Compare the2025 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2025 Acura MDX

With its standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the Toyota Grand Highlander is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Acura MDX, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

The Grand Highlander has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The MDX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Grand Highlander XLE AWD/Limited AWD/Nightshade/Platinum’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Grand Highlander and MDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The MDX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Grand Highlander and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Grand Highlander for 1 year and 13000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the MDX (2/25000 vs. 1/12000).

There are almost 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Highlander’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Grand Highlander’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the MDX’s camshafts. If the MDX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Grand Highlander’s reliability 18 points higher than the MDX.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Acura is ranked fourth.

The Grand Highlander has more powerful engines than the MDX:

As tested in Motor Trend the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the MDX Type S 3.0 turbo V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Highlander gets better mileage than the MDX:

Regenerative brakes improve the Grand Highlander Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The MDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Grand Highlander offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The MDX doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Grand Highlander stops much shorter than the MDX:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Highlander’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the MDX (116.1 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Grand Highlander’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the MDX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the Grand Highlander more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Grand Highlander’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the MDX’s (38.1 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (8 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Grand Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Grand Highlander Platinum AWD is quieter than the MDX Type S:

The Grand Highlander offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the MDX can only carry 7.

The Grand Highlander has 14.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (153.3 vs. 139.1).

The Grand Highlander has 3 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 1 inch more rear legroom, 1 inch more third row headroom, 4.4 inches more third row legroom, 5.1 inches more third row hip room and 2.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Grand Highlander’s middle and third row seats recline. The MDX’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Grand Highlander’s cargo area provides more volume than the MDX.

The Grand Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the MDX’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Grand Highlander has a much higher standard payload capacity than the MDX (1575 vs. 1173 lbs.).

The Grand Highlander has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the MDX (1710 vs. 1173 lbs.).

The power windows standard on both the Grand Highlander and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Grand Highlander is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The MDX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Grand Highlander’s standard Smart Key System allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access System standard on the MDX doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Grand Highlander Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The MDX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Highlander Platinum also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The MDX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Grand Highlander and the Acura MDX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Grand Highlander was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The MDX hasn’t been picked since 2001.