2020 Acura RDX vs 2021 Lexus GX

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, though comical in size, 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, 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 model added unique 20-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, and a panoramic moonroof, while the Advance Package offered rain-sensing wipers, heated rear seats, and natural Olive Ash wood trim.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460, on the other hand, showcased a design that had evolved over a decade. It featured the trademark spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights, with silver 18-inch wheels standard on the Premium trim. Despite its age, the GX's tough, aggressive look remained distinctive. However, the interior felt dated, with wood trim that looked like molded plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, but the overall interior did not meet modern luxury SUV standards. The upright dashboard and high center console limited legroom, and the steering wheel's odd angle made for an uncomfortable driving position. Visibility was excellent due to the boxy profile, but the center-console storage and cupholders were small.

The 2020 Acura RDX was powered by a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided solid acceleration and a great engine note. Power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive or available Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD). The Integrated Dynamics System offered Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport-Plus drive modes, adjusting throttle response, shift patterns, and steering feel. Fuel economy for the A-Spec model with SH-AWD was an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city, 27 highway, and 24 combined. The RDX excelled in both acceleration and handling, offering a comfortable yet performance-oriented driving experience.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine with 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The V8 provided ample grunt for initial acceleration, but the GX's 5,130-pound weight affected performance at higher speeds. Merging and overtaking required careful planning, and stopping the vehicle demanded advanced preparation. The body-on-frame construction resulted in a less refined ride quality, with noticeable body roll and low grip in corners. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, with a Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, and several driver aids. The optional Off-Road Package added features like a transmission cooler, multi-view camera system, and Crawl Control. The GX had a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2020 Acura RDX offered a spacious cabin with comfortable and supportive front seats, ample head- and legroom, and a well-designed second row. The front row featured large water bottle holders and a pass-through cargo tray with a USB port. The second row had a fold-down center console with cup holders and in-door cup holders. Cargo space was 29.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 58.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The cargo area was easily accessible, with a helpful cubby and a hidden cargo area under the load floor.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460's interior ergonomics reflected its age, with limited legroom due to the upright dashboard and high center console. The steering wheel's odd angle and tall seating position felt bus-like. Visibility was excellent, but the center-console storage and cupholders were small. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, but the third row was best suited for children and difficult to access. Cargo space was limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded. With the third row up, cargo space was minimal.

The 2020 Acura RDX's infotainment system was a letdown, operated via a touchpad that lacked intuitive functionality. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, but the touchpad negated their simplicity. Other standard tech features included Bluetooth, two USB ports, a WiFi hot spot, and a 9-speaker audio system. The Technology Package added navigation, real-time traffic updates, and the ELS premium audio system. The A-Spec model featured the ELS Studio 3D premium sound system with 16 speakers, while the Advance Package included a 10.5-inch head-up display.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 was light on tech features, with standard Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions. However, Lexus included analog controls for most functions, providing a refreshing alternative to screen-centric interfaces. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available.

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 a full complement of driver-assistance features, such as lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, road-departure mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow. The Technology Package added front and rear 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 received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX lacked some safety features found in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist. The NHTSA and IIHS had not published crash-test ratings for the 2021 GX 460.