2020 Acura RDX vs 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

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, fit 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, larger exhaust outlets, and a diamond pattern grille, while the Advance Package offered rain-sensing wipers, 16-way power front seats, and natural Olive Ash wood trim.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, designed from the ground up as an EV, showcased a distinctive look with a streamlined profile and wheels pushed out to the corners. It shared similarities with the European-market ID.3 hatchback but was tailored for the U.S. market as a crossover. The interior combined Volkswagen’s minimalism with a smartphone aesthetic, featuring piano black and matte plastic elements. The base ID.4 Pro came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats, while the Pro S and 1st Edition models offered leatherette upholstery. Despite its streamlined design, the ID.4 provided ample front and rear headroom, although legroom was average for the segment. Cargo space was competitive, with 30.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded.

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, making the RDX quick off the line and capable of overtaking on the highway. The power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission, available with front-wheel drive or 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. The A-Spec model with SH-AWD returned an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city, 27 highway, and 24 combined. Despite its sporty performance, the RDX maintained a comfortable ride, making it a versatile choice for both city and highway driving.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 launched with a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. This rear-wheel-drive (RWD) setup provided balanced handling and fun acceleration from stoplights. An all-wheel-drive (AWD) version, introduced later in 2021, increased power to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. While not a performance car, the ID.4 offered a smooth ride and decent handling, with the AWD version performing better on twisty roads. Unlike many EVs, the ID.4 did not support one-pedal driving, relying on friction brakes for a more familiar driving experience. This choice aimed to ease the transition for drivers moving from gasoline cars to EVs.

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 included a fold-down center console with cup holders and in-door cup holders. Cargo space was generous, with 29.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 58.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The cargo area was easily accessible, with a liftable panel revealing a hidden storage compartment.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 provided more front and rear headroom than many competitor EVs, although legroom was average. Cargo space was competitive, with 30.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. The ID.4 lacked a front trunk (frunk), opting instead to maximize cabin space. The interior felt spacious, with good forward visibility despite the steeply-raked windshield. However, rearward visibility was limited due to thick rear pillars and a small back window. The center console was narrow, offering limited storage space, but included well-designed phone holders and cupholders.

The 2020 Acura RDX featured a vivid widescreen infotainment system operated via a touchpad, known as the True Touchpad Interface. This system was less intuitive than expected, requiring constant attention to ensure correct selections. Standard tech included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, 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 Volkswagen ID.4 came with a standard 10-inch touchscreen (optional 12-inch) with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 5.3-inch display screen served as the instrument cluster, and haptic touchpads replaced most switchgear. While visually appealing, the touchpads were difficult to use without tactile feedback. The ID.4 also featured a natural-language voice-control system and ID.Light, a light strip at the base of the windshield that communicated information to the driver. Despite some gimmicky features, the touchscreen was well-positioned with smart graphics and easy-to-navigate menus.

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. 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, 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 Volkswagen ID.4 received the highest-level Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS and a 5-star rating from the NHTSA for the RWD model. Standard driver aids included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, park distance control, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. New features for 2021 included Travel Assist, which added automated lane centering to adaptive cruise control, and Emergency Assist, designed to stop the car if the driver is incapacitated. Travel Assist performed well, smoothly following curves and responding well to acceleration and deceleration.