Compare the2023 Genesis GV80VS 2023 Acura MDX

Both the GV80 and MDX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The GV80 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The MDX’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The GV80 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The MDX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GV80. But it costs extra on the MDX.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GV80’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the GV80 and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 and available around view monitors.

The GV80 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The MDX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the GV80 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Acura covers the MDX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the MDX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The GV80’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the MDX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the GV80 for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the MDX (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

There are over 13 percent more Genesis dealers than there are Acura dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GV80’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 36 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 21st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 89 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Genesis 23 places higher in reliability than Acura.

The GV80 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (300 vs. 290) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6. The GV80 3.5T’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 20 more horsepower (375 vs. 355) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (391 vs. 354) than the MDX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the GV80 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Acura MDX V6:

On the EPA test cycle the GV80 gets better mileage than the MDX:

The GV80 has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the MDX (21.1 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the GV80’s brake rotors are larger than those on the MDX:

The GV80’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 GV80 stops much shorter than the MDX:

For better traction, the GV80 has larger tires than the MDX (265/40R22 vs. 255/55R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GV80 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The MDX’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GV80’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the MDX (116.3 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The GV80’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51% to 49%) than the MDX’s (58% to 42%). This gives the GV80 more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the GV80’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the MDX’s (39.3 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GV80 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (8.1 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the GV80 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The GV80 is 3.7 inches shorter than the MDX, making the GV80 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GV80 has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more third row legroom than the MDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GV80’s middle and third row seats recline. The MDX’s third row seats don’t recline.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the GV80’s second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The MDX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The GV80’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the MDX’s (6000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The engine in the GV80 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 power windows standard on both the GV80 and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the GV80 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 GV80’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The MDX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The GV80’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The MDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The GV80 has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The MDX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The GV80 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the MDX.

The GV80’s optional Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The MDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The GV80 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2021. The MDX has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.