2025 Toyota Highlander vs 2026 Acura RDX

$40,320 · Crossover

$45,100 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The most significant numerical divergence between the 2025 Toyota Highlander and the 2026 Acura RDX is the $4,780 difference in Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), with the Highlander starting at $40,320 and the RDX at $45,100. Despite the higher price, the RDX offers 7 more horsepower (272 hp vs. 265 hp) but demands premium unleaded fuel, contrasting with the Highlander's regular unleaded requirement. The Highlander maintains a quantifiable fuel economy advantage, achieving 25 MPG combined compared to the RDX's 23 MPG combined. Dimensionally, the Highlander is substantially longer at 194.9 inches versus 187.4 inches for the RDX, but the RDX offers vastly superior utility, boasting 29.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity against the Highlander's 16 cubic feet. The RDX also utilizes a 10-speed automatic transmission paired with standard All-Wheel Drive, whereas the Highlander employs an 8-speed automatic with standard Front-Wheel Drive.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Toyota Highlander

The 2025 Toyota Highlander delivers a better combined MPG rating (25 vs. 23) and utilizes less expensive regular unleaded fuel.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Acura RDX

The 2026 Acura RDX offers significantly more utility, with 29.5 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Highlander's 16 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Acura RDX

The 2026 Acura RDX produces marginally more horsepower (272 hp vs. 265 hp) and includes standard All-Wheel Drive.

💰 Best Value

2025 Toyota Highlander

The 2025 Toyota Highlander carries a $4,780 lower starting MSRP and achieves better fuel efficiency using regular fuel.

Choose the Toyota Highlander if...

Budget constraints dictate a starting MSRP below $41,000.
Optimizing annual fuel costs by utilizing regular unleaded gasoline is a priority.
Maximum longevity of highway travel between refueling stops is necessary, given its 2 MPG combined efficiency lead.

Choose the Acura RDX if...

Maximum accessible cargo volume (29.5 cu ft) is required for hauling gear.
Standard All-Wheel Drive performance is necessary for challenging road conditions.
A drivetrain capable of 272 horsepower is preferred for acceleration metrics.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Toyota Highlander	Acura RDX
Length	194.9"	187.4"
Width	76.0"	74.8"
Height	68.1"	65.7"
Wheelbase	112.2"	108.3"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Toyota	Acura
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	✓	✓
Third Row 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	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	—
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog 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	✓	✓

Engine

Feature	Toyota	Acura
Base Engine Displacement	2.4 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	265 hp @ 6000 rpm	272 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque	310 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm	280 lb-ft @ 1600 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	Toyota	Acura
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	10-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
[object Object]	—	✓
[object Object]	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Toyota	Acura
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	premium unleaded (recommended)
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	22/29 MPG	21/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	25 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	393.8/519.1 mi.	359.1/461.7 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.9 gal.	17.1 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Toyota	Acura
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Toyota	Acura
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	10.2 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	9
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Subwoofer Count	—	1
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

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

Frontseats

Feature	Toyota	Acura
Front Head Room	41.2 in.	40.0 in.
Front Leg Room	42.0 in.	42.0 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.0 in.	60.0 in.
Front Hip Room	57.2 in.	55.0 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	8-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	—
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	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

Rearseats

Feature	Toyota	Acura
Rear Head Room	39.4 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.7 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.7 in.	57.0 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.0 in.	50.0 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Toyota	Acura
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	18 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P235/65R V	235/55R19
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Size	—	19 x 8.0 in

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Toyota	Acura
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	6 yr./ 70000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	2 yr./ unlimited mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 25000 mi.	1 yr./ 12000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Toyota Highlander and 2026 Acura RDX.

What is the impact of the required fuel type on the ownership cost difference?

The 2025 Toyota Highlander requires regular unleaded gasoline, while the 2026 Acura RDX recommends premium unleaded. This fuel differential will widen the effective operational cost gap beyond the initial $4,780 MSRP difference over several years of ownership.

How significant is the difference in cargo capacity between these two crossovers?

The difference is substantial: the 2026 Acura RDX offers 29.5 cubic feet of storage, which is 13.5 cubic feet more than the 2025 Toyota Highlander's 16 cubic feet.

Does the lower horsepower in the Highlander equate to slower acceleration?

The 2025 Toyota Highlander has 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, while the 2026 Acura RDX has 272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. The Highlander produces 30 lb-ft more torque, which may translate to better pulling power at lower speeds, despite having lower peak horsepower.

How do the physical dimensions affect maneuverability or parking?

The 2026 Acura RDX is physically smaller in every dimension, being 7.5 inches shorter in length and 2.4 inches shorter in height than the 2025 Toyota Highlander.

What transmission technology separates the two vehicles?

The 2026 Acura RDX utilizes a more advanced 10-speed shiftable automatic transmission, whereas the 2025 Toyota Highlander is equipped with an 8-speed unit.