Compare the2022 Acura MDXVS 2021 Lexus GX460

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the MDX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GX460 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The MDX offers an optional Low-Speed Braking Control that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The GX460 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the MDX uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The GX460 uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the MDX and the GX460 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 all wheel drive and around view monitors.

There are over 11 percent more Acura dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the MDX’s warranty.

The engine in the MDX has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the GX460 has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

On the EPA test cycle the MDX SH-AWD gets better fuel mileage than the GX460 (19 city/25 hwy vs. 15 city/19 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the MDX’s fuel efficiency. The GX460 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the MDX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The GX460 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura MDX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The GX460 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The MDX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The GX460 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura MDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the GX460.

For better stopping power the MDX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GX460:

The MDX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX460’s standard 60 series tires. The MDX’s optional tires have a lower 50 series profile than the GX460’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the MDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GX460. The MDX’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the GX460.

The MDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The GX460 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For superior ride and handling, the Acura MDX has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Lexus GX460 has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the MDX’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the GX460 (113.8 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the MDX is 5.3 inches wider in the front and 5.3 inches wider in the rear than on the GX460.

For better maneuverability, the MDX’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the GX460’s (40.5 feet vs. 41.1 feet).

The Acura MDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 850 pounds less than the Lexus GX460.

Unibody construction lowers the MDX’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The GX460 uses body-on-frame design instead.

The MDX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GX460 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The MDX has 9.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GX460 (139.1 vs. 129.7).

The MDX has .5 inches more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 6.5 inches more front shoulder room, 4.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.6 inches more rear hip room, 3 inches more rear shoulder room, 1 inch more third row headroom and .7 inches more third row shoulder room than the GX460.

The MDX’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX460.

The MDX’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The GX460’s swing out door blocks loading from the passenger’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the MDX has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the MDX Advance, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The GX460 doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the GX460, the MDX offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The MDX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GX460 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The MDX’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GX460’s parking brake has to released manually.

The MDX’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The GX460’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The MDX’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The GX460’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Acura MDX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The GX460 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The MDX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GX460 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.