Compare the2023 Acura MDXVS 2023 Audi e-tron

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
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 e-tron 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 uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The e-tron doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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 e-tron doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the MDX and the e-tron have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, 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 Audi e-tron:

	MDX	e-tron
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	288	323
Neck Injury Risk	30%	38%
Neck Stress	122 lbs.	157 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 Audi e-tron:

	MDX	e-tron
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	105 lbs.	117 lbs.
Hip Force	226 lbs.	236 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	168 lbs.	579 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	60 G’s
Hip Force	424 lbs.	631 lbs.

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

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 e-tron has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the MDX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the MDX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the e-tron.

Reliability

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 34 points higher than the e-tron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 47 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Audi.

Brakes and Stopping

The MDX stops much shorter than the e-tron:

	MDX	e-tron
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the MDX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the e-tron (275/40R21 vs. 265/45R21).

The MDX Type S’ tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the e-tron’s optional 45 series tires.

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 e-tron 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 e-tron doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The MDX SH-AWD has a standard space-saver spare (not available on FWD/Type S) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the e-tron; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the MDX is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the e-tron.

The MDX Type S handles at .87 G’s, while the e-tron Chronos Edition pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Acura MDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1300 to 1500 pounds less than the Audi e-tron.

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

Passenger Space

The MDX has standard seating for 7 passengers; the e-tron can only carry 5.

The MDX has .4 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the MDX’s middle row seats recline. The e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The MDX’s cargo area provides more volume than the e-tron.

	MDX	e-tron
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	28.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	95 cubic feet	56.4 cubic feet

Towing

The MDX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the e-tron’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Audi e-tron 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 e-tron doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 6% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

Ergonomics

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the MDX has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the e-tron only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the MDX’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the e-tron’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 e-tron.

The MDX offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The e-tron doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

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

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the MDX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the MDX will cost $4190 to $7830 less than the e-tron over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Acura MDX will be $10382 to $15176 less than for the Audi e-tron.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Acura MDX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Audi e-tron isn't recommended.

The Acura MDX outsold the Audi e-tron by almost four to one during 2022.