2020 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Acura RDX

When shopping for a new 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, buyers chose between SE, SEL, and Limited trim levels. Versions with a “2.0T” in the trim name received a power and performance upgrade courtesy of a turbocharged engine. All-wheel drive (AWD) was an option, allowing the automatic transmission to transfer power from the front wheels to the rear wheels when necessary. Aside from deciding about AWD, a turbocharged engine, and—if you were getting the SEL—an optional Convenience Package, buyers picked a paint color, interior color, and upgrades from a shortlist of dealer-installed accessories. The test vehicle had Limited 2.0T trim and a set of dealer-installed floor mats, bringing the price to $39,170.

The Santa Fe's design was an acquired taste, with Hyundai's bold experimental approach resulting in a grille shape, stacked front lighting elements, asymmetrical fender stampings, and oversized rear “skid plate” trim that didn’t work for everyone. The interior, however, was dramatic and full of character, with a dual-cowl dashboard design, diamond-textured speaker grilles, and high-contrast visual elements. Materials quality was not as high as the design, with glossy plastic and stiff leather seat upholstery, but build quality was exceptional, and the controls operated with refinement.

Especially when fitted with the optional A-Spec Package, the 2021 Acura RDX was a good-looking SUV. The RDX A-Spec’s styling changes were subtle yet effective, conveying sportiness without overpromising in the outright acceleration and handling departments. Acura didn’t try to make the RDX look like a boulder-basher, avoiding oversized skid plates and bulging fender flares, focusing instead on daily driving and road-tripping.

The RDX A-Spec resided in the middle of the trim-level hierarchy, with base prices starting at $38,200. Adding the Technology Package raised the price to $41,100, while the A-Spec Package brought it to $44,100. The Advance Package added all extras, coming in at $46,000. Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system cost an additional $2,000. The test vehicle, equipped with extra-cost Platinum White paint, came to $47,625, including a mandatory $1,025 destination charge. The A-Spec Package added front sport seats with simulated suede inserts, a sport steering wheel, black headliner, dark brushed aluminum trim, sport pedals, red exposed stitching, red nighttime illumination, red ambient cabin lighting, and unique gauges. The interior delivered a sporty look and feel, with quality materials and a thick-rimmed steering wheel, though the gauge cluster with red markings on a brushed silver background was hard to read except at night.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe had a minimum curb weight of 3,591 pounds and a maximum of 3,946 pounds. The standard 185-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine was not ideal. Instead, the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, making 235 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque between 1,450 rpm and 3,500 rpm, was the better choice. This engine provided significant increases in power and torque, performing better at altitude. An eight-speed automatic transmission funneled power to the front wheels unless the optional AWD system was chosen. The test vehicle had FWD and suffered from torque steer under hard acceleration, an issue that disappeared with AWD. Properly equipped, the Santa Fe had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The EPA estimated a Santa Fe 2.0T front-driver would get 23 mpg in combined driving, and the test model returned 22.1 mpg.

The Santa Fe was quick, compliant, and communicative, with a smooth ride, decent handling, light-effort steering, and brakes that withstood abuse while allowing for clean stops. Limited trim had laminated windshield and front window glass, making the highway ride quiet. The Santa Fe handled moderate off-roading with ease but lacked driver engagement, making it more of a tool than a toy.

All 2021 Acura RDX models had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 272 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 280 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 rpm to 4,500 rpm. A 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and front-wheel drive was standard unless the SH-AWD system was chosen. The SH-AWD system could deliver up to 70% of total engine output to the rear wheels and then put 100% of that share to either rear wheel, improving handling and making the RDX fun to drive.

Drivers could use the Integrated Dynamics System to choose between Snow, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ driving modes, calibrating powertrain character, steering effort, and suspension firmness. A-Spec models had exclusive Shark Gray 20-inch alloy wheels with larger and lower-profile 255/45 performance all-season tires. The RDX A-Spec was rewarding to drive, with a broad torque curve, predictable handling, precise steering, and fade-resistant brakes. Sport+ mode made the RDX exhibit more aggressive behavior and a delightful engine sound. However, the A-Spec could benefit from the Advance Package’s adaptive dampers and a summer performance tire option.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was thoughtfully designed for a family, with creative storage spaces and stain-resistant fabric in versions with cloth seats. The test vehicle had eight-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, with the driver’s seat including four-way power-adjustable lumbar support and an extending thigh support. The Santa Fe’s dual-zone automatic climate control system included a Clean Air ionizer, and the air conditioning was effective even with the massive panoramic glass sunroof.

The back seat was comfortable for adults, with air conditioning vents, rear side-window sunshades, and heated bottom cushions in the Limited trim. However, cargo space was limited, with 35.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and a maximum of 71.3 cubic feet. Large storage compartments under the cargo floor were useful, and the hands-free “smart” liftgate was convenient.

The 2021 Acura RDX offered remarkable passenger and cargo space, making it an extraordinary value. The front seats were comfortable, with A-Spec trim offering 12-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. However, rear-seat comfort was compromised by the need to maximize utility, resulting in a lack of leg support and an uncomfortable recline angle.

Storage space could be better, with a huge tray under the center console panel that was not easily accessible while driving. Cargo volume measured 29.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat, with a deep storage well to the left of the load floor and three separate storage compartments under the cargo floor. Folding the rear seats provided 58.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which was competitive but not class-leading. Acura also quoted a maximum value of 79.8 cubic feet, based on moving the front seats all the way forward and packing cargo on the floor behind them.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe’s touchscreen infotainment system was a shining example of technology done right. It had stereo control knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and a programmable button. Every Santa Fe had Bluetooth connectivity and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services with three free years of service, including remote engine starting, automatic emergency assistance, and more.

Limited trim added a larger 8-inch display, navigation system, surround-view camera, wireless smartphone charging, and a 12-speaker Infinity surround sound system. A head-up display provided data on the windshield within the driver’s line of sight, including blind-spot information. The technology was user-friendly, with a sophisticated voice recognition system.

The 2021 Acura RDX introduced the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system, which did not use a touchscreen. Instead, drivers used a touch-sensing pad on the center console. The TTI mirrored the screen, making it a better solution than the Lexus approach, but it still required retraining the brain and did not eliminate distraction. The system was not ideal, as it was easy to input commands mistakenly, and front passengers unfamiliar with TTI added unnecessary distraction.

Acura got many things right, offering Key by Amazon In-Car Delivery and a 16-speaker Acura/ELS Studio 3D premium audio system in the A-Spec trim. However, the TTI was not as user-friendly as a traditional touchscreen, and the infotainment system could benefit from a redesign.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was a great choice for a safe family SUV, earning a five-star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Every Santa Fe was equipped with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. A driver monitoring system and rear-seat reminder system were also standard.

However, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were not available on the Santa Fe SE. SEL trim added these features, along with a safe exit assist system. The SEL Convenience Package included an ultrasonic occupant alert system tied to the Blue Link smartphone app, which alerted the driver if a child or pet was left in the SUV. Limited trim included a Blind-Spot View Monitor, showing a live video feed of the blind spots.

The 2021 Acura RDX was equipped with AcuraWatch, a collection of safety features including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. However, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert were only available with the Technology Package. The RDX’s AcuraWatch systems were smoother and more refined than those in the outgoing third-generation MDX, making them more likely to be used.

The RDX earned a 2020 calendar-year “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received four-star ratings for frontal-impact and rollover resistance crash tests.