2020 Acura RDX vs 2019 INFINITI QX80

The 2019 INFINITI QX80 had a restyled front end that mirrored more plebian rides like the QX50 compact crossover and the Q60 coupe. Despite its age, the QX80 still looked the part of Infiniti’s flagship. Based on the Nissan Armada, the QX80’s nose was more elegant with slim, slanted LED headlights flanking a curved rectangular grille set in a classic crosshatch pattern. The hood and front bumper had sensuous curves that offset the upright, boxy profile starting immediately behind the windshield. The rear-quarter glass and similarly shaped LED taillights connected by a thin chrome strip helped break up the body’s chunkiness. Standard 20-inch wheels, tall side mirrors, and a towering roof emphasized its big-rig persona. However, the turn signals on the bulging rear bumper were cheap incandescent bulbs and should have been integrated into the taillight clusters.

The Limited trim, new for 2019, brought two-tone 22-inch rims, unique grey metallic paint, stainless steel running boards, and a special black-and-white interior. This color combo introduced black and white leather surfaces, microsuede inserts, and wavy stitching all over the seats. More soft, padded leather covered the steering wheel, doors, dash, center stack, floor-mat edges, and all the grab handles. The roof was covered in microsuede. White and black contrast stitching, white piping on the front and second-row central armrests, and light gray ash wood completed the special effects. The Limited trim felt the richest from a quality and assembly standpoint, although the doors were thin-sounding and not well insulated, leaking too much cold air at the feet in freezing conditions.

The 2020 Acura RDX looked very similar to the 2019 RDX, which was a good thing as it was one of the best-looking vehicles in its segment. Gone were the “beak” grille days of the past decade, replaced by a beamy, imposing grille and rakish headlights. One comical element was the large logo set within the grille, which, despite its size, worked within the overall design. The RDX's upper character line swooped from the windshield to the rear hatch, while another line kicked up from the bottom of the rear side windows, crossing over the upper character line and giving the appearance of a very large spoiler.

Sharp, precise styling carried into the cabin of the RDX. The test model had eye-catching red leather upholstery, a trend seen with BMW's M vehicles that worked well in the RDX due to the strong, contrasting red-and-black interior aesthetic. The RDX came well equipped with standard features such as synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats with 12-way power adjustability, a power moonroof, and a 10.2-inch infotainment screen. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and a host of driver-assistance features were also standard. The Technology Package added upgraded Milano leather seating, 19-inch wheels, additional driver-assistance features, rear-door keyless entry, and a GPS-linked climate control system. The performance-inspired RDX A-Spec featured unique 20-inch wheels, larger exhaust outlets, LED fog lights, and a unique diamond pattern grille. Inside, the A-Spec added ventilated front seats, a massive panoramic moonroof, Acura's UltraSuede upholstery, and sport pedals. The range-topping Advance Package added rain-sensing wipers, acoustic front glass, 16-way power front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient cabin lighting, and natural Olive Ash wood trim.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80 used a rugged body-on-frame chassis, allowing it to tow up to 8,500 pounds, more than anything in its class. This was hundreds more than unibodies like the Mercedes GLS and BMW X7, and 1,500 pounds above the body-on-frame Lexus LX 570. The QX80’s 5.6-liter V8 engine, with 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, provided ample power, even with a full load. The 7-speed automatic transmission was quick to shift and could rev-match downshifts like a sports car. The steering was light yet stable, making the QX80 easy to place in the lane. Rear-wheel drive was standard on the Luxe trim, with selectable 4-wheel drive optional on the Luxe and standard on the Limited. The 4WD system could automatically route power to either the front or rear, or lock the split 50/50 in High or Low range. Snow and Tow modes aided with throttle and torque application in those conditions.

The QX80 featured a fully independent suspension with Hydraulic Body Motion Control, which adapted to fast corners and rough surfaces. This system interconnected each damper’s hydraulic chamber with a cross-linked series of pipes, counteracting motions from adjacent or opposite dampers. The ride was controlled, but the high center of gravity was always noticeable. Fuel economy was poor, averaging 15 mpg over 580 miles of mostly highway driving. The EPA rated the QX80 at 13 mpg city, 19 highway, and 15 combined with 4WD (14/20/16 with RWD).

