The luxury SUV that makes Germany's base models harder to justify

Published Aug 20, 2026, 1:01 PM EDT Adam Gray, a seasoned automotive journalist and content creator from the UK, joined the How-To Geek editorial team in January 2025. As an automotive journalist for How-To Geek, Adam breaks first-to-report news on the latest in automotive tech, as well as penning automotive features and reviews. Adam is also a contributor to one of How-To Geek's sister sites, TopSpeed, where he uses his media accrediation with manufacturers' press offices to gain access to the latest vehicles for subsequent review. Prior to joining How-To Geek, Adam worked on a freelance basis, contributing automotive content to a variety of business and lifestyle publications. His experience also includes time spent serving as senior editorial & auction content manager for SBX Cars, automotive content writer for Supercar Blondie, motoring editor for Portfolio North, and motoring editor - North East for Reach plc. When he's not putting the latest vehicle through its paces or testing out its tech, Adam can be found at his local ice rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC. Adam also enjoys spending quality time with his three children: Ellie, Oscar, and Heidi. BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz may be the default names that come to mind when you're shopping for a luxury SUV, but their base models don't always offer the value their badges suggest. The 2026 Acura RDX takes a different approach, giving every buyer a 272-horsepower turbocharged engine and a useful list of standard equipment. That matters because the German rivals can require expensive option packages to add features buyers increasingly expect from a luxury SUV. The RDX includes a panoramic moonroof, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and other driver-assistance technology without forcing buyers into a higher trim. With a starting price of $45,100, the RDX isn't trying to pretend it's a bargain-basement SUV. It's making a different argument: you can spend less on the entry point and still get the power and equipment that make a luxury SUV feel worth the money. To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Acura and other authoritative sources, including Car and Driver, Kelley Blue Book, and TopSpeed. The RDX gives you the power without the trim walk Its 272-horsepower engine comes standard Credit: Acura The 2026 RDX doesn't make buyers climb the trim ladder to get its most important performance hardware. Every RDX uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. That gives the RDX a meaningful advantage over the base Audi Q5 before options enter the picture. The Q5's base engine produces 268 horsepower, leaving the Acura with a small but useful power advantage. Base Trim Engine 2L I4 ICE Base Trim Transmission 10-speed automatic Base Trim Drivetrain All-Wheel Drive Base Trim Horsepower 272 HP @6500 RPM Base Trim Torque 280 lb.-ft. @ 1600 RPM Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined) 21/27/23 MPG Make Acura Model RDX Segment Compact Luxury SUV More importantly, there's no more expensive engine waiting further up the RDX range. The 272-horsepower output is standard, so buyers aren't being asked to spend extra simply to get the performance they expected from a luxury SUV in the first place. The RDX includes the luxury features buyers expect You don't have to build the base model with options The RDX's value argument gets stronger once you look beyond its engine. Acura makes a panoramic moonroof standard, along with adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist as part of the AcuraWatch suite. Collision mitigation braking and road departure mitigation are included as well. That's significant because these are exactly the kinds of features that can turn a seemingly affordable luxury SUV into a much more expensive purchase. The Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC put comparable equipment behind option packages, making the RDX's standard features more valuable to buyers. For buyers who want a well-equipped luxury SUV without paying to add the basics, the RDX's standard equipment gives it an advantage before they start comparing higher trims. The RDX undercuts its German rivals where it matters most The lower price isn't just about the badge Credit: Acura The 2026 RDX starts at $45,100, putting it below the entry prices of the Q5, X3, and GLC. That gives Acura a meaningful advantage before you start comparing equipment. For someone shopping by value rather than badge, that's the important distinction. The RDX isn't merely cheaper than its German rivals; its lower starting price gets buyers into a luxury SUV with 272 horsepower and a strong list of standard features. That makes the RDX's price advantage more meaningful than a simple comparison of starting MSRPs. The lower price is backed by the equipment and performance buyers actually get, rather than coming from a bare-bones entry model. The RDX avoids some of the ownership concerns of a German luxury SUV Its familiar powertrain could matter over time Credit: Acura The RDX's advantage isn't limited to what you get when you drive it off the lot. Its turbocharged four-cylinder is based on a familiar Honda powertrain, giving buyers a mechanical setup that's already familiar to independent shops. That matters more as a luxury SUV gets older. That familiarity could be useful as the RDX ages, particularly for owners who want to keep maintenance straightforward after the warranty expires. For someone planning to keep a luxury SUV beyond its warranty period, that adds another dimension to the RDX's appeal beyond its lower purchase price. The RDX is more than a value play It still drives like a proper luxury SUV Credit: Acura The RDX's appeal isn't limited to its equipment list. Its turbocharged engine gives it the kind of immediate response buyers expect from a premium SUV, while the available SH-AWD system adds extra traction for buyers who want more confidence in poor weather. That means the RDX isn't simply trading performance for a lower price. Its 272-horsepower turbocharged engine delivers the kind of strong response that helps it feel like a genuine luxury SUV rather than a mainstream crossover with extra equipment. For buyers who want something that feels genuinely premium from behind the wheel, rather than simply well-equipped on paper, that's an important part of the RDX's appeal. The RDX makes the German alternatives harder to justify Credit: Acura The Q5, X3, and GLC still have plenty to offer, particularly for buyers who place a premium on their brand identity. But the RDX makes a strong case for anyone more interested in what comes with the vehicle than which name is on the hood. Its 272-horsepower engine is standard, its key driver-assistance features don't require an expensive package, and its $45,100 starting price puts it below the German competition. That doesn't make the RDX a substitute for a buyer who specifically wants a BMW, Audi, or Mercedes-Benz. It does, however, make the premium attached to those badges considerably harder to overlook.