The 2026 Acura RDX is powered by a 2.0-litre Direct Injection 4-Cylinder Turbocharged VTEC engine, which reaches a maximum horsepower of 272 and 280 lb-ft of torque. The turbo-charged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine in the 2026 Lexus NX, however, is capable of up to 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. While these are fairly close, the 2026 Lexus NX edges ahead with its engine that lets you go from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in just seven seconds.

While the outright price of a vehicle is a big selling point, so too is how well it uses fuel, as how often you have to refill at the pump is more money that leaves your pocket. The 2026 Acura RDX uses 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 8.6 litres per 100 kilometres on the highway for a combined fuel economy of 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres. This, however, is not as fuel-efficient as the 2026 Lexus NX, which only uses 10.9 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 8.5 litres per 100 kilometres on the highway for a combined fuel economy of 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres. This means you use less fuel to go just as far with the 2026 Lexus NX than you do with the 2026 Acura RDX.

The engine performances of both the 2026 Lexus NX and 2026 Acura RDX are impressive, but the 2026 Lexus NX draws ahead with both its engine performance and its fuel efficiency. As such, the 2026 Lexus NX wins in this direct comparison, which definitely makes it worth consideration if you’re in the market for a reliable SUV.