**Audi Q5 and Acura RDX: A Comparative Analysis**

Since its recent upgrade back in 2019, the Audi Q5 has remained a popular choice among car enthusiasts. The latest upgrade has brought some notable changes to the exterior design, including a reworked grille and rear fascia. Additionally, OLED headlights are now available, and the plug-in hybrid version boasts two new color options: Distinct Green and Ultra Blue.

In contrast, the Acura RDX takes its cue from Audi's successful model, but with some tweaks of its own. The RDX features strong fenders and a range of paint options that set it apart from other models in its class. Furthermore, the A-Spec package is available, which adds 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, and several interior upgrades. These trim additions enhance the overall appearance of the RDX, making it look particularly sharp with its chrome trim pieces finished in gloss black.

Once inside the RDX, drivers are greeted by a well-appointed cabin filled with premium materials. While the touchpad interface for controls is not without its limitations, Acura has been fine-tuning it over the years to improve performance. Nonetheless, it still lags behind Audi's infotainment system, found in higher trim levels of the Q5.

The Q5 itself boasts a spacious cabin, complete with available features from the base Premium trim on up. The 10.1-inch touchscreen is standard across most trims, while the optional ELs sound system takes the top spot as best-in-class. Audi's cabin design is considered superior to that of its rival, Acura, in terms of overall quality and ambiance.

In terms of powertrain options, both models offer a range of choices. The Q5's standard engine is a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 261 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This unit employs a mild hybrid system, allowing for an estimated 25 miles per gallon in combined driving. Audi also offers the plug-in hybrid version, which incorporates a 14.1 kilowatt-hour battery pack and electric motor to produce 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.

The Q5's plug-in hybrid model can travel up to 19 miles on electric power alone when fully charged, making it an attractive option for those seeking environmental benefits without sacrificing performance. In contrast, the standard Q5 and its SQ5 variant rely on a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations.

Meanwhile, the Acura RDX takes a different approach with its 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This unit is paired with either a standard 10-speed automatic transmission or the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, which is one of the writer's favorite all-wheel drive systems.

In terms of pricing, both models present distinct advantages. The base Acura RDX starts at $39,225, whereas the Audi Q5 begins at a much higher price point of $43,300. As for the plug-in hybrid versions, the base price is significantly lower for the Audi Q5, starting at $51,900 before state and federal rebates or incentives are applied.

The Audi Q5's top-tier model starts at $57,300, with the highest-spec plug-in hybrid variant costing a whopping $61,700. In comparison, the Acura RDX offers more affordable pricing options, particularly when paired with the available A-Spec package. However, the SQ5's starting price of $57,300 is still relatively steep.

Ultimately, both vehicles present compelling choices for those seeking a premium crossover experience. The Audi Q5 boasts superior cabin design and impressive infotainment technology, while the Acura RDX offers an exceptional all-wheel drive system and top-notch sound quality. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and individual priorities – but with both models available in various trim levels and powertrain configurations, consumers are sure to find a suitable fit within their budget.

**Technical Specifications Comparison**

| Feature | Audi Q5 | Acura RDX |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Engine | 2.0L Turbocharged Four-Cylinder | 2.0L Turbocharged Four-Cylinder |

| Horsepower | 261 hp (Plug-in Hybrid: 362 hp) | 272 hp |

| Torque | 273 lb-ft (Plug-in Hybrid: 369 lb-ft) | 280 lb-ft |

| Transmission | 7-Speed Dual-Clutch (front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive) | 10-Speed Automatic (front-wheel drive or Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) |

| Curb Weight | 3,870 lbs | 4,030 lbs |

| Fuel Economy | Up to 25 mpg combined (Plug-in Hybrid: up to 19 miles electric range) | Up to 26 mpg combined (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system) |

| Interior Space | 102.6 cubic feet passenger space | 105.9 cubic feet passenger space |

| Cargo Capacity | 28.1 cu. ft. behind rear seats, 60.3 cu. ft. with seats folded | 26.3 cu. ft. behind rear seats, 65.4 cu. ft. with seats folded |

| Safety Features | Audi Pre Sense, Adaptive Cruise Assist | AcuraWatch, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system |

