2025 Acura RDX vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

$44,700 · Crossover

$34,800 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The 2025 Acura RDX brings premium aspiration and crisp handling, anchored by 272 hp and standard Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, offering a distinctly dynamic crossover experience for its $44,700 entry point. Conversely, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe attacks the segment with staggering value, packing a muscular 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque—more torque than the Acura—for a significantly lower MSRP of $34,800, netting a $9,900 saving. While the RDX utilizes premium fuel and achieves a slightly better combined 23 MPG, the Santa Fe manages 29 MPG highway on regular unleaded, making its running costs potentially lower despite being slightly larger overall at 190.2 inches long. Acura bets on sophisticated dynamics and better city mileage (21 MPG) while Hyundai puts raw power and lower acquisition cost first.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe's $34,800 price tag and better highway fuel economy of 29 MPG make it a smarter financial choice for daily driving.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Though specific passenger/seating data is absent, the Santa Fe is longer at 190.2 inches and likely offers superior overall volume, suggesting better practicality.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Acura RDX

Acura’s focus on standard All-Wheel Drive and reputation for sharper handling dynamics tips the scales for driving engagement over the front-wheel-drive biased Santa Fe.

💰 Best Value

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Saving $9,900 while gaining 5 more horsepower and 31 more lb-ft of torque provides undeniable financial leverage.

Choose the Acura RDX if...

You prioritize sharper, more engaging handling dynamics often associated with Acura's AWD systems.
You require standard All-Wheel Drive capability right off the showroom floor.
You prefer the Acura's perceived upscale interior ambiance, justifying the $44,700 price.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if...

A budget gap of nearly $10,000 is the single most important factor in your purchase decision.
You need the slightly higher torque output of 311 lb-ft for easier merging and towing duties.
You prefer running on regular unleaded fuel versus the RDX’s recommended premium fuel.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Acura RDX	Hyundai Santa Fe
Length	187.4"	190.2"
Width	74.8"	74.8"
Height	65.7"	67.7"
Wheelbase	108.3"	110.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	272 hp @ 6500 rpm	277 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque	280 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm	311 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
Transmission Type	10-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	front wheel drive
[object Object]	✓	—
[object Object]	✓	—
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
Fuel Type	premium unleaded (recommended)	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	21/27 MPG	20/29 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	23 MPG	24 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	359.1/461.7 mi.	354.0/513.3 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.1 gal.	17.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	—
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	—
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	—
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	—
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	—	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	10.2 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	9	—
Subwoofer Count	1	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—

Power Feature

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	4	1
Moonroof Type	1st Row Power Glass	—
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Reverse Tilt Passenger Mirror	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
Front Head Room	40.0 in.	41.1 in.
Front Leg Room	42.0 in.	44.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	60.0 in.	59.5 in.
Front Hip Room	55.0 in.	56.5 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Seat Material: Cloth	—	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way

Rearseats

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	38.0 in.	40.6 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.0 in.	42.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	57.0 in.	58.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	50.0 in.	54.9 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	19 x 8.0 in	18 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/55R19	235/60R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Underbody Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Acura	Hyundai
Basic Warranty	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	6 yr./ 70000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	7 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	1 yr./ 12000 mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Acura RDX and 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe.

How significant is the drivetrain difference between these two crossovers?

The 2025 Acura RDX comes standard with AWD, suggesting better traction management in poor conditions, whereas the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe defaults to Front Wheel Drive, making the Acura inherently more performance-oriented in slippery situations.

Does the higher price of the RDX translate to more power than the Santa Fe?

Surprisingly, no; the Santa Fe achieves 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, slightly surpassing the RDX’s 272 hp and 280 lb-ft, all while costing $9,900 less.

Which vehicle will cost less to fuel regularly?

The Santa Fe uses regular unleaded fuel compared to the RDX's recommended premium, and its 27 MPG highway rating beats the Acura's 27 MPG highway rating marginally, suggesting lower long-term fuel expenditures for the Hyundai.

How do the sizes compare for garage fitment?

The Hyundai Santa Fe is physically larger, measuring 190.2 inches in length and 67.7 inches in height, making it longer and taller than the RDX's 187.4-inch length and 65.7-inch height.

Is the RDX's smaller cargo area a significant tradeoff?

Yes, the RDX offers 29.5 cu ft of cargo space behind the rear seats, which is nearly double the 14.6 cu ft capacity listed for the Santa Fe, suggesting the RDX might offer better utility behind the driver despite its lower overall exterior length.