2022 Acura RDX vs 2021 Toyota 4Runner

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner, despite its age, maintained a rugged charm that appealed to those seeking a durable and utilitarian vehicle. Its design, unchanged for over a decade, still resonated with buyers who appreciated its two-box body, flared fenders, and trapezoidal wheel arches. The 4Runner's appearance was more about function than form, with its chrome-festooned Limited version being the exception. The interior, filled with hard plastics and an old-school dashboard, emphasized simplicity and durability, making it a reliable choice for those who valued practicality over modern aesthetics.

In contrast, the 2022 Acura RDX offered a more contemporary and stylish design, inspired by its larger sibling, the MDX. The RDX featured subtle updates to its grille surround, bumpers, and wheel designs, along with new paint colours. The PMC Edition, with its exclusive Long Beach Blue Pearl paint and Orchid white interior, stood out as a limited-production model. Inside, the RDX boasted high-quality materials, a quieter cabin, and a sporty driving position, making it a more luxurious and refined option compared to the 4Runner.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with a 4.0-litre V6 engine producing 270 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 278 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. It featured a five-speed automatic transmission and a part-time 4WD system, making it a capable off-roader. The 4Runner excelled in challenging terrains, thanks to its A-Trac off-road traction control system and optional packages like TRD Off-Road, Venture, and TRD Pro, which added features like a locking rear differential and Crawl Control. However, on paved roads, the 4Runner felt slow and clunky, with heavy steering and brakes. Its fuel consumption was high, averaging 14.0 L/100 km during testing.

The 2022 Acura RDX, on the other hand, was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder VTEC engine, delivering 272 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 280 pound-feet of torque between 1,600 rpm and 4,500 rpm. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the RDX offered a more engaging driving experience. Its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system provided excellent torque vectoring, enhancing cornering performance. The RDX's revised Integrated Dynamics System and adaptive-damping suspension improved ride comfort and responsiveness. Despite its sporty character, the RDX's fuel consumption was slightly higher than expected, averaging 11.4 L/100 km.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with ample legroom and supportive seats in both the front and rear. Its high ground clearance could pose a challenge for shorter passengers, but once inside, the 4Runner provided a pleasant experience. The cargo space was generous, with up to 1,337 litres behind the rear seats and 2,540 litres with them folded down. The 4Runner's interior storage was decent, and its back bumper served as a convenient seating area for outdoor activities.

The 2022 Acura RDX, while a compact SUV, provided ample room for four adults and their luggage. Its interior featured a sporty driving position and a unique control layout, including the True Touchpad Interface infotainment system. The RDX's front seats were comfortable and supportive, with available ventilation and heating. However, the rear seats lacked support, prioritizing a flat cargo load floor. The RDX offered 835 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,668 litres with the rear seats folded, and included a power liftgate with hands-free operation.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner's entry-level Trail grade was sparse in technology, but it included a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system was user-friendly, with physical buttons and knobs for easy operation. The 4Runner also featured a windshield wiper de-icer and a 120-volt AC power outlet in the cargo area.

The 2022 Acura RDX's True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system paired a 10.2-inch display with a touchpad controller, offering a unique but complex user experience. The RDX included Amazon Alexa Built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. It also offered three premium sound systems, with the top-tier ELS Studio 3D surround-sound audio system featuring 16 speakers. The RDX's technology package added a navigation system and a 10.5-inch head-up display.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner came with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, it lacked blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The 4Runner received mixed safety ratings, with a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and a "Marginal" rating for small overlap frontal-impact protection from the IIHS.

The 2022 Acura RDX featured structural upgrades for improved side-impact safety and continued to earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. It included the AcuraWatch suite of driver-assist systems, with new features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The RDX received a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA, with four-star frontal-impact and rollover resistance ratings.