2020 Acura RDX vs 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

The 2020 Acura RDX retained its striking design from the previous model year, featuring a beamy, imposing grille and rakish headlights. The large logo within the grille, though comical in size, blended well with 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 ambient cabin lighting.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, based on the Impreza hatchback, featured rugged looks with black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and a taller ride height providing 8.7 inches of ground clearance. The Crosstrek's design allowed it to mimic an SUV, with vibrant color options like Plasma Yellow Pearl. The interior, though functional, was somewhat plain, with the Sport trim adding clashing Plasma Yellow Pearl accents and simulated carbon-fiber trim. The Crosstrek Sport also featured water-repellant StarTex upholstery. Despite its SUV-like stance, the Crosstrek maintained the predictable handling of the Impreza, balanced with a comfortable ride and low wind noise.

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, with power managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission. The RDX offered front-wheel drive 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, affecting 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 Subaru Crosstrek introduced a new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine for the Sport and Limited trims, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The base and Premium trims continued with the 2.0-liter boxer-four engine, making 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission was standard on Base and Premium trims, with an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT) available. The Sport and Limited trims were CVT-only. All trims featured standard all-wheel drive with torque vectoring and X-Mode for loose surfaces. The Crosstrek's handling was predictable, though the higher center of gravity resulted in increased body roll. The new 2.5-liter engine provided adequate acceleration, but the CVT's droning was noticeable.

The 2020 Acura RDX offered a spacious cabin with comfortable and supportive front seats, ample head- and legroom, and a good driving position. The second row also provided great headroom and decent legroom. 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. 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 under the load floor.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback, with slightly more rear headroom. It provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 55.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Crosstrek was competitive in passenger space but lagged behind some rivals in cargo space. CVT-equipped models featured a rear-seat reminder to prevent leaving children or pets unattended. The front included a cubby hole with a USB and auxiliary port, but rear-seat passengers had no USB ports. Storage space was minimal, with decent-sized bottle holders in the doors. The driving position was higher than the Impreza's, with good outward visibility.

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 hotspot, a 9-speaker audio system, and satellite radio. The Technology Package added two rear USB ports, navigation, 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 Subaru Crosstrek used the Starlink infotainment system with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trims added WiFi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a single-disc CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was standard on the Limited trim and optional on lower trims. Subaru also included a second screen above the main touchscreen for additional information. The 8-inch touchscreen was easy to navigate and responsive, with large analog knobs and buttons for audio volume and climate control. Steering wheel buttons controlled EyeSight driver-assistance features.

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 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 10.5-inch 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 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The 2020 model, virtually identical to the 2021, received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award with the highest "good" rating in all crash tests and for front-crash prevention tech. CVT-equipped models featured standard adaptive cruise control with lane centering, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The Limited trim included automatic high beams, reverse automatic braking, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. EyeSight's cameras, mounted behind the windshield, were better protected but could be blocked by wipers or direct sunlight.