2021 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Acura RDX

In the 2021 Honda Pilot, styling had become a crucial element alongside reliability, safety, comfort, and performance. Honda had aimed to strike a balance with this SUV, giving it a rugged appearance with a 2019 refresh and enhancing it with a blacked-out look in the 2020 Black Edition. Despite these efforts, the Pilot's exterior design was still regarded as an acquired taste.

The 2021 Pilot came in seven trims: LX, EX, EX-L, Special Edition, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition, with prices ranging from $32,250 to $49,920. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, but all-wheel drive (AWD) could be added for an additional $2,000 (except on Elite and Black Edition trims where AWD was standard).

New for 2021, the Special Edition trim added black 20-inch alloy wheels, blacked-out trim, wireless smartphone charging, and a hands-free power tailgate, priced at $38,960 with FWD. We tested the fully loaded Black Edition, priced at $51,435 with a $395 Platinum White Pearl paint job and the mandatory $1,120 destination charge. Unlike the previous year's only black option, the new white paint offered a welcome improvement.

The Black Edition featured exclusive black leather upholstery with red-tinted perforations, red contrast stitching, and red ambient lighting. Its floor mats, however, held onto dirt stubbornly. The overall interior quality was high, with tasteful use of materials. From the driver's seat, the design evoked a minivan feel, which, together with a rather ho-hum exterior design, did not enhance its appeal.

The 2021 Acura RDX offered a striking look, especially with the optional A-Spec Package. The RDX achieved sportiness without excessive blacked-out trim or overt performance cues. The styling updates were subtle but effective, ensuring it didn’t promise more in acceleration and handling than it could deliver.

Unlike many crossovers that attempted to imitate off-roaders, the RDX stayed true to its character as a daily driver and road trip vehicle. It lacked oversized skid plates or fender flares, instead maintaining a clean and refined look.

Positioned above the base model, the A-Spec Package was priced at $44,100, with SH-AWD adding $2,000 and Platinum White paint bringing it to $47,625, including the mandatory $1,025 destination charge. A-Spec trim included front sport seats with simulated suede inserts, a sport steering wheel, black headliner, dark brushed aluminum trim, sport pedals, red stitching, and red ambient lighting, enhancing its sporty feel. Unique gauges, while stylish, were hard to read during the day.

The interior quality impressed, with carefully selected materials and an engaging design, offering a more sporty and dynamic cabin compared to typical compact crossovers.

Every 2021 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided plenty of power, ensuring an entertaining driving experience. The nine-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels, with an optional torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system that could send up to 70% of engine power to a single rear wheel. Various driving modes like Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand improved traction and handling.

Fuel-saving technologies, such as variable-cylinder management and automatic engine stop/start, contributed to an EPA rating of 22 mpg in combined driving for AWD models, with the test vehicle achieving an average of 21.5 mpg.

The Pilot delivered an unexpectedly athletic handling experience, thanks to its MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, and its torque-vectoring AWD system. Larger 20-inch wheels and responsive steering contributed to a fun driving experience. However, off-road capabilities were limited by its 7.3 inches of ground clearance and all-season tires, making it suitable for light off-road use.

All 2021 RDX models featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 rpm. A 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and front-wheel drive was standard, with the optional SH-AWD system providing enhanced handling, capable of delivering up to 70% of engine power to the rear wheels, and then 100% of that power to either rear wheel as needed.

The Integrated Dynamics System allowed drivers to choose between Snow, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ modes, altering the powertrain, steering, and adaptive-damping suspension in models equipped with the Advance Package. Sport and Sport+ modes also enhanced the engine sound for a more engaging drive.

A-Spec models sat on exclusive 20-inch Shark Gray alloy wheels with 255/45 performance all-season tires. Although lacking the Advance Package's adaptive dampers, the A-Spec still provided exhilarating handling due to its balanced torque curve, precise steering, and reliable brakes. In Sport+ mode, spirited performance, coupled with an artificially enhanced engine sound, made the RDX rewarding to drive.

