Price
Winner: 2018 Acura RDX
The Acura RDX, which starts at $35,800, is one of the most affordable options in the class. Audi’s Q5 comes in at $41,500, which is a little above the class average but not quite as high as some rivals. If you’re hoping to break into the entry-level luxury market on a budget, the Acura RDX is the way to go.
Reliability
Winner: Inconclusive
Reliability data is not yet available for either of these vehicles. Because the 2017 RDX carried over largely unchanged for this year, we can consider its reliability score from J.D. Power: 3.5 out of a possible five points, which is just above average. The Audi Q5 is fully redesigned, so its 2017 rating won’t be helpful here.
Acura backs the RDX with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile warranty on the powertrain. Audi’s coverage, a four-year/50,000-mile total warranty, is less comprehensive.
Seat Comfort
Winner: Tie
These SUVs both earn high marks for comfortable, supportive, and spacious seating. The RDX in particular offers one of the most spacious rear rows in the class, making it an especially good choice if you often have tall passengers.
Audi supplies the base Q5 with leather upholstery and eight-way power front seats. The Acura RDX comes with leatherette upholstery, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and heated front seats, which are optional in the Audi. Both vehicles offer upgrades such as ventilated front seats and more supportive sport seats.
Cargo Space
Winner: Tie
This is a close call. The Audi Q5 offers a marginally larger cargo hold of 26.8 cubic feet as compared to the 26.1 cubic feet available in the RDX. When the rear seats are folded down, the RDX has a slight advantage, with a total of 61.3 cubic feet, while the Q5 offers 60.4 cubic feet. Both vehicles come with split-folding rear seats and a power liftgate.
Interior Quality
Winner: 2018 Audi Q5
These SUVs both feature upscale materials and good build quality, but the Audi Q5 is a cut above. According to some expert reviewers, the Q5’s interior is the best in the class. Audi uses excellent upholstery and trims put together with excellent fit and finish. While the Acura leaves little room for complaint, it can’t match the praise heaped on the Audi’s cabin quality.
Interior Features
Winner: 2018 Audi Q5
Both of these vehicles offer long lists of standard equipment, including a rearview camera, Bluetooth, push-button start, and USB ports.
The Q5 also comes standard with a 5-inch instrument panel display, a 7-inch infotainment system, voice command, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Audi Pre Sense Basic (an automatic pre-collision preparation system), and Audi Pre Sense City (a suite of advanced safety features). Options include a panoramic sunroof, navigation, satellite radio, a telematics system, a touchpad with handwriting recognition, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and the Audi Virtual Cockpit customizable information display.
Acura equips every RDX with an infotainment system with a 5-inch screen, a power moonroof, a proximity key, and dual-zone climate control. Options include an upgraded infotainment system and active safety features.
Because the Q5 has a longer list of advanced features, it takes the prize.
Acceleration
Winner: 2018 Audi Q5
Just one engine is available with the Acura RDX: a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 279 horsepower and is paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. The RDX is totally competent in all driving situations, with enough acceleration for smooth passing and merging. Most drivers will be satisfied, but performance enthusiasts might find the RDX a little boring.
The base Audi Q5 provides 252 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. This engine delivers plenty of pep and is fun enough to keep most drivers engaged. Those who want more power can trade up to a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, which comes paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and is rated for 354 ponies.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2018 Audi Q5
The Audi Q5’s fuel economy ratings edge out those of the Acura RDX. The base Q5 is rated for 23 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. The optional engine gets 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.
The base RDX, in front-wheel-drive configuration, checks in at 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. Upgrade to all-wheel drive, and the RDX’s fuel economy drops to 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
Ride and Handling
Winner: 2018 Audi Q5
The Acura RDX is totally competent in terms of handling, and for drivers who simply prefer to get in the car and go, the RDX is a fine choice. This SUV comes standard with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive is available.
The Audi Q5 is an SUV for people who like a spirited driving experience. It corners well and responds quickly to driver input. All-wheel drive comes standard with the Q5, along with a selectable driving mode system.
Both of these SUVs are adept at absorbing road imperfections, cruising comfortably, even on long trips.
Safety
Winner: 2018 Acura RDX
The 2018 Audi Q5 received Good scores on all of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) tests, earning a Top Safety Pick designation. However, the Acura RDX earned all Good scores and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS in 2017 (the 2017 and 2018 RDX models are almost identical). The higher Top Safety Pick designation is due to the RDX’s superior headlights. The RDX also earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Both SUVs come standard with a rearview camera (multi-angle, in the case of the RDX). The Q5 also comes with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, pre-collision braking, and a pre-crash preparation system. Optional features on the Q5 include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear park assist, a 360-degree camera, and a system that alerts you to nearby moving objects when you are exiting the vehicle. The RDX’s optional safety features are front and rear sensors, rear cross traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring.
The Winner Is …
2018 Audi Q5
Though the Acura RDX is a good, value-oriented luxury SUV, buyers who are looking for a truly upscale vehicle will prefer the Audi Q5. It has one of the highest quality, most comfortable cabins in the class, as well as fantastic performance. Audi equips the Q5 with desirable standard features and offers high-tech options, like the Audi Virtual Cockpit, that you can’t get anywhere else. It’s no surprise that the 2018 Q5 is the top luxury compact SUV in our rankings.
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RDX vs. Q5: Which of These Luxury Compact SUVs Is the Better Bet?
The Audi Q5 has been fully redesigned for this model year, reinforcing its position as one of the best vehicles in the class. As of this writing, the Q5 holds the top spot in our luxury compact SUV rankings. The Acura RDX is more of a value-oriented option, with an appealing base price and a generous list of standard features. However, the RDX does have some drawbacks, and as a result, it ranks in about the middle of its class.
If you’ve owned an Acura or an Audi vehicle, you probably won’t be too surprised by the results of this comparison. They are both good vehicles, but their strengths appeal to buyers with different priorities. And, if you’re looking for a new SUV and you’re cross-shopping these models, this comparison might help you clarify your own priorities.
Using U.S. News scoring data, we’ve put these two models head to head in the categories that small luxury SUV buyers care about most. Let’s see which of these luxury compact SUVs comes out on top.