I looked at both before I bought my CX5 Signature. To get the same options, you have to get the A-Spec at $12k more than the Signature CX5. I agree the A-Spec is better equipped, but not worth $12k. I like how the reviewer says, the RDX is a little bit more a little bit more until the price. And that he would buy the RDX if he could afford it, but he can't....lol. Well that's the point, a little bit more refinement for a lot more money, hence the bang for the buck or smart choice it the CX5.
Ah what a refreshing review video. Used, these vehicles now are available for around the same money in my area. This video is super helpful for this current comparison. I think outside of all the specs & looking at these used, they are decent driving suv's that someone who is an enthusiast with a family might be looking at. You definitely earned a new sub+notifications with this one. Thank you.
I currently own a Mazda CX-5 GT 2018. I test drove the 2020/2021 Acura RDX Aspec years after owning my Mazda just for fun, I don't think Mazda is in the same class. The Acura felt special, certainly made my Mazda not felt sporty at all.
idk but im litteratly in love with any turbo mazada comes out with. Cx30 and cx5 turbos are really good feeling and with with that torque number higher then the horsepower it rlly gets off.
Good review and comparison looking to get either a CX 5 Turbo S, Lincoln Corsair, or Acura RDX, 2 YO for the CX5 3 Year old Lincoln or Acura, all three have good reliability scores.
Great review and video. I think they’re both excellent, but if price wasn’t a factor I would give the win to the RDX mostly based on its superior AWD system. For the money you can’t beat the value proposition the Mazda brings, though.
The CX5 is an excellent SUV and yeah Mazda isn’t a luxury brand but their cars feel like it, however Acura is a legit luxury brand throughout and the difference is noticeable, 3 months ago i was in the market for an sporty SUV and test drove the top trim level CX5 Turbo AWD and loved it but then i test drove the RDX A-Spec Advanced and isn’t even close, the Acura is on another level specially the handling with the SH-AWD and Adaptive Dampers is a killer combo and the materials and build quality is without saying more premium as well, needless to say i ended up buying the RDX and spending almost $20K more😂😂 is worth it in my opinion.
@@MGReviewsBlog isn’t great to be honest around 21mpg mostly city driving, but then again you can’t have great performance and handling and good fuel economy, is just the way it works.
@@yordan826 Yea that's roughly what I was getting too on a combined cycle. I was just wondering because I couldn't get close to its claimed city fuel economy rating. Only the hwy rating was easier to achieve.
@@MGReviewsBlog yeah those numbers from Acura are definitely wrong and it uses premium fuel(91-93)octane which makes it harder on the pockets, I don’t know why though is an V4 turbo with less than 300HP, it shouldn’t be that hungry what are your thoughts?
@@yordan826 You're absolutely right. What's worse is that I managed to get better fuel economy numbers with the CX-5 Turbo which has a bigger engine with more displacement.
I always seen Acura as a premium brand that's just touted as a luxury brand. I'd go with the Mazda, since the overall repair costs would be cheaper. Luxury brands carry luxury costs.
That's how I still see Acura. A premium brand that's just below luxury brands (Mercedes, Lexus) but above mainstream brands (Chevy, Honda). Mazda want's to go in that same category too in the next few years.
