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The 2026 Acura RDX offers 79.8 cubic feet of maximum cargo space against the Audi Q5’s 56.9 — nearly 23 cubic feet more. The RDX also uses a 10-speed automatic against the Q5’s 7-speed dual-clutch, and includes SH-AWD with rear torque vectoring, a heated steering wheel and lane keeping assist as standard.
The Q5 is Audi’s best-selling model in the United States for good reason: it is handsome, well built and easy to live with. The RDX competes with it on space, standard equipment and drivetrain sophistication.
Cargo volume is the headline here, and it is not close.
| Specification | 2026 Acura RDX | 2026 Audi Q5 TFSI quattro |
|---|---|---|
| Max cargo volume | 79.8 cu ft | 56.9 cu ft |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 7-speed dual-clutch |
| All-wheel drive | Standard SH-AWD with rear torque vectoring | quattro without rear torque vectoring |
| Wheels | 19-inch | 18-inch |
| Heated steering wheel | Standard on Advance and above | Additional-cost package |
| Ventilated front seats | Standard on A-Spec, Advance, A-Spec Advance | Prestige trim only |
| Lane Keeping Assist | Standard | Top trims only |
| Touchpad interface | Standard True Touchpad Interface | Not offered |
| Powertrain limited warranty | 6 years / 70,000 miles | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Figures as published by each manufacturer. Audi package content varies by trim and model year.
79.8 cubic feet against 56.9 is a 23-cubic-foot gap. In practical terms that is the difference between fitting a bike with the front wheel on and taking the front wheel off, or between one trip to the nursery and two.
If you are buying a compact luxury SUV because you need it to carry things rather than because you like how it looks, this is the number that should decide it.
| Specification | RDX | Q5 |
|---|---|---|
| Max cargo volume | 79.8 cu ft | 56.9 cu ft |
The RDX uses a conventional 10-speed torque-converter automatic. The Q5 uses a 7-speed dual-clutch. Dual-clutch gearboxes are quick, but they are less smooth at parking speeds and in stop-and-go traffic, which is most of what a commuter does.
SH-AWD comes standard on the RDX with rear torque vectoring that overdrives the outside rear wheel through a corner. quattro is a capable and long-proven system but does not offer rear torque vectoring.
The RDX also rides on 19-inch wheels as standard against the Q5’s 18s.
| Specification | RDX | Q5 |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 7-speed dual-clutch |
| Rear torque vectoring | Standard | Not offered |
| Standard wheels | 19-inch | 18-inch |
A heated steering wheel is standard from RDX Advance up; on the Q5 it sits inside an additional-cost package. Heated and ventilated front seats are standard on RDX A-Spec, Advance and A-Spec Advance; on the Q5, ventilated seats are reserved for the Prestige trim.
Lane keeping assist is standard on every RDX; on the Q5 it is available only on top trims.
The RDX has Acura’s True Touchpad Interface, an absolute-position touchpad where each point maps to a point on the screen. Audi does not offer anything like it — the Q5 uses a touchscreen. Whether that is a point for or against depends entirely on you, so try it.
| Specification | RDX | Q5 |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | Standard on Advance and above | Additional-cost package |
| Ventilated front seats | Standard on three trims | Prestige only |
| Lane Keeping Assist | Standard | Top trims only |
| Touchpad interface | Standard | Not offered |
The Q5 cabin is the nicer place to sit. Audi’s materials and switchgear remain a segment benchmark, and the Q5’s virtual cockpit display is excellent.
Audi offers a plug-in hybrid Q5 and the higher-output SQ5. The RDX has no hybrid variant and no performance version, so if either of those is what you want, Audi has an answer and Acura does not.
The Q5 is the smaller, easier vehicle to park and thread through tight streets, and some buyers prefer a touchscreen to a touchpad. That is a matter of taste, not of quality.
Buy the RDX if you need the cargo space, want the smoother transmission for commuting, and prefer the safety and comfort equipment included rather than packaged.
Buy the Q5 if interior quality is what you are paying for, or if you want a plug-in hybrid or the SQ5.
Sit in both with the rear seats folded. The cargo difference is the thing photographs never convey.
The RDX offers 79.8 cubic feet of maximum cargo volume with the rear seats folded. The Audi Q5 offers 56.9 cubic feet — a difference of nearly 23 cubic feet.
Yes, the Q5 TFSI quattro uses a 7-speed dual-clutch. The Acura RDX uses a conventional 10-speed torque-converter automatic, which is generally smoother at low speeds and in traffic.
quattro distributes torque between the axles but does not offer rear torque vectoring. Acura’s standard SH-AWD overdrives the outside rear wheel through a corner to help turn the vehicle.
No. On the Q5 it is available on top trims at additional cost. Lane keeping assist is standard on every 2026 Acura RDX as part of AcuraWatch.
No. Acura does not offer a hybrid or plug-in hybrid RDX. Audi offers a plug-in hybrid Q5 and the higher-output SQ5.
Elk Grove Acura, 8585 Laguna Grove Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95757. Call 833-857-1325.
Elk Grove Acura, 8585 Laguna Grove Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95757. Sales 833-857-1325. Sales hours Monday–Saturday 9 AM–8 PM, Sunday 10 AM–7 PM.
Specifications, features and pricing are as published by each manufacturer at the time of writing and are subject to change. Competitive figures are drawn from manufacturer-published product information. Starting MSRP excludes tax, title, license, destination and handling, registration and documentary fees, and dealer-installed accessories. Dealers set actual selling prices. Feature availability varies by trim and may change during the model year — confirm equipment on the window sticker of the specific vehicle you are considering. Driver-assistance systems are aids only and do not replace safe driving; see the Owner’s Manual for limitations.