Acura RDX vs Toyota 4Runner: Specs Compared
Also searched as Toyota 4Runner vs Acura RDX specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Acura RDX is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 24 mpg combined versus 23 mpg for the Toyota 4Runner, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $500 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Acura RDX leads in 3. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Acura RDX
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 34 configurations
2015–2026
Toyota 4Runner
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 42 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Acura RDX | Toyota 4Runner |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 24 mpg ✓ | 23 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 22 mpg | 23 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 28 mpg ✓ | 26 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $3,150 | $2,650 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 370 g/mi ✓ | 380 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI, 3.5 | SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-Start, 4.0 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S10), Automatic (S6) | Automatic (S8), Automatic (S5) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive | 4-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 34 | 42 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Acura RDX vs Toyota 4Runner dimensions and size
The Toyota 4Runner is 7.1 inches longer than the Acura RDX on a wheelbase 3.9 inches longer, and 780.4 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Acura RDX (2026) | Toyota 4Runner (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 187.8 in | 194.9 in | 7.1 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 74.8 in | 78 in | 3.1 in |
| Height | 65.7 in | 73.6 in | 7.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in | 112.2 in | 3.9 in |
| Curb weight | 4,090 lbs | 4,870 lbs | 780 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Acura RDX vs Toyota 4Runner: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Toyota 4Runner burns about $2,650 of fuel annually against $3,150 for the Acura RDX. That $500 yearly gap compounds to roughly $2,500 over five years and $4,000 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Toyota 4Runner is the stronger commuter at 23 mpg city, while the Acura RDX pulls ahead on the interstate at 28 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Acura RDX is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, 3.5), the Toyota 4Runner with 4 (SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-Start). Across 34 recorded Acura RDX configurations and 42 for the Toyota 4Runner, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Acura RDX is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, the Toyota 4Runner with 4-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Acura RDX emits 370 g/mile of CO2 versus 380 g/mile for the Toyota 4Runner. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
RDX vs 4Runner: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Acura RDX or the Toyota 4Runner?
The Acura RDX is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 24 mpg combined versus 23 mpg for the Toyota 4Runner, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $500 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Toyota 4Runner runs about $2,650 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $3,150 for the Acura RDX — a difference of roughly $500 per year.
What engines do the RDX and 4Runner offer?
Acura RDX: SIDI, 3.5. Toyota 4Runner: SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-Start, 4.0.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Acura RDX as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Toyota 4Runner as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More RDX comparisons
More 4Runner comparisons
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