2015 Acura RDX vs 2015 BMW X3 - The Car Connection

2015 Acura RDX

2015 BMW X3

Select style

AWD 4-Door

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
RDX AWD 4-Door	19	27	$34,258	$36,495
RDX AWD 4-Door Tech Pkg	19	27	$37,682	$40,195
RDX FWD 4-Door	20	28	$32,962	$35,095
RDX FWD 4-Door Tech Pkg	20	28	$36,386	$38,795

Select style

AWD 4-Door xDrive28d

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
X3 AWD 4-Door xDrive28d	27	34	$39,140	$42,000
X3 AWD 4-Door xDrive28i	21	28	$37,760	$40,500
X3 AWD 4-Door xDrive35i	19	26	$42,360	$45,500
X3 RWD 4-Door sDrive28i	21	28	$35,920	$38,500

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$34,258

$39,140

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$36,495

$42,000

Monthly Payment Estimate

$608 / month

$700 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

7.8

Read Our Full Review

8.4

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

A sporty yet smooth driving feel, quiet interior, and top-tier safety all add up to a lot of appeal for the 2015 Acura RDX, although its lack of features and flair stop it short of greatness.

Among compact crossovers, the 2015 BMW X3 doesn't try to be rugged; instead it's one of the sportiest and most fuel-efficient in its class, and this year's new sDrive and diesel models add to that while the lineup gets even more tech and active-safety options.

TCC Likes

Smooth ride
Excellent handling, maneuverability
Smart, straightforward interior

Pert, nicely sculpted exterior
Soft, finely detailed cabin
Fuel-efficient powertrains, new diesel option

TCC Dislikes

Unremarkable exterior
Hesitant transmission
Lacks tech features

Expensive options
Start-stop sometimes misses a beat
Noisy idle (28i)

Fuel Economy

City

19 mpg

27 mpg

Highway

27 mpg

34 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Small Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Capacity

Second Head Room (in)

38.1

39.1

Second Shoulder Room (in)

57.2

Front Leg Room (in)

39.9

Front Hip Room (in)

55.7

Passenger Volume (ft³)

103.5

Second Leg Room (in)

38.3

36.5

Front Head Room (in)

38.7

40.7

Second Hip Room (in)

53.8

Front Shoulder Room (in)

58.7

57.3

Exterior Dimensions

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

73.7

74.1

Track Width, Front (in)

63.1

62.8

Min Ground Clearance (in)

5.4

Wheelbase (in)

105.7

110.6

Height, Overall (in)

66.1

Track Width, Rear (in)

63.4

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)

61.3

63.3

Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)

26.1

27.6

Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)

26.1

27.6

Brakes

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

12.3

12.9

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

17.7

Steering

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

38.9

Tires

Spare Tire Size

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

P235/60VR18

P245/50WR18

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P235/60VR18

P245/50WR18

Trailering

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

150

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1500

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1500

Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs)

1500

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

150

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3838

4230

Wheels

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

18 X 7.5

18 X 8

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

18 X 7.5

18 X 8

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

130

210

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

550

Engine

Fuel System

Sequential MPI

Diesel Direct Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

251 @ 5000

280 @ 1750

Engine Order Code

Displacement

3.5 L/212

2.0 L/122

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

273 @ 6200

180 @ 4000

Engine Type

Premium Unleaded V-6

Intercooled Turbo Diesel I-4

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

Transmission

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic w/OD

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.56

1.00

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.36

4.71

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.25

3.08

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.48

2.11

Trans Type

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.75

1.29

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

2.27

3.29

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.09

3.14

Trans Order Code

205

Drivetrain

All Wheel Drive

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.06

1.67

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.84

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.67

Summary

Body Style

Sport Utility

Sports Activity Vehicle

Vehicle Name

Acura RDX

BMW X3

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Front

Strut

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Strut

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

8.0 (Est)

6.9

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

5.0 (Est)

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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