rockyboy

So I rode in a Mercedes ML350 today. This vehicle is probably $80-$90,000 or so at purchase. Most, if not everyone, would agree that the Mercedes ML350 is considered a luxury vehicle. So from my ride, in my head I compared it to the 2016 RDX Elite fully loadedn.

-The Mercedes is a bigger vehicle YET the RDX cabin feels similarly or slightly more spacious
-When going over bumps on the road, the Mercedes is more jarring. The 2016 RDX goes noticeably smoother over bumps
-The Mercedes Cabin is slightly more quiet
-The sound system (based on quality of sound/music from a CD playing in the Mercedes) in the 2016 RDX is equal to or better than the Mercedes despite the Mercedes seemingly bigger looking speakers and maybe more speakers not sure
-The seats in the 2016 RDX are considerably more comfortable--softer, better quality leather. This difference kind of surprised me
-The dash material is similar, both with the same soft touch materials. The metallic portion of the dash, the material is exactly like in the 2016 RDX (I touched it to make sure). The RDX has more metallic material, the Mercedes has more wood.
-The Mercedes has one screen big infotainment system. RDX has two big screens.
-The inside of the doors: both have the same soft touch materials. The Mercedes has wood on the inside of the doors. The controls for the seats are on the doors of the Mercedes. Controls are on the seats for the RDX. Mercedes door has 3 numbered buttons (driver seat memory?) vs 2 for RDX
-The RDX has one moon roof. The Mercedes has two (one for 2nd row).
-The ceiling of the Mercedes is made of a weird material, looks kind of like women's nylons. The RDX ceiling looks and feels higher quality.
-The acceleration of the RDX is faster
-The handling (turning around corners, U turns) feels similar
-RDX has more advanced headlights (Jewel Eyes, LED)
-RDX has more sensors (front and back detects cars and pedestrians) as far as I can tell
-Backup camera is similar but RDX has better detection as far as I can tell. In the RDX you can view navigation map or other info on the top screen while backup camera shows on the bottom screen. In the Mercedes this is impossible since it has only one screen.
-The 2016 RDX Elite has auto dimming mirrors. The Mercedes might but I didn't notice it dimming
-The RDX has wide angle driver side mirror. I did not notice this on the Mercedes, though the Mercedes side mirrors are slightly larger

Conclusion: The 2016 RDX Elite is better than the Mercedes in most areas. If the Mercedes is considered a luxury vehicle, the RDX must also be.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

I see you're reading the brochure's of each vehicle again....

snorf

I hope you wiped your feet after getting out of the Mercedes and that you did not let Mercedes dirt contaminate your RDX.

mtiaz

Okay here is my two cents;

I worked at an Audi dealership and we also owned a BMW & Porsche dealership. So with comparative SUV's to the RDX, I got the chance to drive the Q5 in 2.0T & 3.0T(very rare) formats in many trim levels, SQ5, BMW X3 28i fully spec'd out & Porsche Macan (normal & S).

If we were taking the most relative of the two which is the Q5 & X3. My problem with the Q5 is that the materials in the cabin are cheap as hell unless you get it fully loaded to the brim with all the nice leather & S-Line package. The 2.0T is a shitty engine. I hate it, my coworkers hate it. Its buzzy, unrefined & drinks a lot of gas and oil. The cars ride quality is good though even if you get the bigger wheels. The only way I would go with the Q5 if it had the 3.0T motor which is a phenomenal motor & much better than the J-Series in the RDX in terms of feel, refinement & sound. The X3 I drove was disappointing. The 28i motor is again another whatever motor, nothing inspiring out of it and sounds like crap. The interior of the X3 was very nice since it had the M-package though the ergonomics of the cabin were poor. In terms of comfort it sucked since it had the optional 19s with run-flats & "sport" suspension which I think are to blame. I was really surprised when I test drove an RDX for the first time in how well put together the car was, how well the motor performed, the car handled & the price. Another moving factor was the fact that its just stone-dead reliable compared to the other two vehicles.

Now the Macan on the other hand, bra-fucking-vo Porsche. Just a sublime vehicle. Even the base-model has top notch materials & I would get it in a heartbeat if I had the money.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

I think the ML (GLE for 2016) is more in the realm of the MDX, RX, and X5. The ML is taller, wider, longer, has a longer wheelbase, and weighs 600 pounds more than a RDX.

Also, the Mercedes offers 6 engine options, including diesel and hybrid drivetrains, compared to just the 3.5 V6 offered with the RDX. The basic V6 in the Benz offers 23 more horsepower and 22 more lb/ft of torque. The Mercedes also offers 12 more cubic feet of cargo volume and can tow up to 6600 pounds compared to the 1500 pounds from the RDX.

