Every 2026 RDX pairs a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft with a 10-speed automatic and standard SH-AWD, Acura's torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. There is no front-drive version and no powertrain ladder to climb; the base RDX and the top A-Spec Advance move identically. EPA ratings are 21/27/23 on 19-inch wheels and 21/26/23 on the A-Spec trims' 20-inch wheels.

The NX offers three drivetrains. The NX 350's 2.4-liter turbo makes 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft with all-wheel drive standard, the NX 350h hybrid produces 240 net combined horsepower and up to an EPA-estimated 40 MPG combined in its new-for-2026 front-drive form, and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid delivers 304 net combined horsepower with a Lexus-projected 37 miles of electric range. If efficiency leads your list, the NX hybrids win it; the RDX answers with standard all-wheel drive at every price point. Both brands recommend premium fuel.

The RDX runs a 10.2-inch HD center display controlled through Acura's True Touchpad Interface on the console rather than by touch, paired with a 7-inch driver information display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim, audio climbs from 9 speakers through a 12-speaker ELS Studio system to a 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D setup on A-Spec and above, and Advance trims add a 10.5-inch head-up display and surround-view camera.

The NX is touchscreen-first: a 9.8-inch unit is standard and a 14-inch screen is standard on Luxury and every NX 450h+. Wireless smartphone integration is standard, a 10-speaker system covers the base grades, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson system is available from Premium up. How you prefer to operate the screen is a genuine test-drive question here, because the two philosophies feel nothing alike.

AcuraWatch comes standard on every 2026 RDX and includes Collision Mitigation Braking, adaptive cruise control with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, and, notably, Blind Spot Information with Rear Cross Traffic Monitor on the base trim. Parking sensors and low-speed automatic braking arrive at the Technology trim, and Advance trims add a head-up warning display and multi-view camera.

Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 is standard on every NX, bundling the Pre-Collision System with pedestrian detection, Emergency Steer Assist, All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, Proactive Driving Assist, and Road Sign Assist, with Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert also standard. Both SUVs treat blind-spot coverage as base equipment, which removes one of the usual trim-climbing arguments in this class.

Both seat five, but they are not the same size inside. The RDX carries 29.5 cubic feet behind its rear seats and 58.9 with them folded, against the NX's 22.7 and 46.9. That is a meaningful gap for strollers, golf bags, or a warehouse-club run, and the RDX's panoramic moonroof is standard on every trim rather than reserved for upper grades.

Material walks differ too. The RDX starts with leatherette sport seats and moves to Milano leather at Technology, with ventilated front seats from A-Spec and 16-way power seats with thigh extension on Advance trims. The NX runs NuLuxe on most grades with leather on Luxury, and heated front seats are standard on both vehicles. Rear-seat legroom favors the RDX at 38.0 inches against the NX's 36.1.

The RDX stretches 187.4 inches on a 108.3-inch wheelbase, riding 8.2 inches off the ground with 19-inch wheels standard and 20s on A-Spec trims. Towing is rated at 1,500 pounds on every trim with the dealer-installed accessory hitch. Acura's grille, chicane lighting, and available A-Spec blackout treatment keep it visually aggressive for the class.

The NX is the tidier package at 183.5 inches on a 105.9-inch wheelbase, and it out-tows the RDX on paper: 2,000 pounds standard on the NX 350 and available on the hybrids with towing preparation. Neither is a trail vehicle, and both carry roughly eight inches of clearance. Come see both sizes in person at Jenkins Acura of Ocala and judge which body suits your parking reality.