2020 Acura RDX vs 2020 Mazda CX-5

The 2020 Acura RDX retained its striking design from the previous year, with minimal changes that maintained its status as one of the best-looking vehicles in its segment. The imposing grille and rakish headlights were standout features, while the oversized logo within the grille added a touch of humour to its styling. The RDX's exterior was further enhanced by its upper character line, which swooped from the windshield to the rear hatch, creating a dynamic appearance. Inside, the RDX boasted sharp, precise styling with eye-catching red leather upholstery that contrasted beautifully with the black interior, offering a luxurious feel. The RDX came well-equipped with standard features like synthetic leather upholstery, a panoramic moonroof, and a 10.2-inch infotainment screen. The A-Spec trim added unique visual upgrades, while the Platinum Elite A-Spec offered additional luxury features, making the base trim a recommended choice for its value.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 excelled in delivering a premium experience, with captivating style and continual product improvements. The CX-5's design, rooted in Mazda's "Kodo" styling themes, remained appealing and distinctive. The interior, especially in the Signature trim, featured premium Nappa leather upholstery and real wood accents, creating a luxurious atmosphere. However, the Caturra Brown leather blended too seamlessly with the black cabin, reducing the contrast that often enhances a premium feel. Despite its upscale cabin, the CX-5's interior was more cramped compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Mazda's focus on style and standard equipment aimed to offset this drawback, offering a more upscale experience in the compact crossover segment.

The 2020 Acura RDX was powered by a 2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine, delivering an impressive 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain provided solid acceleration, making the RDX quick off the line and capable of overtaking on the highway with ease. The engine's note was pleasing, and the 10-speed automatic transmission, paired with the Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive system, managed power efficiently. The RDX offered various drive modes, including Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport-Plus, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. Despite its sporty performance, the RDX maintained good fuel efficiency, with observed consumption of 10.6 L/100 km. The RDX's handling was fantastic, offering a balance of comfort and performance, making it a versatile choice for both city and highway driving.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 offered a standard 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GT Turbo and Signature trims featured a turbocharged version, producing up to 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque with premium fuel. The turbocharged engine provided strong acceleration, although it was less efficient, with a combined rating of 9.8 L/100 km. The CX-5's G-Vectoring Control Plus technology enhanced its driving dynamics, but excessive body motions detracted from the overall experience. Despite this, the CX-5 remained engaging to drive, with responsive steering and brakes. However, it lacked the thrill and confidence of other Mazdas, making it less inspiring for spirited driving.

The 2020 Acura RDX offered a spacious cabin, pushing the limits of what constituted a "compact" SUV. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, with ample head- and legroom. The second row also provided good headroom and decent legroom. The RDX featured practical storage solutions, including large water bottle holders and a pass-through cargo tray with a USB port. The cargo space was generous, with 835 litres behind the rear seats and up to 2,260 litres with the seats folded down, making it a practical choice for carrying larger loads.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5, while stylish and upscale, had a more cramped interior compared to its competitors. The front seats were comfortable, but rear passengers might find legroom lacking. The CX-5's cargo space measured 875 litres behind the rear seat, expanding to 1,687 litres with the seats folded down. Despite its smaller size, the CX-5 offered a power liftgate with a programmable height limit on higher trims, adding convenience to its functionality.

The 2020 Acura RDX's infotainment system was a letdown, with its True Touchpad Interface proving cumbersome to use. The touchpad's design required constant attention to ensure correct selections, detracting from the overall experience. Despite this, the RDX came with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, and a WiFi hotspot. The Tech grade added navigation and an ELS premium audio system, while the A-Spec featured the impressive ELS Studio 3D sound system. The Platinum Elite A-Spec included a 10.5-inch head-up display, enhancing the tech offering.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system, which, while upscale, required a period of acclimation. The system included a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Higher trims added a 10-speaker Bose sound system, navigation, and a surround-view camera system. Interaction with Mazda Connect was possible through the touchscreen, centre console controls, or voice recognition, though none were ideal. The system's complexity required thorough setup to reduce frustration, with steering controls offering the most convenience.

The 2020 Acura RDX came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, LATCH child-seat mounting systems, and a rear-view camera. Driver-assistance features such as lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, and adaptive cruise control were standard. The Tech grade added parking sensors, while the Platinum Elite A-Spec included a 360-degree surround-view camera. The RDX received a 5-star overall crash test safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 excelled in safety, with standard ADAS features like smart city brake support, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. The CX-5's structural engineering and crash-test performance earned it a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The SUV received high marks in individual testing parameters, underscoring its safety credentials.