2020 Acura RDX vs 2020 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premier, with its Premier trim, more powerful engine, AWD, power panoramic sunroof, and Confidence and Convenience II option package, had a price tag of $40,040, including the $1,195 destination charge. This seemed steep, but Chevrolet factored in expected rebates and incentives, such as a $4,500 discount at the time. The Equinox Premier boasted a clean design with 19-inch wheels, gray contrast cladding, roof rails, and extra chrome detailing. Inside, the Jet Black and Brandy leather, panoramic sunroof, and metallic accents gave an upscale look, though the hard and shiny plastic detracted from the premium feel.

The 2020 Acura RDX retained its stylish design from the previous year, featuring a beamy grille, rakish headlights, and a large logo. The upper character line swooped from the windshield to the rear hatch, intersected by another line, creating a spoiler-like appearance. Inside, the RDX had sharp, precise styling with eye-catching red leather upholstery, contrasting with black elements. 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, acoustic front glass, and ambient cabin lighting.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered two engine options. The standard 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produced 170 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 rpm and 4,500 rpm, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided adequate performance, with an AWD rental averaging 24.3 mpg, below the EPA's 28 mpg combined rating. The optional 2.0-liter turbo engine delivered 252 hp at 5,500 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. This engine offered lively acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, though it averaged 22.1 mpg, less than the EPA's 24 mpg combined rating. Both versions had firm ride qualities and more road and wind noise than desirable, with the Premier's 19-inch wheels providing a more athletic feel on winding roads.

The 2020 Acura RDX featured a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, providing solid acceleration and a great engine note. Power was 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, controlling throttle response, shift patterns, steering feel, and power delivery. The A-Spec model with SH-AWD returned an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city, 27 highway, and 24 combined, with observed fuel economy of 22.2 mpg. The RDX provided great acceleration, minimal turbo lag, and fantastic handling while remaining comfortable, making it a well-rounded performer.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox LS had cloth upholstery with a 10-way power driver's seat, while the Premier featured leather, an 8-way power front passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. Both trims offered comfortable seating, though longer seat cushions with more thigh support would be beneficial. The sliding rear seat maximized passenger or cargo space, with generous legroom in the rearmost position. Cargo volume measured 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The cabin had ample storage, including a large center console storage bin and various bins, trays, and cubbies.

The 2020 Acura RDX had a spacious cabin with comfortable and supportive front seats, ample head- and legroom, and a good driving position. The second row also offered great headroom and decent legroom, with a fold-down center console 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 rear seats folded down. The cargo area was easily accessible, with a good load floor height and a hidden cargo area beneath a liftable panel.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered several infotainment systems with 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen displays, all including Bluetooth pairing, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Chevrolet Connected Access services. Upgrades included a high-definition display, cloud connectivity, improved voice recognition, HD Radio, satellite radio, navigation, and a Bose premium sound system. The Premier trim had the larger high-definition 8-inch touchscreen and Bose sound system, with intuitive and easy-to-use technology. Additional features included wireless smartphone charging and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2020 Acura RDX's infotainment system was a letdown, with a vivid widescreen display operated via a touchpad called the True Touchpad Interface. This system lacked the logic of competitors, 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 more USB ports, navigation with 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 added a 10.5-inch head-up display.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, a safe following distance monitor, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included a reversing camera, rear-seat reminder system, and Teen Driver technology. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane change warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Equinox earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, making it a safe SUV.

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 10.5-inch head-up display, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a rear-view camera washer nozzle. The RDX earned top safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS.