Compare the2023 Acura RDXVS 2023 Jaguar E-Pace

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 Jaguar E-Pace doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Acura RDX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The E-Pace doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the RDX and the E-Pace have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

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 E-Pace has not been tested, yet.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the RDX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Jaguar covers the E-Pace. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the E-Pace ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 42 percent more Acura dealers than there are Jaguar dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the RDX’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the RDX’s reliability 32 points higher than the E-Pace.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Jaguar vehicles. With 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Jaguar.

The RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 26 more horsepower (272 vs. 246) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 269) than the E-Pace’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Acura RDX is faster than the Jaguar E-Pace:

On the EPA test cycle the RDX gets better mileage than the E-Pace:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura RDX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The E-Pace 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 E-Pace 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 a nine-speed automatic is available for the E-Pace.

The RDX stops much shorter than the E-Pace:

For better traction, the RDX A-Spec’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the E-Pace (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 E-Pace doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RDX’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the E-Pace (108.3 inches vs. 105.6 inches).

The RDX AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the E-Pace SE pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RDX AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the E-Pace SE (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

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

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

The RDX has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front legroom, 3.6 inches more front shoulder room, 4.1 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the E-Pace.

The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the E-Pace with its rear seat up (31.1 vs. 22.4 cubic feet). The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the E-Pace with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 49.5 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the RDX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The E-Pace doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Jaguar. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 13% lower rating, Jaguar is ranked 10th.

If the windows are left open on the RDX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the E-Pace can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RDX has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The E-Pace doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RDX has standard extendable sun visors. The E-Pace doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the RDX A-Spec/Advance keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The E-Pace doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The RDX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The E-Pace doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the RDX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RDX will cost $1305 to $2785 less than the E-Pace over a five-year period.

The RDX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the RDX will retain 47.35% to 49.21% of its original price after five years, while the E-Pace only retains 45.98% to 46.83%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Acura RDX will be $564 to $5155 less than for the Jaguar E-Pace.

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 Jaguar E-Pace SE.

The Acura RDX outsold the Jaguar E-Pace by almost 30 to one during 2022.