2019 Acura RDX vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2019 Acura RDX showcased a bold new exterior design, drawing inspiration from its larger sibling, the Acura MDX. The front end featured angular headlights flanking a broad, assertive grille, a significant improvement from the previous "shield" or "beak" grille. The RDX's more upright layout and rear end design aimed to increase cabin space, presenting a modern and sharp aesthetic. The A-Spec trim added dark accents, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the RDX boasted soft-touch surfaces, unique stitching, and suede inserts, with actual brushed aluminum brightwork. The redesigned center console featured Acura’s unique shifter design and the new True Touchpad infotainment system. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a power liftgate, and a panoramic moonroof, among others.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda CR-V, in its fifth generation, maintained a familiar and fun design. Its exterior lines were curvy and car-like, resembling Honda’s sedan lineup. The CR-V's styling leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, defining modern family transportation. Inside, the CR-V's interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery clashing with some low-quality plastics. The base CR-V started at an MSRP of $26,270, with four trim levels available. Standard features included 17-inch alloy wheels, with higher trims offering larger wheels and additional amenities like a retractable moonroof and roof rails on the top-of-the-line Touring model.

The 2019 Acura RDX was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive and Acura's "Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive" (SH-AWD) system. SH-AWD was a torque-vectoring system capable of diverting 70 percent of the torque to the rear wheels, with 100 percent of that torque going to either rear wheel independently. The RDX offered a sporty ride with agile cornering, thanks to its Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) with Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. Fuel economy for the front-wheel drive RDX was 22 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined, while the AWD version returned 21/27/23 mpg.

The 2020 Honda CR-V featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This powertrain provided a quick and responsive driving experience, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V's car-like demeanor translated to excellent road manners, with nimble handling and minimal body roll. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency. FWD CR-V models achieved 30 mpg combined, while AWD models managed 29 mpg. The CR-V Hybrid, introduced for 2020, offered even higher fuel economy, competing with hybrid versions of the RAV4 and Escape.

The 2019 Acura RDX offered 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, increasing by 3 cubic feet from the previous year. With the 60/40 split-fold rear seats down, cargo capacity was 58.9 cubic feet. The interior was spacious and comfortable, with ample head- and legroom in both the front and rear seats. The RDX featured numerous storage solutions, including a floating center stack design with a tray below, a conventional center console, and door pockets with room for multiple water bottles.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in packaging, offering a roomy cabin comparable to the Volkswagen Tiguan. Head- and legroom were generous in both the driver's and passenger seats, thanks to an excellent seating position and low cowl. The cargo compartment matched the Tiguan in volume, with a two-position load floor allowing for 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. Clever storage solutions included a deep center console bin with a sliding cover and large door pockets, making the CR-V easy to live with for everyday use.

The 2019 Acura RDX came standard with the True Touchpad infotainment system, featuring a high-definition screen with sharp icons. However, the system had a steep learning curve, requiring multiple steps for simple tasks like changing the radio station. Apple CarPlay integration was available, but navigating it involved moving the highlighted icon around the screen. Despite its challenges, the system was an improvement over the previous two-screen setup.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with the base LX trim featuring a 5-inch screen offering limited functionality. Higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, which still felt small compared to competitors. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available only with the larger screen, providing better navigation than Honda’s system. The CR-V EX trim and above included multiple USB ports, with the Touring trim adding a wireless phone charger.

The 2019 Acura RDX came standard with a reversing camera, tire pressure monitoring system, traction control, and a full array of airbags. The AcuraWatch suite included forward-collision warning, forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, road-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Technology Package added front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while the Advance trim included a head-up warning system.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the Honda Sensing system as standard, featuring forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. Automatic high beams were standard, with blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring available on EX trims and above. The CR-V earned five stars in NHTSA crash testing and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS, with the Touring trim's LED headlights improving nighttime visibility.