Actually looking at it from a statistical standpoint, Mazda would be the more luxurious brand since it carries significantly higher repair and maintenance costs over Acura. Mazda just happens to have periods in which they sell their cars for really cheap in order to attract more business in America. Look at the phase of their portfolio we’re in now 2 years after your comment. A standard oil change for a CX5 is anywhere from $175-190 at a credible Mazda center, which it’s imperative you take one to Mazda for maintenance or it won’t last very long. Acura on the other hand is Honda based so their parts and servicing are actually a lot cheaper unless it has something to do with one of the luxury gimmicks on the inside
I own a 2021 a-spec. Panel gaps are crazy big and inconsistent. Lot of noise rattles from moonroof and dash area. Touch pad with native Acura system is great. Touch pad with car play is a miserable experience. Overall fun car to drive but clear that Honda/Acura is on the decline. I say this as a lifelong Honda / Acura owner
I’ve been cross driving the CX-5 and CX-9 with the RDX and MDX since January 2022 and this is my opinion, in both Acuras, I felt disconnected to the car because of the very lightweight steering even in sport mode and that brake-by-wire system. Honestly, I was expecting heavier feel from the steering since they were SUVs but I didn’t get it from Acura. I found all those shortcomings of Acura in Mazda(my personal preference), the precise steering and conventional hydraulic brakes. And not to mention the value of your money is really worth it with Mazda especially those Signature trims where many auto journalists have been comparing to some premium brands.
I don't mind the lighter steering feel of the RDX especially when I'm just driving around town, which would be 95% of the time. It makes it easier to maneuver and park. It would be nice if the steering firmed up a bit more in Sport mode but can't have everything. As for the electric brake booster, it's not as bad as the one in the MDX (at least the tuning and feel of it for me). But I totally agree with you that the Signature trims of the Mazda SUVs offer great value. For some, these make more sense than the more expensive Acura's.
As a Mazda6 owner my best bet for the moolah is the cx5. For comfort efficiency without breaking another 25k ish you’re getting damn near everything. It doesn’t need to compete with bmw or Audi benz. It’s always done things it’s own way and other people started making those comparisons for Mazda to those Luxury brands. Mazda manual mode/ sport mode basically gives you a Miata in crossover form
@@reeyadali8516exactly! Great point.. Mazda has had this philosophy for generations and they never felt the need to make their placement a big deal. They’ve always stayed modest. They actually seem to pretend there is no competition in the first place and they’re in their own world. I love it.
I’m 2022 RDX owner and the fuel economy is about average 12L/100KM which includes 80% city and 20% highway. Even I drove on highway at 110km/h that was still 10L/100KM. I think they need a new engine that brings better fuel economy since it’s turbocharged. Plus, 10th gear is after 90km/h. That means worse fuel economy when it’s any faster than 90km/h. Not sure keeping 110km/h at 2000rpm+ is the right tweak. Other than fuel economy and touch pads, it’s a good reliable car for sure. Looking to drive it for the next 10 years or even longer.
Yea I don't understand why Acura's 2.0L engine isn't more fuel efficient that it actually is, especially since it is paired with a transmission with so many gears.
@@MGReviewsBlog breaks just didn’t feel like sporty car I want from bmw to Mazda I am very impressed I live in New York used to raced it all the time went over 100 miles an hour lots of times just needs bigger breaks as for Acura I broke a lease after a year couldn’t stand it no more I think when comes to sport Germany has it down pack also tranny was very jerky
@@rafalpgresiak629 a ford fusion titanium is even more sporty than a acura tl/tlx. I has been owning it for years, it handles really, it breaks extremely well too. The only drawback is reliability.
Nobody buys a turbo engine thinking of reliability and fuel efficiency and or fuel consumption. You buy Acura RDX or MDX because you enjoy SHAWD sysrem with torque vectoring and because you want s plush ride. My bought an MDX in 2011, i still own it. The naturally aspirated engine with SHAWD is amazing. I dont miss my CX7 which is why Mazda now makes the CX5. Although a turbo can be a fun experience, reality check, they are not reliable. Eventually causing premature engine failures. Acura should stick to V6 only.
I haved owned the Acura RDX Platinum Elite A-Spec since February. Overall it's an amazing vehicle, but the fuel economy is not the greatest and it is lacking some options for the price tag. I'm really hoping it's because of the shortage when I ordered my car.
Contact the dealer and ask them. I know Chevrolet is going to be refitting some features that they removed due to a lack of chips such as parking sensors or heated seats. I haven't heard much from Acura about this so it's worth a shot to ask your local dealer.
