2020 Acura RDX vs 2021 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2020 Acura RDX closely resembled its 2019 predecessor, maintaining its status as one of the best-looking vehicles in its segment. The beamy, imposing grille and rakish headlights replaced the outdated “beak” grille, giving it a modern and aggressive look. 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 created the appearance of a large spoiler. Inside, the RDX featured 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 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, originally the second-generation Lincoln MKX, carried over its exterior design from the previous year but featured an updated cabin. The new dash design followed Lincoln’s attractive design trends with clean lines, soft materials, and a large, crisp touchscreen. The “Piano Key” shifter-button layout was unconventional but easy to use. The standard 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen system was user-friendly and similar to Ford’s SYNC 3, with almost no learning curve. The screen’s glossy finish reflected the bright work in the center console, making sunglasses a recommended accessory. Trims included Standard, Reserve, and Black Label, each offering a range of features from synthetic leather upholstery to a 19-speaker premium stereo system.

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 routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission to either the front wheels or the available Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD). The Integrated Dynamics System allowed drivers to choose from Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport-Plus drive modes, adjusting throttle response, shift patterns, steering feel, and power delivery. The RDX offered an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city, 27 highway, and 24 combined, with observed fuel economy of 22.2 mpg. The RDX excelled in both acceleration and handling, providing a comfortable yet performance-oriented driving experience.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims offered a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with 355 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the four-cylinder offering FWD or AWD and the V6 coming standard with AWD. The twin-turbo V6 provided smooth and controlled acceleration, complemented by an adaptive suspension that nearly eliminated road bumps. The Nautilus also featured an engine stop-start system to conserve fuel, though it caused a slight delay in response. Overall, the Nautilus delivered a pleasant driving experience in various scenarios.

The 2020 Acura RDX pushed the limits of a “compact” SUV with its spacious cabin and comfortable, supportive front seats. The second row offered great headroom and decent legroom. The front row had space for large water bottles in the doors and center console, while 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. The cargo area was easily accessible, with a helpful cubby and a hidden cargo area beneath the load floor.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offered up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space, with 37.2 cubic feet available with the rear seats in use. A power liftgate was standard, with an available hands-free option. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with plenty of head- and legroom in the rear seats and optimal front seats, especially with the 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units. The soft-touch center console and door handles added to the comfort. The Nautilus also featured a large center console bin and deep in-door pockets for storage, with a floating center controls design allowing for additional storage below the radio and climate controls.

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

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto presented well on the large screen, with no unnecessary repackaging of CarPlay. The available wireless charging pad enhanced the phone-car relationship. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system provided incredible sound quality for both music and talk radio.

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 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 parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic monitoring. The Advance Package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a rear-view camera washer nozzle. 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 Lincoln Nautilus came with the standard CoPilot360 package, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional available features included adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, a surround-view parking monitor, and adaptive headlights. However, the standard backup camera was low-quality, making it difficult to see in low-light scenarios.