Sibling Rivalry! 2025 Acura MDX vs. 2025 Acura RDX

The Acura MDX has long been one of the best-selling luxury crossovers on the market and the latest generation has only made it grow in popularity. But as time has gone on, prices have also gone up and that’s why vehicles like the Acura RDX exist. It offers much of the same style and luxury features of the MDX, but in a smaller package and for significantly less money. So, who is the best between the 2025 Acura MDX vs. 2025 Acura RDX? That’s what we are about to find out!

Pricing and Equipment

Per usual, we will start off this comparison by discussing pricing before we get into the exterior, interior and the drive.

Starting with the RDX, we have the loaded Advance trim, which rings in at $54,000… or about 15 grand less than the MDX.

RDX (Advance SH-AWD): $52,450 | Options: +$600 | Destination: $1,350 | Total: $54,400

That’s right, the MDX Advance starts at about $66,000, although this tester also has the sporty exterior courtesy of the A-Spec package. All in, we have a price just under 70 grand.

MDX (A-Spec Advance SH-AWD): $68,000 | Options: +$600 | Destination: $1,350 | Total: $69,950

Exterior Design

Starting things off with the exteriors, you’ll see some family resemblance between these two and that’s a great thing. Both Acura SUVs got a refresh this year, and on our MDX its front end got a bit more aggressive, while the RDX goes for a more tasteful and classy approach. Whichever you prefer will be up to you, but for lighting, both have premium multi-beam projector LEDs headlights and LED foglamps as well.

Moving to the side, you’ll of course notice that the MDX is 11-inches larger since it’s considered a midsize SUV while the RDX is a compact SUV. We’ll see how that translates to interior space later, but for now, know that both of their designs are punctuated by new wheels for 2025. They are 20 inchers on MDX and 19 inches on the RDX.

Length: 187.4-inches (RDX) | 198.4-inches (MDX)

Ride quality is also something we will discuss later, but as we continue our way around to the rears, both have tasteful and luxurious designs. Beyond the cosmetics, we have some differences in rear lighting. MDX includes a full LED taillight unit, while the RDX still has a cheaper incandescent bulb for its turn signal.

Beyond that, both have dual exhaust outlets and exposed wipers, and as far as towing capacity, the MDX has a significant 3,500-pound advantage.

Towing (max): MDX: 5,000 lbs | RDX: 1,500 lbs

Additional Features

Now let’s move on to some of the individual features. Checking out the mirrors, they both are fully loaded featuring heating, blind spot monitoring, power-folding and auto-dimming for driver and passenger sides.

In addition, both also include every other active safety system you can think of, standard on all trims. Among all the normal ones, you also have traffic jam assistants and MDX can even get an auto lane change feature, but it’s not offered until you get the even more expensive Type S trim level.

Warranties: Basic Warranty: 4yr/50k mi | Powertrain: 6yr/70k mi | Complimentary Maintenance: 1 yr/12k mi

The exterior is one thing but more important is how they compare on the inside, so now let’s get into that.

Interior Design

So first walking up to them, both have smart entry systems and the same nice key fobs. Remote start is also included on the fobs free for life.

Now when you open the doors you are greeted with two very luxurious looking designs. The MDX’s interior stands out more in the bright red but rest assured that there are plenty of other colors options offered. 

Let’s start out with the seats themselves. Both are heated, ventilated, have memory, and even 16-ways of adjustment. That means premium items like thigh extension are included, but new to the MDX this year is massaging front seats. That’s something the RDX can’t get at all, and it’s one of the very best massaging seats out there.

Materials wise, both use a full Milano leather that feels expensive.

But speaking of materials, let’s discuss overall material quality. Both are very nice places to spend time, and they are a little more similar than you might’ve expected. They have generous use of soft touch plastics, leatherette, open-pore wood or aluminum trim, and even metal speaker grilles. The MDX does use a leatherette on the dashboard compared to just plastic, so we’ll give it a half point advantage.

After startup, you’ll see some differences right off the bat. First, the RDX has a 7-inch partially digital cluster, while the MDX is rocking a 12.3-inch fully digital one. The second thing you notice is that both have large head-up displays for these loaded models.

Coming back to the steering wheels, both are leather-wrapped, heated and even power-adjusting in the case of MDX.

Storage and Technology

But moving to an area of big importance, let’s talk interior storage. You’ll be surprised here since the RDX has the advantage by a pretty significant margin. Their center consoles are roughly the same size, fitting 10 and 12 donuts respectively, but it’s only the RDX that includes a massive floating console that allows for much more storage up front.

Both have enlarged wireless phone chargers for 2025, and they also have electronic shifters. Once in reverse, you’ll find a 360-degree camera system on both, although for some reason the RDX’s takes up a small part of the screen. 

Now that brings us to the volume knobs, so let’s give the audio systems a sample. 

RDX: 16-speaker ELS 3D Studio

MDX: 19-speaker, 1400 watts, Bang and Olufsen Premium Audio

The MDX has a new Bang and Olufsen system this year, and in practice, both have spectacular sound experiences that will seriously impress. We’d give the slight edge to the MDX’s system although it’s definitely not a huge difference.