My sister recently purchased a CX-5, and I will say the fit and finish is VERY impressive for a non-luxury brand. CR-V's and RAV4's don't compare in that category (especially the RAV4, which felt very cheap inside). That said, while the drive isn't necessarily bad, our first generation RDX ('09, with over 220k miles) is so much more engaging. I really thought the Mazda ma be a good consideration for our next vehicle (if the RDX ever dies, which I see no signs of!), but that thought ended after I took it for a drive. Seriously, our old RDX still has tons of pep and handles VERY good. I think that when the time comes, we're going to have to shell out the $$ for another RDX........
Mazda prefers “premium..” they don’t taut being a “lux” brand because they’re in their own little world but there’s a reason Mazda has always been compared to brands who do require that “luxury” brand identifier
My 21 CX-5 Turbo was a great car…BUT, the gas tank is too small…I struggled to get over 250 miles on a tank. Also, interior space is lacking. If you have a family, the CX-5 isn’t for you.
Just sold our 2021 Mazda CX-5 Turbo , Signature. Fantastic vehicle with 2 flaws, one major one. Excellent optioned vehicle, handling and transmission are perfect. 😬 3600 miles , low oil light alert. I thought , this engine is very high strung, maybe it was breaking in . Nope, the turbo we had was an oil burner. @ 21,000k the vehicle was using 3/4 a quart every 1000k miles , progressively increasing with every 5k mile oil change. Absolutely disappointing, it was a great drivers vehicle and a lot of bang for the buck. The non touch screen interface is unacceptable also.
Oh, sorry to hear about your CX-5. I know that older generation Mazda turbo engines (Protege Speed, Speed 3) had issues like this but I thought it would have been solved by now. What did you get instead?
We own one of each and love them both. My wife has the CX-5 AWD Signature….I drive a ‘19 RDX A-Spec that I have tuned with a K-Tuner and lowered with Eibach springs. I also run Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV. My RDX is now getting 20mg. The engine/transmission combo is a nice fit for both cars.
@@MGReviewsBlog The lower center f gravity makes cornering flatter. The PS are quiet and smooth. The PS 4 SUV is probably overkill for my use, but I do like to take the car out and do some spirited driving. I will likely go with the Michelin Crossclimate 2 when these wear out.
I own cx-5 turbo 2022, and biggest complain for me are active safety systems. radar cruise control doesn't apply enough brake pressure, lane centering is non-existent, blind spot monitor gives is working when car is too far away and automatic breaking can happen on high speed. Good car, but these things are far from perfect.
Yea someone else commented on the exact same thing about Mazda. They have some refining to do with their advanced driver aids. I only ever experienced the overly cautious blind zone sensors. Never ran into any issues with the adaptive cruise nor the emergency braking.
@@MGReviewsBlog adaptive cruise has 4 levels (close to far), if you try to use levels 1-2 (close) and car in front of you will start to decelerate fast, then cruise will fail to stop and will not apply enough brake pressure to stop the car, at some point SBS system will have to intervene, and you will get a lot of warning lights and scary braking very close to front car. Comparing to competitors (like toyota) such situation will never happen, and their systems would apply enough brake pressure in any settings. I have to use level 3 distance and it works in 98% cases without any dangerous situations. (have seen it anyway about 2 times on level 3)
@@VISELLI69 Mazda isn't a shitty brand. They consistently rank top 5 in reliability ratings - right up there with Toyota and Honda. I may have agreed with you 10+ years ago, but they've come a long way.
$16k price gap worth it? Sorry I don't see how given the difference that was mentioned really is slightly quieter with road noise, larger sunroof, larger HUD (BTW I thought Mazda HUD size could be adjusted), slight more leg room but less head room in the rear. So those things mentioned are not worth it at all. OK Yes the interior in the front looks more modern but there is a hell of a lot of clutter and goings on as well where as the Mazda is minimal and I prefer that look/feel. If the Acura was $5k more then sure there is a battle of decisions but not at $16k difference there isn't at all, Mazda for the win.
