Compare the2023 Acura RDXVS 2023 BMW X3

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Acura RDX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the RDX and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Acura RDX is safer than the BMW X3:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the RDX is 2.1% to 2.2% less likely to roll over than the X3.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RDX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X3 has not been fully tested, yet.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the RDX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 24 more horsepower (272 vs. 248) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Acura RDX is faster than the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the RDX AWD gets better fuel mileage than the X3 M40i (21 city/27 hwy vs. 21 city/26 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura RDX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The X3 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The RDX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura RDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X3.

The RDX stops much shorter than the X3:

For better traction, the RDX A-Spec’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

The RDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The X3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The RDX AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the X3 xDrive30i (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the RDX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 (8.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the RDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Acura RDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the BMW X3.

The RDX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The RDX has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X3 (104 vs. 101.4).

The RDX has 1.3 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X3 with its rear seat up (31.1 vs. 28.7 cubic feet). The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X3 with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 62.7 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 5% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

The RDX’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RDX has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the RDX’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the X3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Insurance will cost less for the RDX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RDX will cost $1470 to $4355 less than the X3 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the RDX is less expensive to operate than the X3 because it costs $336 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the RDX than the X3, including $462 less for a water pump, $680 less for a muffler, $200 less for a starter, $286 less for fuel injection, $58 less for a fuel pump, $249 less for front struts, $758 less for a timing belt/chain and $322 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Acura RDX will be $4222 to $5990 less than for the BMW X3.

The Acura RDX has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2019 issue and they ranked the Acura RDX AWD higher than the BMW X3 xDrive30i.