The Acura RDX is dead as we know it. However, Acura says it will return, all while taking a different form and offering a new dual-motor hybrid system. The RDX has been a staple within Honda’s premium offerings since 2007, though we’re sure it will continue to be when it returns.
When it does, the Lexus NX will still be here to counter it after getting new looks for 2027. Though Lexus was late to offer a compact two-row crossover to the showroom, the one it did offer certainly worked and quickly began to dominate.
Recently, one of these crossovers has pulled far ahead of the other, but that wasn’t always the case. Let’s see which has been America’s longtime favorite over the last five years.
How The RDX Built A 15-Year Sales Legacy – And Why Acura Is Killing It Anyway
US Sales Highlights
2026
(Jan-Sept)
25,211
Best Year
63,580 (2018)
Worst Year*
10,153 (2010)
Total Sales
757,255
*Excludes first year’s sales
The Acura RDX arrived in 2006 to a global economy at the threshold of the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Sales were below 10,000 units its first year, though they rose above 23,000 by 2007. The next five years were the worst years by far, with sales peaking at 15,783 units in 2008. By 2012, sales were nearly double that figure and never dipped below 40,000 until 2022, during which it faced a global chip shortage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Average sales from 2013 to 2021 were around 52,000 units annually in the US. The RDX achieved record sales of 63,580 units in 2018, with its worst years being 2013 and 2014, when roughly 44,000 units sold each year. Needless to say, despite ebbs and flows in sales figures, the RDX has lived a healthy life, and Acura’s decision to revamp it is not without cause. The RDX has never had a hybrid powertrain, and, while it’s Acura’s sportiest crossover, it’s never packed more than 279 horsepower.
In its current form, the RDX squeezes 272 horses and 280 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0-liter turbo-4, though more than its power output has helped it sell 18,557 units already this year in the US. Acura’s Super-Handling AWD is standard kit and undercuts the Lexus NX by $925.
Acura has said the third-generation RDX will cease production after the 2026 model year but will be back for a fourth after a short hiatus.But while the RDX was peaking in 2018, a newer rival was already quietly building the momentum that would eventually lap it by a factor of two – and the story of how that happened is more surprising than the numbers suggest.
How The NX Went From Late Arrival To Outselling The RDX 2-to-1
US Sales Highlights
2026
(Jan-Sept)
50,148
Best Year
76,836 (2025)
Worst Year*
43,764 (2015)
Total Sales
721,008
*Excludes first year’s sales
It didn’t take long at all for Lexus to catch up to Acura after debuting the NX nearly eight years after the RDX first arrived. The 2015 NX shot right out of the gate with a hybrid powertrain, a Lexus badge, and a compelling price right in line with the RDX. By 2016, Lexus beat out Acura’s numbers with NX sales of 54,844 units. The last time the RDX would top the NX would be 2018, when it was ahead by a mere 1,501 units.
2027 Lexus NXLexus
Over the past five years, the NX and RDX went from being close competitors to the Lexus outselling the Acura 2-to-1. Working in its favor is a refresh that kept everything that made the NX such a whirlwind when it entered the scene.
Hybrid powertrains, sculpted looks, and a comfortable interior only Lexus could deliver all contributed to its appeal. The ride blended luxurious and athletic character despite the meager powertrains offered throughout the years. It earned the title as Lexus’ first turbocharged vehicle, carting a 2.0-liter turbo mill that will depart from the NX after 2026.
The Year-By-Year Gap That Tells The Real Story
2022 Acura RDXAcura
US Sales
Lexus NX
Acura RDX
2021
58,514
57,013
2022
49,002
24,749
2023
74,526
39,228
2024
74,488
42,988
2025
76,836
32,945
2026
(Jan–Sept)
50,148
18,557
The NX will be hybrid-only for 2027 and beyond, further intensifying the competition between these two SUVs once the Acura returns. The NX has only two generations so far, spanning a total of 12 model years. Soon to be in its 13th, it gets a refreshed exterior and revised interior taken from the new ES to match its new engine options.
2027 Lexus NX 450h PHEV ExecutiveLexus
Something about the NX’s striking design grabbed eyes and wallets alike – something the RDX never managed. From the images revealed by Acura, the design for the forthcoming next-generation RDX might be just what it needs to regain an edge in the bare-knuckle fight that is the US compact luxury crossover market.
Acura Hybrid SUV Prototype (2)Honda
Pricing of other models can play a large role in how one vehicle sells in comparison to another, even if it’s in a different segment. Let’s take the UX – Lexus’ sub-compact offering – which starts at $39,050, a full $4,050 more expensive than the Acura ADX. The lower price is not the only plus in the Acura column, it is also currently selling three times as many units as the UX. Since the ADX is considerably cheaper, the jump to the RDX wouldn’t be as desirable as it is between the Lexus UX and NX, something we’re observing with higher sales figures.
Acura has shown it can hit back at Lexus in a different segment, despite the UX having the advantage of a few extra model years before the ADX came along. Who’s to say Acura can’t bounce back in other segments, too.
Base Trim Engine
2L I4 ICE
Base Trim Transmission
10-speed automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
272 HP @6500 RPM
Base Trim Torque
280 lb.-ft. @ 1600 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
21/27/23 MPG
Infotainment & Features
8 /10
Base Trim Engine
2.5L I4 Hybrid
Base Trim Transmission
2-speed CVT
Base Trim Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
189 HP @6000 RPM
Base Trim Torque
179 lb.-ft. @ 4300 RPM
Base Trim Battery Type
Lithium ion (Li-ion)
Infotainment & Features
9 /10
Sources: Acura, Lexus, Good Car Bad Car