There's also the driving dynamics, the supple ride, the adaptive dampers and so on. They all add up which is why I think the RDX is worth the extra cash. Is it a lot of money? Of course it is. But for me, it's worth it. Totally fine if you don't agree, it's just my opinion. Ps, I don't think there's any car with an adjustable size for the HUD. I know it's possible to change the height, the tilt angle, and the content that is displayed but not the actual size. Or did you mean the size of the font? That I have seen before.
I may be biased since I have a 2020 CX-5 Signature, but that Acura interior is horrendous. Especially that dash and center stack. That does not look 'Premium'. It looks Jr high goofy.
Haha, it may not be for everyone. But at the very least, I'm glad Acura hasn't (so far) gone to incorporating every single function into the infotainment screen like the German brands.
@@oscara.garcia5136 so? I have a2022 cx 5 signature too. I feel a bit upset for the cx5 speaker since i have been driving a 2013 ford fusion( sony 12- speakers system) The sony in fusion is better both in clarity ( I always feel like I want to hear more into it when I firstly listen to the bose speaker system, I guess that s because I already get used to the level of clarity of the sony from ford fusion)and bass.
Hi, I am in the market for a new crossover. I am looking at 2 Acura RDX with A spec and Advance packages, and Genesis GV70 with select package. I am getting RDX for 1000USD more than GV70 but has 3000 miles on it, I am ok with that. Acura has adaptive dampers and a better AWD system, and GV70 has better engine and transmission by numbers. The main frustration with RDX would be the track pad and GV70 has better infotainment system overall. What would you choose overall.
Hmm that is a tough choice. Between those two specific trims, I'd still go with the Acura.Yes the trackpad is very annoying (especially if you use CarPlay or Android Auto) but it does become muscle memory after a while. The GV70 is better with the V6 engine for me.
I test drove the '22 rdx premium elite. One thing I believe you did not mention is the large turn radius. I almost had to reverse twice to get out of the dealer lot it was so surprisingly bad. The Aspec has a lot of equipment, however the gauge cluster is a hot red mess and the HUD really helps with that. But ha-ha only available in the premium elite. 5k more... maybe the 16-way seats make up the difference a bit, i'll check it out. I'll test-drive the mazdas soon enough. The price difference, power, and regular gas makes it sound like quite a deal. The rdx felt a bit slow off the line, but it had 10 miles on the meter..... maybe the ecu was still learning. That handling though, wow. Felt very premium, beyond competent. My main complaint is the engine noise within the cabin. So LOUD... I've heard they pump the engine noise inside with a tube and/or audio system. I'll have to ask the dealer what's up with that and if something can be done about it. Very very solid performer overall, you can't go wrong with honda.
Acura is too expensive, more gas and premium at that. Yes it’s better and has superior handling. But it’s a bit too pricey. In Toronto,the rdx I want is $850 a month and the cx-5 is only $620 and less on gas.
@@pethcir those are totally different category of cars, I have no idea how you cross shop these 2, which make no sense at all. When people look for tlx, they need an awd vehicle to deal with cruel winter. A civic just can't provide these security for those people at all
Just got rid of 2021 RDX. Terrible MPG Pano Roof issues Brake issues at 25k miles Infotainment issues . Drives great but the price difference CX5 makes more sense. If you don’t care about price and gas cost and quality issues with a Premium car than RDX is fine. I would call it Premium not Luxury
I can't pick & choose which trim level or color or interior trim I want. I have to make due with what the auto manufacturers decide to put in their press fleets
@@MGReviewsBlog that makes sense but if you seen the trim I'm talking about with the red inside it looks just as nice bro for cheaper price and the CX-5 turbo hauls ass
CX5 is not a lux/premium model just yet , new CX60 costs as much as this Honda aka Acura and CX60 is sooo much nicer and better than this Honda RDX. This CX-5 is much much less expensive and it still drives better 😉 Problem with Honda is that they sell their other markets Honda badge products in US under Acura batch.
Unfortunately we don't get the CX60 here in Canada but I did mention it in the video. I'll definitely try to redo this video once the new CX-70 gets introduced for us in the North American market as that is more of a direct competitor to Acura. I just wanted to see how close Mazda is currently to Acura in terms of a premium/luxury feel. That's all.
@@MGReviewsBlog I think it is very close in many ways , and assembly quality, overall mechanical fit and finish along with cleaner more timeless design Mazda is better but CX-5 being 20K usd less expensive offers amazing value when compared to Honda's premium .
I own both brands. RDX is t sold as a Honda. Those Acuras sold as Hondas are luxury Honda competing against luxury cars in those segments. Mazda should of done the same years ago
That's very bad. Do you have a heavy foot? It should be getting around 10 - 10.5 L/100km in a city. In the winter, it's normal to see the fuel consumption go up a bit.
@@MGReviewsBlog I was thinking the same thing and also the peace of mind not knowing how previous owner treated the car but with the Mazda I can start brand new and plus the acura costs 44k cad and the Mazda costs 46k cad so it’s only like a 2k diffrents but you get warranty, a new car, and not worrying if the car was treated poorly before you got it. Also thanks for the reply!
The CX-50 is supposed to be a more off-road type of CUV. I agree though, it does look a bit more premium than the CX-5. (If that's what you were hinting at) I will be reviewing the CX-50 later in the year.
@@MGReviewsBlog yes you are correct but I think the CX50 GT Turbo with the 20” and premium leather interior and pano roof seems to be a better comparison. I would love to see a video comparing all the CUVs in this class luxury and non luxury.
@@MGReviewsBlog Yes that would be an apt comparison and I drove both Cx-5 and Cx-50 it makes more sense to buy a CX-50 even if you are going to drive in the city as I felt it is more planted and looks cool. But looks RDX is definitely one step above CX-50 it all about whether you are willing to spend the extra 15-20K.
Hi all. I know absolutely nothing about engines, so could some kind soul explain to me what was meant by the torque and horsepower reviews about at the 1:30 mark? It's ok to talk to me like I'm 6 years old, I'm often told to grow up even though I'm almost 60 LOL! Seriously though, I paid attention, but still don't understand what was said about the engine power and speed for both cars. Pretty much all I need is to be able to get on the interstate about 65 MPH.
You can look at torque as the twisting force produced by the engine that gets the vehicle moving off the line and horsepower is how much work the engine does. I think this video makes it relatively easy to try to get a grasp on what Torque and horsepower are: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mRROa_plpTc.html
@@MGReviewsBlog Thanks for the link! So torque is basically getting the car moving and the horsepower is how much work the engine can do after it gets moving right? The link helped a lot!
I personally prefer the RDX out of the two and would pay the extra price of the Acura. But it'll be interesting to see how things change once the Mazda CX-70 comes to market.
The rear taillights? yea some still use them, particularly on the lower end trims. In fairness, it's cheaper to replace a bulb than an entire LED assembly.
I'm just going by what Car & Driver and Motor Trend posted on their reviews. Unfortunately I don't have timing equipment or a safe location to do my own timing tests.
In both cases, seriously the lack of touchscreen is a problem. No rotary knob or touchpad is ever going to have the ease of use of a touchscreen, which literally every regular car has these days, the weird knobs and touchpads are primarily in the luxury segment. You also have one major option in the Mazda that the Acura lacks. You can spec down to the base engine and take a big chunk off the price and get better fuel economy if you're willing to live without the extra power of the turbo. The CX-5 base engine is quite good in its own right, but Mazda really does need to put the 8 speed auto from the CX-9 into the rest of the lineup. You did mention the ZF 8 speed, but that is not an option for transverse mount engines, the transverse option is the ZF 9 speed which is a total POS.
