Compare the2025 Toyota 4RunnerVS 2025 Acura MDX

The 4Runner 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 4Runner TRD Off-Road/Trailhunter/TRD Pro’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the 4Runner and MDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the 4Runner Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter/TRD Pro 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 4Runner and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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 four-wheel drive and around view monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4Runner 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 4Runner’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the 4Runner’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 4Runner’s reliability 32 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’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Acura is ranked fifth.

The 4Runner has more powerful engines than the MDX:

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota 4Runner turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Acura MDX V6:

On the EPA test cycle the 4Runner gets better mileage than the MDX:

Regenerative brakes improve the 4Runner i-FORCE MAX’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The MDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota 4Runner uses regular unleaded gasoline. The MDX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota 4Runner higher (6 out of 10) than the Acura MDX (4). This means the 4Runner produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the MDX every 15,000 miles.

The 4Runner’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MDX are solid, not vented.

The 4Runner stops much shorter than the MDX:

For better traction, the 4Runner has larger tires than the MDX (265/70R17 vs. 255/55R19).

The Toyota 4Runner’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Acura MDX only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The 4Runner has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the MDX; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The 4Runner Trailhunter/TRD Pro has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The MDX doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 4Runner’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.4% to 50.6%) than the MDX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the 4Runner more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the 4Runner’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the MDX’s (39.4 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the 4Runner SR5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (8.1 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the 4Runner to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The 4Runner Trailhunter/TRD Pro’s minimum ground clearance is .7 inch higher than on the MDX Type S (10.1 vs. 9.4 inches).

The 4Runner is 3.5 inches shorter than the MDX, making the 4Runner easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 4Runner has 1.2 inches more front headroom and .2 inches more front legroom than the MDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the 4Runner’s middle and third row seats recline. The MDX’s third row seats don’t recline.

The 4Runner has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The MDX doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

The 4Runner’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The MDX’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The 4Runner’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the MDX’s (6000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The 4Runner has a much higher standard payload capacity than the MDX (1390 vs. 1173 lbs.).

The 4Runner has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the MDX (1550 vs. 1173 lbs.).

The engine in the 4Runner is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the MDX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The 4Runner’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The MDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the 4Runner and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 4Runner 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 Toyota 4Runner outsold the Acura MDX by almost two to one during 2024.