offered plenty of head- and legroom in both the front and second rows. The front row had space for large water bottles and a pass-through cargo tray with a USB port. The second row featured a fold-down center console with cup holders. The RDX provided 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 58.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down, making it a good amount of cargo space for the class.

The 2021 Audi Q3 offered 23.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 48 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for this with its passenger space. The front seats were comfortable with deep cargo pockets, and the rear seats provided impressive headroom and legroom. It could seat five, but four passengers could comfortably take a road trip, provided they packed light.

The 2020 Acura RDX’s infotainment system was a letdown, operated via a touchpad that lacked the logic of similar systems. The True Touchpad Interface required constant attention to ensure correct selection, complicating the use of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard tech features included Bluetooth, two USB ports, a WiFi hot spot, and a 9-speaker audio system. The Technology Package added navigation and the ELS premium audio system, while the A-Spec featured the ELS Studio 3D premium sound system with 16 speakers. The Advance Package included a 10.5-inch head-up display.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi’s MMI system, with standard Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. The upgraded system featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation. Other available features included wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit was also available, replacing the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display.

The 2020 Acura RDX came standard 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 included driver-assistance features like 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, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic monitoring. The Advance Package included a 360-degree surround-view camera and a washer nozzle for the rear-view camera. The 2019 RDX, mechanically identical to the 2020 model, received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Additional available features were a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.