The CX-9 has the same 6-speed auto as the CX-5. The upcoming CX-90 should be getting a new Mazda developed 8-speed auto. You're right about the 9-speed ZF, such a slow shifting automatic.
Test. I'm writing this because I posted a clean comment from another account and it's only visible from within that account. Looks like shadowbanning. Tell me you're not doing this on purpose thanks.
How is this a comparison? S-HAWD versus what? Mazda dont even come close, price is not even the same, Mazda has had so many failures with the CX7, which is why now the have the gimmicky CX5 and the CX9. No Mazda product can be compared to Acura! I had the CX7 in 2008 and MDX 2011 and not even the CX9 came close to the MDX. Acura has torque differential, Mazda doesn’t. The turbo in Mazda is extremely unreliable, thus we have the defunct CX7…
Did you watch the video? And to the end? I agree with you on the CX-7 but 10+ years of development (and not having Ford as a parent company) does change things. Mazdas now are wayyy better than before.
@@MGReviewsBlog from experience, i would never own a Mazda. I owned a CX7 GT from 2008, yes fun car to drive but extremely poor design in terms of engine and turbo reliability. Now i own Acura product and the reliability has been way better than a Mazda. The SHAWD system with torque vectoring makes the car very agile in corners and it actually makes the behemoth MDX feel nimble.
@@MGReviewsBlog in my opinion ownership should allow you to do some work in your car, be abke to replace sensors and troubleshoot problems with ease. I can say from owning Honda, Acura and Toyota products that i have been able to do that. However with Mazda, it was difficult to troubleshoot because not every mechanic owned the software to do it, few were abke to perform work. I felt as if Mazda was forcing owners to go to dealer even for simple issues. Once i buy a car, I never go back to dealer, that was not the case with Mazda.
@Daniel Melendez unfortunately cars are just getting more and more complex. I like to tinker on cars too which is why I still own an 11 year old car. But the vast majority of people are not like that. They'd happily take their car to a dealership and pay to get it fixed.
I ownd both cars and the acura have way better Handling and drive better. Every time I drive my a-spac there always turn heads and complaints how sexy the car is. The cx5 is good for road trips because it has better mpg. No it ain't stupid to pay more for the acura because both cars are different and acura is more luxury compared to Mazda. You get want you pay for
CX-5 - "Still, the CX-5 accelerates well. It launched to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds and through the quarter mile in 14.6 seconds at 94.9 mph" - www.motortrend.com/reviews/2021-mazda-cx-5-turbo-first-test-review/ RDX - "In MotorTrend testing, an RDX with SH-AWD sprinted from 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds." - www.motortrend.com/cars/acura/rdx/
Why not? Like I said in the video, Mazda wants to become a premium manufacturer so I wanted to see how far along they are in that transition. Current Mazda vehicles are a lot nicer than they were just 5 years ago.
I compare them and bought the cx 5. Like the steering and brakes in the Mazda. Also, gets better mpg. I do believe the RDx has better AWD. It comes down to personal taste
Mazda got a lot the work to do if the want to go up market they need to invest in technology way better interior design and a new infotainment screen not this stupid crap they have right they are beyond industry standard. Nissan Rogue has way better interior than Mazda. Mazda is a lazy car company but having said that Mazda exterior car designs are the best looking ones on the road period besides the STELVIO
I agree that Mazda needs to update their interiors, I recently said the exact thing you mentioned in my latest video; the new Rogue has a better interior than the CX5. But I wouldn't go so far as to call them lazy. Their driving dynamics are brilliant for the money and right now they are focusing on their next generation of cars. So we'll have to wait 2 or so years to see what they come up with.
There handling is top notch imalso disagree Mazda is not lazy It's the top 3 of the most reliable cars on thebtoad Straight underdog when it comes to reliability I had one for 22 years and still runs Beautiful interior Exterior And I'm tired of the garbage touch screen the knob is just a easier way to mess with the infotainment system