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Both use a 2.0-liter turbocharged four, but the 2026 Acura RDX makes 272 horsepower against the QX65’s 268 and returns 23 mpg combined against 22. The RDX adds a 10-speed automatic, standard SH-AWD with torque vectoring and an available Adaptive Damper System the QX65 has no equivalent to.
The QX65 is Infiniti’s coupe-profile compact SUV, and it goes after buyers who want something more expressive than the usual two-box shape.
Mechanically the two are closer than most pairings on this site — same displacement, similar output. The differences are in the gearbox, the all-wheel-drive system and the suspension.
| Specification | 2026 Acura RDX | 2027 Infiniti QX65 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 272-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four | 268-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four |
| EPA fuel economy | 21 mpg city / 23 mpg combined | 20 mpg city / 22 mpg combined |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 9-speed automatic |
| All-wheel drive | Standard SH-AWD with torque vectoring | Standard conventional AWD |
| Adaptive Damper System | Available on Advance and A-Spec Advance | Not available |
| Touchpad interface | Standard True Touchpad Interface | Not offered |
EPA estimates are manufacturer-published and vary by configuration and driving conditions. Your mileage will differ.
Four horsepower is not a difference you will feel. One mile per gallon combined is not either, on any given trip — but over 15,000 miles a year it is real money, and it happens to run in the RDX’s favor alongside the power figure.
The transmission is the more meaningful gap: ten ratios against nine, which keeps the engine closer to its torque peak more of the time.
| Specification | RDX | QX65 |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 272 hp | 268 hp |
| City / combined | 21 / 23 mpg | 20 / 22 mpg |
| Transmission | 10-speed | 9-speed |
Both come with all-wheel drive as standard, but they are different systems. The RDX uses SH-AWD, which vectors torque across the rear axle to help pull the vehicle through a turn. The QX65 uses a conventional all-wheel-drive system that distributes torque front to rear.
The RDX Advance and A-Spec Advance trims add an Adaptive Damper System that continuously adjusts damping to the road surface. The QX65 has no comparable suspension option at any trim.
| Specification | RDX | QX65 |
|---|---|---|
| All-wheel drive | SH-AWD with torque vectoring | Conventional AWD |
| Adaptive dampers | Available | Not available |
The RDX uses Acura’s True Touchpad Interface, an absolute-position controller where each point on the pad corresponds to a point on the screen. There is no equivalent in the QX65, which uses touchscreens.
This is the item on the page most likely to decide it for you one way or the other, and it takes about five minutes in a stationary car to know which side you are on.
| Specification | RDX | QX65 |
|---|---|---|
| Touchpad interface | Standard | Not offered |
The QX65 is the more distinctive-looking vehicle. Its coupe roofline is the whole point of the car, and if that is what draws you, no specification table is going to change your mind — nor should it.
Infiniti pricing and incentives are typically aggressive relative to the segment, and the QX65 is likely to be the cheaper monthly payment.
As a newer design, the QX65 interior presentation and screen layout are more contemporary than the RDX cabin, which has been in market for several years.
The RDX is the more capable vehicle: more power, better fuel economy, an extra gear, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive and available adaptive dampers.
The QX65 wins on styling and probably on price. Those are legitimate reasons and we are not going to argue you out of them.
If you want to know whether the RDX drivetrain difference is worth it, drive an Advance or A-Spec Advance with the Adaptive Damper System — that is where the gap is widest.
Slightly. The RDX is rated at 21 mpg city and 23 mpg combined; the QX65 at 20 mpg city and 22 mpg combined. EPA estimates vary by configuration and driving conditions.
Yes, but they are different systems. The RDX uses SH-AWD with torque vectoring across the rear axle. The QX65 uses a conventional all-wheel-drive system without torque vectoring.
No. The Acura RDX offers an Adaptive Damper System on the Advance and A-Spec Advance trims. The QX65 has no comparable suspension option.
The RDX makes 272 horsepower from its 2.0-liter turbocharged four; the QX65 makes 268 horsepower from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four. The difference is small.
It is Acura’s absolute-position touchpad controller: each point on the pad maps directly to a point on the screen rather than moving a cursor. Infiniti does not offer an equivalent.
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.