2019 Acura RDX vs 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2019 Acura RDX showcased a bold new exterior design, echoing elements from its larger sibling, the Acura MDX. The front end featured angular headlights flanking a broad, demonstrative grille, a welcome change from the previous awkward “shield” grille. The RDX's more upright layout and rear end aimed to increase cabin space, presenting a modern and sharp aesthetic. Inside, the RDX boasted soft-touch surfaces, unique stitching on the seats, and actual brushed aluminum brightwork, although the latter could be blinding in direct sunlight. The redesigned center console featured Acura’s unique shifter design and the new True Touchpad infotainment system.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, on the other hand, had a design that was more of an acquired taste. Hyundai's bold experimental approach resulted in a grille shape, stacked front lighting elements, and asymmetrical fender stampings that might not appeal to everyone. Inside, the Santa Fe offered a dramatic dual-cowl dashboard design with diamond-textured speaker grilles and high-contrast interior colors. While the materials quality didn't quite match the high-style design due to glossy plastic and stiff leather upholstery, the build quality was exceptional, and the controls operated with refinement. The Santa Fe's interior was different and daring, appealing to those who appreciate unique design.

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 power was sent through a new 10-speed automatic transmission to either the front wheels or Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. SH-AWD could divert 70 percent of the torque to the rear wheels, with 100 percent of that going to either rear wheel independently. The RDX offered a sporty ride with agile cornering, especially in Sport or Sport+ modes, which tightened the steering and made the throttle and shifting more aggressive. 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.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a choice between a standard 185-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 235 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged engine provided a significant performance boost, especially at altitude. An eight-speed automatic transmission funneled power to the front wheels, with optional AWD available. The Santa Fe's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds when properly equipped. Fuel economy for the 2.0T front-driver was 23 mpg combined, with our test model returning 22.1 mpg. The Santa Fe offered a smooth ride, decent handling, and a quiet highway experience, making it a good daily driver.

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 second rows. The RDX featured numerous storage options, including a tray below the floating center stack, a conventional center console, and door pockets for multiple water bottles. The rear seat had a center armrest with cupholders.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe provided thoughtful attention to detail, with creative storage spaces and stain-resistant fabric in versions with cloth seats. Our test vehicle had eight-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, along with a heated steering wheel. The dual-zone automatic climate control system included a Clean Air ionizer, and the air conditioning was effective even with the panoramic glass sunroof. The back seat was comfortable for adults, with air conditioning vents, rear side-window sunshades, and heated bottom cushions. Cargo space was 35.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 71.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, with large storage compartments under the cargo floor. The hands-free “smart” liftgate was a convenient feature.

The 2019 Acura RDX came standard with the new True Touchpad infotainment system, replacing the previous two-screen system. The high-definition screen was sharp and easy to read, but the touchpad system had a steep learning curve. Simple tasks like changing the radio station required multiple steps, and saving presets was cumbersome. Apple CarPlay integration was available, but navigating it required moving the highlighted icon around the screen.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a touchscreen infotainment system that was easy to use, with stereo control knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and a programmable button. Every Santa Fe had Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services with three free years of service. The Limited trim included a larger 8-inch display, navigation, a surround-view camera, wireless smartphone charging, and a 12-speaker Infinity surround sound system. The head-up display provided valuable data within the driver’s line of sight.

The 2019 Acura RDX came standard with a reversing camera, tire pressure monitoring system, traction control, and a full array of front and side impact 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. The Advance trim included a head-up warning system.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The SEL trim added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and a safe exit assist system. The SEL Convenience Package included an ultrasonic occupant alert system, and the Limited trim featured a Blind-Spot View Monitor.