Compare the2023 Subaru AscentVS 2023 Acura MDX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front 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.

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

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

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

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

	Ascent	MDX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	190	244
Neck Injury Risk	21%	29%
Neck Stress	229 lbs.	304 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	59 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	159/292 lbs.	463/521 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	288
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	392/458 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 Subaru Ascent is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Ascent	MDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	107
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	105 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	142
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	41 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	549

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

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ascent’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Ascent’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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Acura.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Acura.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 1 place higher in reliability than Acura.

Engine

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Ascent is faster than the Acura MDX V6:

	Ascent	MDX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.5 MPH	88.6 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The MDX doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Ascent
	AWD	2.4 turbo flat-4	20 city/26 hwy
		Limited/Touring/Onyx 2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy
MDX
	FWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/25 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	17 city/21 hwy

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

Transmission

The Ascent has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The MDX doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Ascent’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 Ascent stops much shorter than the MDX:

	Ascent	MDX
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Ascent’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.2% to 45.8%) than the MDX’s (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the Ascent more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the MDX’s (38 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (8.7 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Ascent Limited is quieter than the MDX Type S:

	Ascent	MDX
Full-Throttle	70 dB	76 dB
70 MPH Cruising	64 dB	68 dB

Passenger Space

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

The Ascent has 14.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (153.2 vs. 139.1).

The Ascent has 2.7 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom, 2.6 inches more third row legroom, 5.3 inches more third row hip room and 2 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

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

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Ascent 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.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). The MDX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its AcuraLink can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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

The Ascent’s optional 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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ascent will cost $350 to $1615 less than the MDX over a five-year period.

The Ascent will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Ascent will retain 52.78% to 54.99% of its original price after five years, while the MDX only retains 45.63% to 46.51%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Ascent will be $16402 to $17574 less than for the Acura MDX.

Recommendations

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

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Acura MDX by 37% during 2022.