The climate systems are 3-zone and dual-zone automatic in MDX and RDX respectively, and both have buttons to easily adjust the temperature. 

And that takes us up to these two infotainment systems which are quite different. Despite being updated for 2025, the Acura RDX’s display is still a 10.5-inch non-touch screen. It does have new software that allows for wireless CarPlay and Android Auto this year, but it’s not the Google built-in system of the MDX. That’s a big advantage software-wise allowing you to use Google maps without pairing your phone, not to mention its touch ability, and overall larger screen size of 12.3 inches being bigger and closer to the driver.

Wrapping up the front of the cabins, they have auto-dimming mirrors with garage door openers, plus both have large panoramic sunroofs.

Rear Seats and Cargo

Most people use these for family vehicles, so now let’s check out the rear areas. 

Starting with the space, you might be surprised to find that these two are sized nearly identically. In both leg and headroom, the MDX holds a tiny advantage, but it’s less than the 5% difference required to score a point. 

• MDX: Legroom: 38.5-inches | Headroom: 38.1-inches
• RDX: Legroom: 38.0-inches | Headroom: 38.0-inches

Let’s also talk about the amenities you will find in the back. They are both nicely equipped, including climate vents, USB ports, and heated rear seats. MDX also throws in rear window sunshades which aren’t offered on RDX, plus it has a multi-function middle seat, which can be a seat, a center console with storage, or removed to make captain chairs.

And now we come to a very important distinction between these two. Remember when we said that the MDX is a midsize SUV and the RDX is a compact SUV? Well, that means if you need a third row then the MDX will have to be your choice even though it’s not the most spacious third row.

Heading to the cargo areas, again we also have substantial differences due to their size discrepancy. According to the numbers, the MDX has a whopping 20% advantage in cargo capacity as a maximum which is certainly significant for families shopping in this segment.

MDX: Behind 3^rd row: 16.3 cu.ft | Behind 2^nd row: 39.1 cu.ft | MAX: 71.4 cu.ft

RDX: Behind 2^nd Row: 29.5-cu.ft | Max: 58.9-cu.ft

Both the seats can fold, although only the MDX has 40/20/40 split folding for maximum seating while hauling long objects. But now it’s time to take this fight out on the street!

Powertrains

So, heading out on the road, even though these two come from the same brand, they are rocking completely different powertrains. Even after the refresh, the MDX sticks to the traditional route, using a 3.5L naturally aspirated V-6 engine under the hood compared to the RDX’s turbo 4-cylinder. Surprisingly, power is very similar between the two with the MDX having a 6% horsepower advantage, and the RDX having a 4.7% torque advantage which isn’t quite enough to score a point.

• MDX: 3.5L V6: 290 hp | 267 lb.ft
• RDX: 2.0L Turbo I-4: 272 hp | 280 lb.ft of torque

We also need to consider the other aspect of the powertrains, the transmissions. Both offer refined 10-speed automatics, and power is routed to the ground via Acura’s renowned SH-AWD system.

Test Drive and Fuel Economy

Let’s also address the smoothness. Acura has done a good job making the turbo-4 quite smooth and refined, but when it comes to engine NVH, there’s no replacement for a tried-and-true V6 in the MDX.

And speaking of smoothness, that is really the most important thing with these luxury SUV’s. The RDX rides nicely, but the MDX rides amazingly. It soaks up almost any road imperfection, but when it comes to sporty dynamics on a back road, the RDX does have an advantage. Its steering is a bit sharper, and the stiffer suspension tune gives it less body roll.

We also collected our signature sound level readings as we do in all Car Confections reviews for both SUV’s. They both are very quiet, although the MDX was tested in California on a media drive and the during the RDX’s sample it was raining, which means we can’t score these two officially. Here they are for your reference, though.

MDX: 51.5 dB @ 55 MPH | California

RDX: 58.3 dB @ 55 MPH 

And lastly, for fuel economy, the RDX’s engine choice has a definite positive impact, beating the MDX by 2 MPG combined.

Note: both use premium fuel

MDX SH-AWD: 19/25/21 MPG

RDX SH-AWD: 21/27/23 MPG

Value Assessment

Before we wrap up here, we can’t forget to revisit the price discrepancy and assess value. The Acura MDX costs a significant $15,550 more than the RDX.

I want to emphasize that if money, reliability or resale value matter less to you personally, feel free to disregard these points. And if you’d like to check out all our data about reliability and resale values, as well as learn about our methodology, make sure to head to www.carconfections.com/resale and www.carconfections.com/reliability. Buying a car is a big decision, and this is a great place to compare all the makes you might be cross-shopping.

2025 Acura MDX vs. 2025 Acura RDX Winner!

Wow, so that was an interesting battle between these two Acura SUVs! But which one you choose really is going to come down a lot to personal preference. Now let’s discuss who should be “your” personal winner based on those preferences…

RDX: 

• Best value ($15k less)
• Better fuel economy
• Better storage in front of cabin (floating console)

MDX: 

• Massaging seats & extra luxury
• Third row
• Refined V6 engine experience

Now we want to know your opinions, so make sure to head to the comment section and let us know which one you would pick!

Thanks for joining us for another Car Confections Comparison! We’ll catch you next time as we sample the latest automotive delicacies!