2026 Acura ADX vs Acura RDX: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the ADX — it leads our weighted scorecard 3.5–2 across 4 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($35,000 vs $45,100) and better fuel economy (28 mpg vs 23 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the RDX if you want the most power (272 hp vs 190 hp).
Scorecard: ADX 3.5 pts · RDX 2 pts across 4 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 ADX | 2026 RDX | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $35,000 | $45,100 | ADX |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | — | 0.54 | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | — | 52.3% | No data |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 28 mpg | 23 mpg | ADX |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 190 hp | 272 hp | RDX |
| Max towing (1) | — | 1,500 lb | No data |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 24.4 cu ft | 29.5 cu ft | RDX |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | — | 4 | No data |
| Weighted points | 3.5 | 2 | ADX |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the ADX — 28 mpg vs 23 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the RDX — 29.5 cu ft vs 24.4 cu ft (cargo behind rear seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the ADX — $35,000 vs $45,100 (starting MSRP).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The ADX starts at $35,000 and tops out at $44,000; the RDX runs $45,100 to $54,850 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- ADX: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- RDX: 0.54 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 48th percentile among the SUVs we track).
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: RDX 2016 (best year).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2026 ADX | 2026 RDX | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $35,000 | $45,100 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $44,000 | $54,850 |
| Horsepower | 190 hp | 272 hp |
| Max torque | 179 lb-ft | 280 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 27–28 mpg | 23 mpg |
| Max towing | — | 1,500 lb |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 24.4 cu ft | 29.5 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| ADX | RDX | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 185.8 in | 187.4 in |
| Width | 72.5 in | 74.8 in |
| Height | 63.8 in | 65.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 104.5 in | 108.3 in |
| Ground clearance | 7.3 in | 8.2 in |
Resale: 5-year value retained
There's no 5-year retention figure for the ADX yet. A 5-year-old (2021) RDX lists for a median $27,590 — 52.3% of today's median new price of $52,750.
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More on the Acura ADX
More on the Acura RDX
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the ADX better than the RDX?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the ADX — it leads our weighted scorecard 3.5–2 across 4 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($35,000 vs $45,100) and better fuel economy (28 mpg vs 23 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the RDX if you want the most power (272 hp vs 190 hp).
Which is more reliable, the ADX or the RDX?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet.
Which holds its value better, the ADX or the RDX?
We don't have a 5-year retention figure for both models.
Which is cheaper, the ADX or the RDX?
The ADX starts lower: $35,000 vs $45,100 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the ADX or the RDX?
The ADX: up to 28 mpg combined vs 23 mpg for the RDX (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2026 Acura ADX vs Acura RDX: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/acura-adx-vs-acura-rdx, updated November 8, 2026.