2026 Acura RDX vs Lexus NX: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the NX — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–1 across 6 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (54.4% vs 52.3%) and better fuel economy (40 mpg vs 23 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the RDX if you need more cargo room (29.5 cu ft vs 22.7 cu ft behind the rear seats).
Scorecard: RDX 1 pts · NX 5 pts across 6 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 RDX | 2026 NX | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $45,100 | $44,175 | Tie |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.54 | — | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 52.3% | 54.4% | NX |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 23 mpg | 40 mpg | NX |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 272 hp | 304 hp | NX |
| Max towing (1) | 1,500 lb | 2,000 lb | NX |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 29.5 cu ft | 22.7 cu ft | RDX |
| Standard seats (1) | — | 5 | No data |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | — | 3.4% off MSRP | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 4 | — | No data |
| Weighted points | 1 | 5 | NX |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the NX — 40 mpg vs 23 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the RDX — 29.5 cu ft vs 22.7 cu ft (cargo behind rear seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: it's a wash — RDX $45,100 vs NX $44,175 (starting MSRP).
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the NX — 54.4% vs 52.3% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: the NX — 2,000 lb vs 1,500 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The RDX starts at $45,100 and tops out at $54,850; the NX runs $44,175 to $62,830 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified NX buyers paid a median 3.4% off MSRP across 11 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 5.7% off.
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- RDX: 0.54 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 48th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- NX: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
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 RDX | 2026 NX | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $45,100 | $44,175 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $54,850 | $62,830 |
| Horsepower | 272 hp | 240–304 hp |
| Max torque | 280 lb-ft | 317 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 23 mpg | 24–40 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 1,500 lb | 2,000 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | — | 5 / 5 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 29.5 cu ft | 22.7 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| RDX | NX | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 187.4 in | 183.5 in |
| Width | 74.8 in | 73.4 in |
| Height | 65.7 in | 66.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in | 105.9 in |
| Ground clearance | 8.2 in | — |
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) RDX lists for a median $27,590 — 52.3% of today's median new price of $52,750. A 5-year-old (2021) NX lists for a median $28,998 — 54.4% of today's median new price of $53,276.
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More on the Acura RDX
More on the Lexus NX
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the RDX better than the NX?
On our data, no — the NX comes out ahead. Our pick: the NX — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–1 across 6 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (54.4% vs 52.3%) and better fuel economy (40 mpg vs 23 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the RDX if you need more cargo room (29.5 cu ft vs 22.7 cu ft behind the rear seats).
Which is more reliable, the RDX or the NX?
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 RDX or the NX?
The NX: a 5-year-old example lists for 54.4% of the new price, versus 52.3% for the RDX, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the RDX or the NX?
They start within 3% of each other: $45,100 vs $44,175.
Which has better gas mileage, the RDX or the NX?
The NX: up to 40 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 RDX vs Lexus NX: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/acura-rdx-vs-lexus-nx, updated November 8, 2026.