Just because they are SUVs doesn't mean they can be compared fairly

Kaputnik

To me the the Macan and Cayenne are so elegantly styled. While other makers are leaning towards over-styling (esp. Lexus for example), the Porsches are refreshingly understated, IMO.

ceb

Sigh. You might actually be a nice kid but you act like a total ass when you post this kind of drivel.

S1LV3R-S4MUR41

lol not sure if serious?

I'm glad you really like your RDX...I like mine too. Making comparisons to other vehicles actually makes your car look worse to other people.

No offense to anyone on here...the first thing most Hyundai and Kia drivers do is try to prove to other people how good their vehicle is compared to others. Don't do that to your RDX. Don't be that guy.

TacoBello

Guys, quit feeding the troll. Seriously.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

But he's hungry...

TacoBello

Sometimes starvation is a necessary evil

rosen39

Rockyboy........put down the crack pipe. You are comparing apples and oranges. The ML350 can be had for the mid $50's any day of the week. It may not have the same thin skinned leather as the RDX, but it does have a thicker upholstery material. It won't wear through like the RDX crap. Someone just leaned against my thin steel RDX fender, and now I need a company like Dent Wizard to fix a pushed in front fender. Look at the gauge steel used on the Mercedes body panels......no comparison. The ML350 is much quieter than the RDX. The real test is five years down the road and see what the re-sale value is. You don't know your ass from a hole in the ground about cars.

TacoBello

Don't feed the troll, I said... And no one listened.

SgtSir440

Now I understand what is going on here guys. Rockboy probably has this same setup in his luxury RDX

computer_man

Based upon Rockyboy's comparison I am glad I got the RDX. The selling point to me in the comparison is that I can see the navigation while I am backing up. I find it useful whenever I drive someplace in reverse. LOL.

Joe Las Vegas

Isn't there a Honda ricer club you can join and get the F outta here?

rosen39

Rockyboy be high....high.....high

RDX-Rick

I haven't been able to get my RDX to do that. When I place the shifter into reverse, my map display in the upper screen disappears and is replaced with the view from the camera. Since I have the Elite, the warning indicators from the front and rear bumper sensors are also overlayed onto the camera display.

Can you tell me how you got the camera to display on the lower screen. As someone else said, I would like to see where I am when backing up.

rockyboy

I will check again. Maybe mine is like yours gonna double check tomorrow

rockyboy

The RDX has the best resale value in its class. But why resell? You can drive it 10+ years easy

rockyboy

Well, some people were claiming the RDX is little different than a Honda (e.g CRV) so I developed a way to prove their assertion is false. That way was to compare it to the Mercedes. Since no one denies the Mercedes is a luxury vehicle, by logical deduction through our comparison, the 2016 RDX is also in the luxury class since it is equal to or better than the Mercedes in most areas.

ceb

Since rocky is still in grade school, he doesn't have a RDX except in 1/24th scale. At that scale it is hard to see which screen is which.

rockyboy

I think mine is like yours actually. The point is it has two big screens which is advantageous over the one that other vehicles like the Mercedes has. You get more info and more controls at the same time.

madden

Humorous post. The RDX is a fine vehicle, I used to have a 2014 AWD. It had some issues
and I got something I liked better. To compare it to a Mercedes is ludicrous. The RDX is a great value, the primary reason I got one, but it is not a luxury vehicle.

2012wagon

What did you replace your RDX with?

TacoBello

Soooo distracted driving? Especially when reversing?

Kaputnik

Waiting on this one RB.....

madden

A Volvo V60 Polestar. It starts out as a fully load V60RD and then Polestar(Volvo's racing division) adds 254 Polestar specific parts, Ohlins suspension, bigger turbo, huge Brembo brakes,
larger FMIC, Ferrita active exhaust(flaps open when in sport mode) stiffer bushings, thicker sway bars, drive train tweaks, you can set the AWD for rear wheel bias, 20" wheels, etc. It is truly an amazing car, the best handling car I have ever driven. Very limited edition.

2012wagon

Sounds amazing

Did you get the blue polestar
?!

rockyboy

Isn't that a wagon though? How much did it cost?

S1LV3R-S4MUR41

Not sure why it matters so much to you what others think about your vehicle. As long as you enjoy it, that's all that matters. Good luck!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Because 16 year old boy who stole daddy's keys

madden

No, I took the only one available, black sapphire metallic. The wagons sold out in one day, I did not have a choice. I felt fortunate to even get one. They were a bargain in the US compared to much of the rest of the world.

mindanalyzer

mindanalyzer

Comparing a 2016 RDX Elite vs Mercedes ML350?

rockyboy

It matters to some extent just like what you wear or your hairstyle, etc. You want others to enjoy looking at or riding your vehicle also. I wouldn't feel that great riding in a Cherry or Tata Nano, for example.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

because you are 16.

yesrdx

And doesn't realize the ML is a bit outdated. Let's not mention the new GLE or the AMG version. Might have to change his diaper.