Compare the2023 Lexus GXVS 2023 Acura MDX

The GX’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The MDX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Lexus GX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Acura MDX doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The GX has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The MDX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

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

Both the GX and the MDX 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, 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 GX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the MDX’s (6 vs. 5 years).

The MDX’s redline is at 6800 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The GX has a 5800 RPM redline.

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 GX’s reliability 39 points higher than the MDX.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GX second among midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The MDX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

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

The GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8 produces 11 more horsepower (301 vs. 290) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (329 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lexus GX is faster than the Acura MDX V6:

The GX has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the MDX (23 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The GX’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 GX stops much shorter than the MDX:

For better traction, the GX has larger tires than the MDX (265/60R18 vs. 255/55R19).

The Lexus GX’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Acura MDX only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The GX has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the MDX; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The GX has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The MDX doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The GX’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the MDX’s (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the GX more stable handling and braking.

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

The GX is 6.3 inches shorter than the MDX, making the GX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the GX is quieter than the MDX Type S (73 vs. 76 dB).

The GX has .1 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more third row legroom and 2.5 inches more third row hip room than the MDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GX’s middle seats and third row seats (except Base/Black Line Edition) recline. The MDX’s third row seats don’t recline.

The GX has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The MDX doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the GX’s (except Base/Black Line) optional third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The MDX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The GX’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the right swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The MDX’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The GX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the MDX’s (6500 vs. 3500 pounds).

The GX has a higher standard payload capacity than the MDX (1295 vs. 1173 lbs.).

The engine in the GX 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Acura. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Acura is ranked 6th.

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

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The GX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The MDX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the GX offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The MDX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The GX’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.

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