Compare the2023 Acura MDXVS 2022 Lexus RXL

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 RXL doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the MDX and the RXL 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, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura MDX is safer than the Lexus RXL:

	MDX	RXL
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	29%	33.2%
Neck Stress	304 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	59 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	463/521 lbs.	433/719 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	288	305
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30%	40.1%
Neck Stress	122 lbs.	267 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	392/458 lbs.	403/457 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Acura MDX is safer than the Lexus RXL:

	MDX	RXL
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	105 lbs.	110 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	165
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	168 lbs.	594 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	424 lbs.	685 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the MDX is 1.6% less likely to roll over than the RXL.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the MDX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RXL last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the MDX for 1 year and 14,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RXL (2/24,000 vs. 1/10,000).

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.

Engine

The MDX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 47 more horsepower (355 vs. 308) than the RX 450hL’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Acura MDX V6 is faster than the RX 350L 3.5 DOHC V6:

	MDX	RXL
Zero to 60 MPH	7.4 sec	7.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the MDX 3.5 SOHC V6 SH-AWD gets better fuel mileage than the RX 350L AWD (19 city/25 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

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

Regardless of its engine, the MDX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the RXL Hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura MDX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The RX 450hL requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The MDX has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 RXL doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura MDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the RXL.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	MDX	MDX Type S	RXL
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	14.3 inches	12.9 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the MDX has larger standard tires than the RXL (255/55R19 vs. 235/65R18). The MDX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RXL (275/40R21 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 RXL’s standard 65 series tires. The MDX Type S’ tires have a lower 40 series profile than the RXL’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 RXL. The MDX Type S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the RXL.

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 RXL doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the MDX can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The RXL doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

The MDX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The RXL’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The MDX Type S has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The MDX’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The RXL doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

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

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the MDX is 3.3 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than on the RXL.

The MDX SH-AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the RX 350L AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The MDX SH-AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the RX 350L (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the MDX Type S has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the RXL (9.4 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the MDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

The MDX has 22.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RXL (139.1 vs. 117).

The MDX has .2 inches more front legroom, 3.5 inches more front hip room, 3.6 inches more front shoulder room, 7.6 inches more rear legroom, 2 inches more rear hip room, 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.4 inches more third row headroom, 5.6 inches more third row legroom and 9.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the RXL.

Cargo Capacity

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

	MDX	RXL
Behind Third Seat	18.1 cubic feet	7.5 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	23 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	95 cubic feet	58.5 cubic feet

Towing

The MDX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RXL’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus RXL is only 3500 pounds. The MDX SH-AWD offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the MDX, using 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. A trailer sway program costs extra on the RXL.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the RXL, 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 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 RXL’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

The MDX Type S Advance has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RXL.

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 RXL.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the MDX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the MDX will cost $840 to $3320 less than the RXL over a five-year period.

Recommendations

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