2022 Acura RDX vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, which debuted in 2005 and entered its second generation in 2014, received a significant refresh in 2018 that carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced the dual-screen center console, a defining feature of Land Rover interiors. The 2021 model offered a variety of trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition. Standard features on the base SE trim included leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Meridian premium sound system, a WiFi hotspot, and the dual-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added more luxurious features, such as quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system.

The 2022 Acura RDX featured subtle styling changes inspired by the larger MDX model, including updates to the grille surround and front and rear bumper styling. The limited-production PMC Edition returned with exclusive Long Beach Blue Pearl paint and an Orchid white interior. The RDX lineup included the base model and option packages named Technology, A-Spec, Advance, and A-Spec Advance, with starting prices ranging from $42,300 to $53,300. The A-Spec Advance package, priced at $53,645, offered high-quality interior materials, solid build quality, and a quieter interior. Despite some controversial design elements, the RDX maintained a stylish and sporty appearance.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a variety of powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain, found in the SE and SE Silver Edition, combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured the P400 powertrain, rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition was available with plug-in hybrid or diesel powertrains, with the P400e plug-in hybrid delivering 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 producing 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition boasted a more powerful version of this engine, making 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive, with a towing capacity of up to 7,716 pounds (except the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds).

The 2022 Acura RDX came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 280 pound-feet of torque between 1,600 rpm and 4,500 rpm. A 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters was standard. Front-wheel drive was standard on the base, Technology, and A-Spec packages, while the Advance and A-Spec Advance packages included Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. The SH-AWD system could deliver up to 70 percent of the engine’s power to a single rear wheel, enhancing driving dynamics. The RDX featured an Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) with distinct driving modes and a re-tuned adaptive-damping suspension for a smoother ride in Comfort mode and greater responsiveness in Sport mode. The 2022 RDX also offered a quieter ride thanks to Active Sound Control enhancements and added sound-insulation measures.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row of seating increased seating capacity from five to seven, but with the third row in use, cargo space was limited to 10.8 cubic feet. Both the first and second rows offered ample headroom and legroom, while the optional third row was best suited for children.

The 2022 Acura RDX, despite being a compact SUV, offered plenty of room for four adults and their luggage, with everyone seated beneath a standard panoramic sunroof. The interior emphasized a sporty driving position and featured a dramatic IDS driving mode knob on the center dashboard. The RDX’s control layout required some acclimation, particularly the True Touchpad Interface infotainment system. The standard 12-way power-adjustable and heated front seats were comfortable and supportive, with available ventilation. The back seat, however, felt flat and lacked support, making it less comfortable for adults. The RDX offered 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 58.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and included a standard power liftgate with available hands-free operation.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport’s interior was dominated by the dual-screen center console, with the lower screen operating climate controls and vehicle settings, and the upper screen housing the infotainment system. The system was not always intuitive and had a learning curve, but the pair of dials integrated into the lower screen provided some versatility. The upper touchscreen featured reasonably sized icons for menu navigation and supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Despite some usability issues, the system had a real volume button and offered a range of functions.

The 2022 Acura RDX featured the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system, pairing a 10.2-inch display screen with a sectioned touchpad controller on the center console. The TTI required a learning curve, as it introduced a direct one-to-one relationship between the touchpad and the screen. The 2022 RDX also included Amazon Alexa Built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. Standard features included satellite radio and AcuraLink connected services with a Wi-Fi hotspot. The RDX offered three premium sound systems, with the top-tier ELS Studio 3D surround-sound audio system featuring 16 speakers. The Advance and A-Spec Advance packages included a 10.5-inch head-up display.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with standard driver assistance features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.

The 2022 Acura RDX received structural upgrades to improve side-impact safety and aimed to maintain its Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. New safety features included a rear seatbelt reminder system and additional AcuraWatch features such as pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Technology package and higher trims included front and rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking. The RDX received a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA, with four-star frontal-impact and rollover resistance ratings, and five-star side-impact ratings.