Compare the2024 Acura MDXVS 2024 Buick Enclave

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
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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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Acura MDX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Acura MDX 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 Buick Enclave doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Acura MDX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Enclave doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Enclave doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the MDX and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, 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 Buick Enclave:

	MDX	Enclave
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	288	333
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.9 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30%	35.2%
Neck Stress	122 lbs.	128 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 Buick Enclave:

	MDX	Enclave
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	105 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	168 lbs.	716 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
Hip Force	424 lbs.	554 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Acura MDX is safer than the Enclave:

	MDX	Enclave
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	83	141
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	446 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.71 in	1.3 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.5 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	1116 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	171	189
Neck Tension	112 lbs.	134 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.75 in	1.02 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Acura MDX has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Enclave is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

The MDX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Enclave’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the MDX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Enclave. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Enclave ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The MDX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Enclave’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the MDX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Enclave.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura fourth in overall reliability. Buick is ranked 12th.

Engine

The MDX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 45 more horsepower (355 vs. 310) and 88 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Acura MDX is faster than the Buick Enclave:

	MDX V6	MDX Type S	Enclave
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	5.4 sec	6.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.6 sec	5.8 sec	6.8 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
MDX
	FWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/25 hwy
Enclave
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	17 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 Enclave doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The MDX has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Enclave. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura MDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Enclave.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	MDX	MDX Type S	Enclave
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	14.3 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13 inches	12.4 inches

The MDX stops much shorter than the Enclave:

	MDX	Enclave
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the MDX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Enclave (275/40R21 vs. 255/65R18).

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 Enclave’s standard 65 series tires. The MDX Type S’ tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Enclave’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 Enclave. The MDX Type S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Enclave.

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 Enclave doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

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 Enclave doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The MDX Type S handles at .87 G’s, while the Enclave Essence pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The MDX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Enclave Avenir (27 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the MDX Type S has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Enclave (9.4 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the MDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The MDX is 6.4 inches shorter than the Enclave, making the MDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the MDX Type S is quieter than the Enclave Essence (36 vs. 38 dB).

Passenger Space

The MDX has .4 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear hip room than the Enclave.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the MDX. The Enclave doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The MDX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

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 Enclave doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Enclave Premium/Avenir, 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 MDX’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The MDX’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Enclave’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the MDX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Enclave doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Economic Advantages

The MDX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the MDX will retain 50.63% to 53.63% of its original price after five years, while the Enclave only retains 48.75% to 49.82%.

Recommendations

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

The Acura MDX outsold the Buick Enclave by 46% during 2023.

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