Compare the2022 Acura MDXVS 2022 GMC Acadia

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Acura MDX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The GMC Acadia doesn’t offer pretensioners for the middle seat belts.

The Acura MDX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Acadia doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Acadia doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The MDX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Acadia doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the MDX and the Acadia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the MDX its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 76 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Acadia last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Pick” in 2017.

The MDX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Acadia’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the MDX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than GMC covers the Acadia. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Acadia ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The MDX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Acadia’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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

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 MDX’s reliability 18 points higher than the Acadia.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Acura vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Acura 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 25th.

The MDX’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 62 more horsepower (290 vs. 228) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. 258) than the Acadia’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

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

For better traction, the MDX has larger tires than the Acadia (255/55R19 vs. 235/65R18).

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 Acadia SLE/SLT’s standard 65 series tires. The MDX’s optional tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Acadia’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the MDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Acadia AT4.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the MDX’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the Acadia (113.8 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the MDX is 3.2 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Acadia.

For greater off-road capability the MDX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia (7.3 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the MDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The MDX has .6 inches more front legroom, 3.6 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 4.5 inches more rear hip room, 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room and .9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Acadia.

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

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the MDX. The Acadia doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The MDX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Acadia’s (3500 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Acadia is only 4000 pounds. The MDX SH-AWD offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the MDX uses the Vehicle Stability Assist sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Acadia doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than GMC. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 11% lower rating, GMC is ranked 15th.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Acadia (except SLE), 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’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Acadia, and is not available on all models.

The MDX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Acadia’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

If the windows are left open on the MDX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Acadia can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The MDX has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Acadia doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The MDX’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Acadia’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The MDX’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Acadia’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the Acadia.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Acura MDX and the GMC Acadia, based on reliability, safety and performance.