2026 Honda CR-V vs. Acura RDX: How Do These Related SUVs Stack Up?

• What these are: The Honda CR-V and Acura RDX are practical compact crossovers with slightly different buyers in mind.
• Why they matter: Acura's RDX is the ritzier version in this segment and includes more amenities and a longer warranty but less fuel economy. 
• Edmunds says: Which of these two-row crossovers is right for you?

How their interiors stack up size-wise

Both crossovers seat five comfortably, with nearly identical headroom and legroom numbers up front. However, backseat passengers will appreciate the extra 3 inches in the CR-V. Although Acura designers opted for a sportier back end that should reduce headroom in the second row, backseat riders of most heights will have plenty of space.

The CR-V's boxier shape serves the SUV well for cargo space. Honda's two-row crossover is a road-tripping family's happy place and tops the RDX by 8.2 cubic feet with both rows in place. That said, the RDX makes up 3 cubic feet when the second row is folded. Small storage is plentiful in the CR-V and RDX, with ample cupholders and door pockets.

Like the rest of Honda's SUV lineup, the CR-V is well made and sensible, able to withstand repeated onslaughts of snack food fights and juice box spills. It starts with cloth seats, and upgrading to leather upholstery requires three trims up the line from the base. The RDX, conversely, starts you off with heated synthetic leather seats and 12-way power controls, plus dual-zone climate control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Technology and safety equipment

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard in both the CR-V and RDX, along with a wireless charger, Bluetooth and a USB-C connection port up front. The RDX includes a 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, while the CR-V comes with a 9-inch display across all trims. Audio fans won’t love the standard four-speaker audio system in the CR-V; the RDX starts with a more robust nine-speaker setup — and that's before you upgrade.

Acura is very generous with its standard safety features, including a long list in the RDX: collision mitigation braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane keeping assistance, road departure mitigation, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic monitoring and a multi-view rear camera. 

The Honda model's feature set is close but omits two important technologies in the base model (blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic monitoring) and requires an upgrade to get them. Neither the RDX nor the CR-V, however, includes parking sensors in the base model, which is a miss from the more upscale Acura.

Trims and pricing

The 2026 Honda CR-V starts at $32,370 (including a $1,450 destination fee) and is available in seven trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Sport Hybrid, TrailSport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid, and Sport Touring Hybrid. Acura takes a different approach, starting with a $46,550 base model (including $1,450 in destination charges) simply called the RDX. From there, you can upgrade the crossover with Technology, A-Spec, Advance and A-Spec Advance equipment packages.

New CR-Vs come with a three-year/36,000-mile limited bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Coverage includes 24-hour roadside assistance for three years/36,000 miles and free maintenance visits for the first 12 months or 12,000 miles (oil changes, tire rotation, multi-point inspection).

The RDX includes a better warranty in the long term. Its four years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper coverage, six years/70,000 miles on the powertrain, and four years/50,000 miles for roadside assistance are very valuable offerings. But it's worth noting the RDX doesn’t include any complimentary maintenance.

How to decide between the two? Well, the $14,180 difference between the two isn't chump change. But you get much more power, more safety features, higher-quality materials, and a sleeker look if you go for the RDX. The CR-V's practicality and larger cargo area behind the second row will make more sense if you carry a lot of cargo, and for about $5,000 more, you can get a hybrid version of the CR-V that gets stellar fuel efficiency. 

Most CR-V buyers will go for a midgrade trim of the CR-V that cuts that gap down considerably. If you're considering a nicer CR-V, the RDX is a worthy upgrade — just keep an eye on that fuel needle.