Compare the2022 Toyota HighlanderVS 2022 Acura MDX

The Highlander has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The MDX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 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 Highlander AWD’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Highlander and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Acura doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the MDX.

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 Highlander’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the 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 Highlander’s reliability 39 points higher than the MDX.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander third among upper midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The MDX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 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 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Acura is ranked 28th.

The Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 5 more horsepower (295 vs. 290) than the MDX’s 3.5 SOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Highlander is faster than the Acura MDX:

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The MDX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander’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 Highlander stops shorter than the MDX:

The Highlander’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55% to 45%) than the MDX’s (58% to 42%). This gives the Highlander more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the MDX’s (37.4 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

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

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

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the MDX can only carry 7.

The Highlander has 2.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (141.3 vs. 139.1).

The Highlander has 2.7 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom and 5 inches more third row hip room than the MDX.

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

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

The Highlander has a higher standard payload capacity than the MDX (1330 vs. 1173 lbs.).

The power windows standard on both the Highlander and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 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.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the 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.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Acura MDX isn't recommended.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Acura MDX by over four to one during the 2021 model year.