The 2020 Acura RDX came with a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, providing solid acceleration. The 10-speed automatic transmission managed power well, aiding both fuel economy and performance driving. The Integrated Dynamics System allowed drivers to choose between Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport-Plus drive modes, controlling throttle response, shift patterns, steering feel, and power delivery to each wheel. The large dial for the drive modes took up significant dash space, as did the proprietary shifter design with separate buttons for Park, Neutral, and Drive, and a pull-tab for Reverse.

Fuel economy for the A-Spec test model with SH-AWD was EPA-estimated at 22 mpg city, 27 highway, and 24 combined. In a week of combined city and highway driving, the observed fuel economy was 22.2 mpg. The RDX required premium fuel. The RDX provided great acceleration with minimal turbo lag and fantastic handling while remaining incredibly comfortable. This dual personality made it a standout in its class.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80 offered seven-passenger seating with standard second-row captain’s chairs and power-reclining and folding third-row seats. An optional second-row bench allowed for eight passengers. The captain’s chairs were luxuriously appointed and comfy, tipping forward for easier third-row access. With all seats flat, the QX80 provided 95.1 cubic feet of cargo space, or 16.6 cubic feet with all seats upright. The interior was spacious, with wide central armrests and ample storage space. Vents atop the ceiling and a “mild-flow” vent atop the dash ensured a steady breeze, along with standard 3-zone climate control. However, the heat was not very strong, taking a solid half-hour to reach a comfortable warmth on cold days. The Limited trim included heated front and second-row seats, plus a heated steering wheel.

The 2020 Acura RDX pushed the limits of what constituted a “compact" SUV, with a spacious cabin and very comfortable and supportive front seats. The front row had space for large water bottles in the doors and center console, with a pass-through cargo tray beneath the shifter console. The second row had a fold-down center console with two cup holders and in-door cup holders. The RDX offered 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 load floor at a good height and a helpful cubby on the left side. A large section of the load floor lifted to reveal a hidden cargo area.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80’s dash was easy to use on the go, with large knobs and well-marked buttons for all controls. A twisting, 4-axis rotary knob controlled the main touchscreen, which was simple to use but fared poorly in the cold. The instrument panel’s monochrome display was outdated and almost illegible, lacking the functionality found in other luxury cars. The navigation system was poorly rendered, and the screen looked old and small. The QX80 lacked Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a head-up display, panoramic moonroof, and massaging seats. The 15-speaker Bose stereo was only adequate. The rear-view mirror’s live camera-feed overlay was impressive, and the rear entertainment system accepted USB and HDMI inputs. However, the QX80 lacked too many expected tech features for an expensive vehicle.

The 2020 Acura RDX’s infotainment system was a letdown. The vivid widescreen system was operated via a touchpad, which was cumbersome to use. The touchpad selected icons based on touch location, lacking the scrolling ability of the Lexus system. This required constant attention to ensure the correct item was selected. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard but negated by the touchpad’s complexity. Other standard tech features included Bluetooth, two USB ports, a WiFi hot spot, 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 featured the ELS Studio 3D premium sound system with 16 speakers. The Advance Package added a 10.5-inch head-up display.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80 came with standard forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Optional features included lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, rear emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The QX80 did not fare well in frontal crash tests by the NHTSA, scoring 2 out of 5 stars for the driver and 3 for the passenger. It scored 5 stars in side-impact tests and earned an overall 4-star rating. The IIHS had not tested the QX80. Despite its size and weight, the QX80’s older body structure was not as strong as it should be.

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 a full complement of driver-assistance features, such as lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, road-departure mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow. The Technology Package added front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic monitoring. The Advance Package added a 10.5-inch head-up display, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a washer nozzle for the rear-view camera. The 2019 Acura RDX was awarded a 5-star overall safety rating by the NHTSA and named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.