The 2021 Honda Pilot offered ample space for families, seating up to eight with the second-row bench seat. The test model featured comfortable, heated, and ventilated leather-wrapped front seats, with the driver’s seat offering 10-way power adjustment. The front passenger seat, while limited to four-way adjustment, sat high enough to be comfortable for most passengers.

Second-row captain’s chairs were standard on Elite and Black Edition models, providing nearly the same comfort as the front seats, along with heating. The cabin boasted tri-zone climate control, side window shades, a rear-seat entertainment system, and quick-charge USB ports for added convenience.

The third-row seats offered mid-tier comfort, being more suitable for children or short journeys due to their flat and low cushions.

Cargo capacity was a highlight for the Pilot, with 16.5 cubic feet of space behind the third row, expanding to 46.8 cubic feet with the third row folded. With all rear seats down, it provided 83.9 cubic feet, adequate for family road trips.

While the 2021 Acura RDX was technically a compact SUV, it provided exceptional passenger and cargo space, making it a great value. Its front seats, particularly in A-Spec trim, offered 12-way power adjustment, heating, ventilation, and excellent support, ensuring comfort during spirited drives.

However, the need for utility impacted rear-seat comfort, with a low and flat bottom cushion lacking proper leg support. Despite adjustable rear-seat back angles, passengers might find themselves slouching uncomfortably.

Storage in the RDX was functional, with a large yet less accessible tray under the center console, alongside limited dashboard storage. Officially, the cargo space was 29.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, but the RDX offered useful secondary storage compartments. Folding the rear seats expanded the cargo area to 58.9 cubic feet, competitive but not class-leading. Acura also quoted a maximum 79.8 cubic feet figure, although real-world use might not align with this measurement due to differing methodologies in cargo volume calculations.

Most Pilot models featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a basic HondaLink system. The Special Edition added wireless charging, while the Touring trim introduced navigation, advanced HondaLink services, a WiFi hotspot, and a 10-speaker premium audio system.

While functional, the infotainment system looked a bit dated compared to competitors. The screen size was small, and the system lacked a tuning knob. Voice recognition required precise commands and HondaLink's more advanced features were reserved for higher trims.

Touring trims enhanced rear-seat entertainment with a 115-volt outlet, HDMI port, and Cabin Talk, enabling the driver to communicate with rear passengers through the audio system, though modern kids might prefer using onboard WiFi with their own devices.

Acura implemented its True Touchpad Interface (TTI) for the RDX’s infotainment system, replacing the touchscreen. The touchpad mirrored the screen, though it required a learning curve, particularly if users were accustomed to traditional touchpads.

TTI was intended to reduce distraction, but frequent mistaken inputs and the need to confirm actions could still be disruptive. Acura did separate stereo and climate controls into physical buttons, offered smartphone integration, and equipped the RDX with a 16-speaker Acura/ELS Studio 3D premium audio system on A-Spec trims, which delivered exceptional sound quality.

Another standout was the Key by Amazon In-Car Delivery feature, offering a convenient, though potentially controversial, package delivery option.

Every 2021 Honda Pilot came with Honda Sensing, a suite of ADAS features including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. From the EX trim onward, a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert was included. However, the older version of Honda Sensing used in the Pilot was noted for its less refined operation compared to newer systems.

Safety ratings were strong overall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Pilot a five-star overall rating, despite a four-star score for front-passenger protection in frontal impacts. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it “good” ratings overall, though it received an "acceptable" rating for front passenger small overlap frontal-impact protection. Headlight ratings varied from "acceptable" on standard models to "good" on higher trims.

Acura equipped the RDX with AcuraWatch, a safety package including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. However, features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert required at least the Technology Package, which detracted from the base trim's attractiveness despite attractive lease deals.

Although AcuraWatch in the RDX was not as comprehensive as the TLX sedan’s package, lacking pedestrian detection and Traffic Jam Assist, it still performed smoothly and was easier to use than older systems in other Acura models.

In crash tests, the RDX excelled, receiving a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, though it received four-star ratings for frontal impact and rollover resistance.