**Pricing Comparison**

| Model Trim | Audi Q5 | Acura RDX |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Base Model | $43,300 (Plug-in Hybrid: $51,900) | $39,225 (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) |

| Premium Model | $50,600 (Plug-in Hybrid: $56,600) | $45,550 (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) |

| Top-of-the-Line Model | $57,300 (Plug-in Hybrid: $61,700) | $52,225 (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system) |

Note that prices may vary depending on location and trim level availability. It's essential to research local pricing and incentives before making a decision.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enin the premium crossover space you have two options that sit above the rest for our money we think the audi q5 and acura rdx represent excellent choices but which is better than the other let's take a look at these two and see if we can crown a crossover king for 2021 audi has refreshed its q5 you've got more power some style upgrades and better tech offered throughout the lineup over on the rdx acura hasn't updated it for 2021 since it was recently upgraded back in 2019 it's still a great option without anything new for 2021 on the outside audi has taken its best selling model and made it look a bit sharper the grille and rear fascia have been reworked you now have oled headlights available and the plug-in hybrid version has two new color options distinct green or ultra blue the rdx meanwhile features strong fenders and nice paint options we also like the a-spec package which adds 20-inch alloy wheels led fog lights and some upgrades on the inside as well it also looks best with the otherwise chrome trim pieces finished in gloss black slide inside the rdx and you'll find a well-sorted cabin space filled with top-notch materials we don't love the touch pad interface for the controls but acura has been fine-tuning it and improving it year over year it's better than what you'd find in say a lexus certainly but it can't match the system found in the q5 though you do have tons of space and the optional els sound system which is best in class with the q5 audi offers a smartly laid out cabin available with great features from the base premium trim on up a 10.1 inch touchscreen is standard across the board while jumping just one trim up to the premium plus and you'll find a 12.3 inch digital gauge cluster and virtual cockpit plus the tech in the entire audi lineup is the best you'll find at the moment the acura is more comfortable with respect to its seats but audi has a better cabin overall and it has more options when it comes to power the q5 is available with one of three engine choices when we add the sq5 into the conversation the standard powertrain is a two liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 261 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque it uses a mild hybrid system and can return 25 miles per gallon in combined driving next is the q5 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle which takes that turbo 4 and incorporates a 14.1 kilowatt hour battery pack and electric motor and produces 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque it can travel up to 19 miles on electric power alone when fully charged and it's as quick to 60 as the sportier sq5 that sport focused model uses a 3 liter turbocharged v6 producing 349 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque the q5 versions both use a 7-speed dual clutch while the sq5 features an 8-speed automatic and all models come standard with quattro all-wheel drive things are a lot more simple on the accuracy you have a 2-liter turbo 4 that produces 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque there's a 10-speed automatic and you can opt for a front-wheel drive rdx or one with the acura super handling all-wheel drive system which is one of our favorite all-wheel drive systems out there the acura is also more simple on the price side of this comparison there's one trim and it's 39 225 dollars to start all-wheel drive adds 2 000. from there you can add the technology package a spec package or advanced package but you can't combine the advanced and a-spec packages we say it's best to mix the technology package with the a-spec for the best rdx out there you'll miss out on adaptive suspension the head-up display and a few other options but you still get plenty of goodies pricing for the audi q5 features a much wider spread since we're dealing with the wider range of trims power trains and options the base price of a 2021 q5 is 43 300 the base version of the plug-in hybrid is 51 900 before any state and federal rebates or incentives to drive that price back down finally the sq5 starts at 57 300. the highest spec plug-in hybrid and sq5 are 61 700 and 62 500 respectively this one is honestly a tough battle the acura rdx has a fantastic all-wheel drive system amazing optional sound system and it looks great in a spec guys and it's very well priced on the other side the audi q5 looks better than ever especially with those new colors on the plug-in hybrid model boasts usable eevee only range on said plug-in hybrid and has some of the best infotainment tech in the game if you can find a great