2020 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2021 Acura RDX

The 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser was a vehicle that exuded a subtle yet commanding presence. Its design was not about flashy aesthetics but rather about functional elegance. The dished hood, a departure from the typical domed design, was a testament to Toyota's commitment to practicality, improving the driver's forward sight lines for better navigation on trails. The Land Cruiser's fenders, which bulged slightly from the vehicle's smooth sides, provided space for wheel travel and a visual indication of the vehicle's width. The Heritage Edition added a touch of retro flair with blackened trim, a unique grille, darkened chrome mirrors, and 18-inch bronze BBS wheels, all contributing to its understated yet appealing look.

In contrast, the 2021 Acura RDX, especially with the A-Spec Package, was a stylish SUV that conveyed sportiness without overpromising on performance. The A-Spec's exterior featured subtle yet effective styling changes, such as exclusive Shark Gray 20-inch alloy wheels and larger, lower-profile performance all-season tires. Inside, the RDX A-Spec offered a sporty and modern cabin with front sport seats featuring simulated suede inserts, special piping, and red ambient lighting. The interior was designed with quality materials and a focus on a sporty look and feel, although some controls followed a form-over-function approach. The gauge cluster, with its red markings on a brushed silver background, was difficult to read, especially during the day.

The 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser was celebrated for its robust performance and off-road capabilities. It was powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine with direct injection and variable valve timing, producing 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. The SUV featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system, with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 13 mpg city, 17 mpg highway, and 14 mpg combined. The Land Cruiser's suspension and chassis geometry were designed for both on-road and off-road performance, with an approach angle of 32 degrees, a departure angle of 24 degrees, and a breakover angle of 21 degrees. It had 8.9 inches of ground clearance and a fording depth of 27.55 inches. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, along with the Multi-Terrain Select control knob, allowed drivers to adjust the vehicle's performance to match surface conditions, ensuring a secure and comfortable ride over any terrain.

The 2021 Acura RDX was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 272 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 280 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm. It came standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, with the option to upgrade to the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system for improved handling. The SH-AWD system could deliver up to 70% of total engine output to the rear wheels and then distribute 100% of that power to either rear wheel, resulting in a noticeable improvement in handling. The RDX also featured an Integrated Dynamics System with Snow, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ driving modes, which adjusted powertrain character, steering effort, and suspension firmness. The A-Spec models came with exclusive Shark Gray 20-inch alloy wheels and larger, lower-profile performance all-season tires, contributing to its sporty handling. While the RDX A-Spec was rewarding to drive, it could have benefited from the adaptive dampers found in the Advance Package and a summer performance tire option.

The 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser was designed to serve as both a reliable commuter and a capable overlander. It came equipped with standard skid plates to protect vital components like the front suspension, radiator, fuel tank, and transfer case, making it suitable for both city and countryside driving. The standard model featured a three-row configuration with aluminum running boards for easy entry, while the Heritage Edition offered a two-row, five-passenger setup. The interior boasted four-zone automatic climate control with vents for the second and third rows, and the three-row models had 12 cup and bottle holders, while the two-row Heritage Edition had 10. A cooling box in the center console was a convenient feature for keeping drinks cold. The Land Cruiser could tow up to 8,100 pounds and came with an integrated towing receiver hitch and wiring harness with four- and seven-pin connectors. Its split tailgate design made loading and unloading easy and added a touch of retro charm.

The 2021 Acura RDX, although classified as a compact SUV, offered impressive passenger and cargo space, making it an excellent value. The front seats were particularly comfortable, with 12-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation in the A-Spec trim. However, the need to maximize utility compromised rear-seat comfort, with a low and flat cushion resulting in a lack of leg support. The cargo area measured 29.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat, with a deep storage well to the left of the load floor for organizing items. Folding the rear seats expanded the cargo space to 58.9 cubic feet, which was competitive but not class-leading. Acura also quoted a maximum cargo volume of 79.8 cubic feet, based on moving the front seats all the way forward and packing cargo on the floor behind them, a measurement that may not reflect real-world usage.

The 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser, despite its aging platform, was equipped with modern technology features. It included a Qi-compatible inductive charging station for smartphones and other devices, a welcome addition for tech-savvy customers. The Land Cruiser came with Toyota Premium Audio with Integrated Navigation, featuring 14 JBL speakers, an AM/FM radio, USB port, Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio, Siri Eyes Free, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a CD player. However, it lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which were standard in many competitors. The 9-inch touchscreen interface, while sufficient, appeared small compared to more modern systems with larger screens. The Enhanced Multi-Terrain Monitor camera, with selectable front, side, or rear views, was a useful feature for navigating unfamiliar terrain or tight parking spaces.

The 2021 Acura RDX featured the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system, which did not use a traditional touchscreen. Instead, it employed a touch-sensing pad on the center console, designed to mirror the screen's layout. While this approach was an improvement over similar systems, it still required drivers to look at the screen to confirm their actions, which could be distracting. Acura addressed some of these concerns by separating stereo and climate controls from the display using physical knobs and buttons and offering smartphone projection through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The A-Spec trim included a 16-speaker Acura/ELS Studio 3D premium audio system, which delivered excellent sound quality. Additionally, Acura offered Key by Amazon In-Car Delivery, allowing packages to be placed inside the RDX for added convenience.

The 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), a suite of advanced driver assistance features that included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with a sway-warning system, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The vehicle also featured 10 airbags, driver and front passenger active headrests, an Active Seatbelt Pretensioning System with force limiters, LATCH connections for child seats in the second row, Trailer Sway Control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, front and rear parking assist sonar, hill start assist, and an anti-theft system with engine immobilizer. However, the Land Cruiser had not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Acura RDX came standard with AcuraWatch, a suite of safety features that included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. However, a blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert were only available with the Technology Package. Despite this, the RDX's AcuraWatch systems were noted for their operational sophistication, being smoother, more accurate, and more refined than those in the outgoing third-generation MDX. The RDX received high safety ratings, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarding it an overall rating of 8.2 out of 10, although it received four-star ratings for frontal-impact and rollover resistance crash-test ratings from the NHTSA.