2021 Acura RDX vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Acura RDX, particularly in the A-Spec trim, was a visually appealing SUV that managed to convey a sense of sportiness without resorting to excessive design elements. Its styling changes were subtle yet effective, avoiding the typical off-road embellishments like oversized skid plates and bulging fender flares, as it was designed for daily driving and road-tripping rather than rugged terrain. The A-Spec trim sat in the middle of the RDX's trim hierarchy, with a base price starting at $44,505, and the A-Spec trim priced at $50,305. The interior of the RDX A-Spec was equally sporty, featuring front sport seats with simulated suede inserts, a sport steering wheel, and red ambient lighting, among other details. However, the gauge cluster with red markings on a brushed silver background was difficult to read, except at night.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its design with Nissan's new signature exterior style. The Armada was available in SL and Platinum grades, with the latter offering captain’s chairs as an option. The redesigned exterior featured a new grille, front fenders, and LED headlights, giving it a modern look while retaining its traditional beefy and athletic body styling. The Armada's interior, however, remained somewhat dated despite tech upgrades. The upper half of the centre stack was modern, but other design choices, like rouched material on the door panels, made the SUV appear past its prime. The Armada's practicality was evident in its spacious interior, but the high load floor and limited small-item storage were drawbacks.

The 2021 Acura RDX was powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine, producing 272 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 280 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and the torque-vectoring SH-AWD system, which could deliver up to 70% of engine output to the rear wheels. The RDX offered various driving modes, including Snow, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, enhancing its handling and driving experience. The A-Spec trim came with exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels and performance all-season tires, contributing to its sporty feel. However, the lack of adaptive dampers and rev-matching in Sport modes were noted as areas for improvement.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with a robust 5.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque when using premium fuel. Paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission, the Armada featured automatic four-wheel drive and was capable of off-roading, thanks to its skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and 23.4 centimetres of ground clearance. Despite its size and weight, the Armada offered a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,856 kilograms. However, its fuel efficiency was on the lower end, with an estimated 17.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the city. The Armada's handling had improved over the years, but its large turning radius and lack of a forward-facing camera were noted as challenges.

The 2021 Acura RDX, though classified as a compact SUV, offered impressive passenger and cargo space, making it a great value. The front seats were comfortable, with 12-way power adjustment and heating as standard, while the A-Spec trim added ventilation. However, rear-seat comfort was compromised due to the need to maximize utility, resulting in a lack of leg support and an uncomfortable seating position. The RDX's cargo space was competitive, with 835 litres behind the rear seat and 1,668 litres with the rear seats folded. Additional storage compartments were available, but the infotainment system's design limited accessible storage.

The 2021 Nissan Armada, as a full-size SUV, provided ample space for families. The interior featured a new 12.3-inch touchscreen, but the dashboard's width made some controls difficult to reach. The front seats were power-adjustable, and the Platinum trim offered second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The third-row seats were less comfortable for adults, but the Armada offered 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind them. With the second and third rows folded, the cargo area expanded to 2,692 litres, though the high load floor made loading challenging. Small-item storage was limited, with the centre console storage bin being the exception.

The 2021 Acura RDX featured the True Touchpad Interface infotainment system, which used a touch-sensing pad on the centre console instead of a touchscreen. While it improved upon Lexus's approach, it still required a learning curve and could be distracting. The RDX included standard satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi tethering, with available navigation. The A-Spec trim boasted a 16-speaker Acura/ELS Studio 3D premium audio system, delivering excellent sound quality.

The 2021 Nissan Armada's tech upgrades included a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, offering clear views of the camera system. Standard features included navigation, a 13-speaker Bose stereo, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Platinum trim offered a rearview camera mirror and a rear-seat entertainment system. The Armada's steering wheel allowed limited control of the infotainment system, but it was functional.

The 2021 Acura RDX came equipped with a suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. However, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on higher trims. The RDX earned a "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.

The 2021 Nissan Armada featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. While the lane departure warning system was overly sensitive, the automatic high beams were slow to activate. The Armada lacked advanced driving assist technologies like ProPilot Assist. The NHTSA gave the Armada a three-star rollover rating due to its 23.7-percent rollover risk.