deal on the q5 plug-in hybrid we say that's the route to go here make sure to price it out with the state and federal incentives and bring the price under the 50 000 mark and you've got one great crossover on your hands but if you do go with the rdx you haven't chosen incorrectly here we'd opt for the audi but both choices here work so well youin the premium crossover space you have two options that sit above the rest for our money we think the audi q5 and acura rdx represent excellent choices but which is better than the other let's take a look at these two and see if we can crown a crossover king for 2021 audi has refreshed its q5 you've got more power some style upgrades and better tech offered throughout the lineup over on the rdx acura hasn't updated it for 2021 since it was recently upgraded back in 2019 it's still a great option without anything new for 2021 on the outside audi has taken its best selling model and made it look a bit sharper the grille and rear fascia have been reworked you now have oled headlights available and the plug-in hybrid version has two new color options distinct green or ultra blue the rdx meanwhile features strong fenders and nice paint options we also like the a-spec package which adds 20-inch alloy wheels led fog lights and some upgrades on the inside as well it also looks best with the otherwise chrome trim pieces finished in gloss black slide inside the rdx and you'll find a well-sorted cabin space filled with top-notch materials we don't love the touch pad interface for the controls but acura has been fine-tuning it and improving it year over year it's better than what you'd find in say a lexus certainly but it can't match the system found in the q5 though you do have tons of space and the optional els sound system which is best in class with the q5 audi offers a smartly laid out cabin available with great features from the base premium trim on up a 10.1 inch touchscreen is standard across the board while jumping just one trim up to the premium plus and you'll find a 12.3 inch digital gauge cluster and virtual cockpit plus the tech in the entire audi lineup is the best you'll find at the moment the acura is more comfortable with respect to its seats but audi has a better cabin overall and it has more options when it comes to power the q5 is available with one of three engine choices when we add the sq5 into the conversation the standard powertrain is a two liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 261 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque it uses a mild hybrid system and can return 25 miles per gallon in combined driving next is the q5 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle which takes that turbo 4 and incorporates a 14.1 kilowatt hour battery pack and electric motor and produces 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque it can travel up to 19 miles on electric power alone when fully charged and it's as quick to 60 as the sportier sq5 that sport focused model uses a 3 liter turbocharged v6 producing 349 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque the q5 versions both use a 7-speed dual clutch while the sq5 features an 8-speed automatic and all models come standard with quattro all-wheel drive things are a lot more simple on the accuracy you have a 2-liter turbo 4 that produces 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque there's a 10-speed automatic and you can opt for a front-wheel drive rdx or one with the acura super handling all-wheel drive system which is one of our favorite all-wheel drive systems out there the acura is also more simple on the price side of this comparison there's one trim and it's 39 225 dollars to start all-wheel drive adds 2 000. from there you can add the technology package a spec package or advanced package but you can't combine the advanced and a-spec packages we say it's best to mix the technology package with the a-spec for the best rdx out there you'll miss out on adaptive suspension the head-up display and a few other options but you still get plenty of goodies pricing for the audi q5 features a much wider spread since we're dealing with the wider range of trims power trains and options the base price of a 2021 q5 is 43 300 the base version of the plug-in hybrid is 51 900 before any state and federal rebates or incentives to drive that price back down finally the sq5 starts at 57 300. the highest spec plug-in hybrid and sq5 are 61 700 and 62 500 respectively this one is honestly a tough battle the acura rdx has a fantastic all-wheel drive system amazing optional sound system and it looks great in a spec guys and it's very well priced on the other side the audi q5 looks better than ever especially with those new colors on the plug-in hybrid model boasts usable eevee only range on said plug-in hybrid and has some of the best infotainment tech in the game if you can find a great deal on the q5 plug-in hybrid we say that's the route to go here make sure to price it out with the state and federal incentives and bring the price under the 50 000 mark and you've got one great crossover on your hands but if you do go with the rdx you haven't chosen incorrectly here we'd opt for the audi but both choices here work so well you\n"