Compare the2025 Buick EnvistaVS 2025 Acura RDX

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Envista are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RDX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Buick Envista achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Acura RDX has not been tested.

Both the Envista and the RDX 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Buick Envista is safer than the Acura RDX:

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

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 Buick Envista is safer than the Acura RDX:

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

The Envista’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the RDX’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 3 times as many Buick dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Envista’s warranty.

The RDX’s redline is at 7000 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The Envista has a 6000 RPM redline.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick above average in initial quality. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick third in reliability, above the industry average. With 67 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 20th.

On the EPA test cycle the Envista gets better mileage than the RDX:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Envista uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RDX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Buick Envista higher (6 out of 10) than the Acura RDX (5). This means the Envista produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RDX every 15,000 miles.

The Envista stops shorter than the RDX:

The Envista Sport Touring handles at .82 G’s, while the RDX pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Envista’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the RDX’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.9 feet). The Envista w/18-19” Wheels’ turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the RDX’s (38.4 feet vs. 38.9 feet).

The Buick Envista may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 900 pounds less than the Acura RDX.

The Envista is 4.8 inches shorter than the RDX, making the Envista easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Envista uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Envista has .3 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear legroom than the RDX.

The Envista can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Envista can be unhitched and driven around locally. The RDX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Envista’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The RDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Envista’s available exterior PIN entry system. The RDX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its AcuraLink can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Envista Avenir’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The RDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Buick Envista and the Acura RDX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Envista third among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The RDX isn’t in the top three.

The Buick Envista outsold the Acura RDX by 19% during 2024.