Compare the2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee LVS 2024 Acura MDX

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L 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 Grand Cherokee L has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The MDX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit’s standard Hill-descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Hill-descent Control.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The MDX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Grand Cherokee L 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 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, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 3 visits) on the Grand Cherokee L for 1 year and unlimited miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the MDX (3/unlimited vs. 2/24,000).

There are almost 9 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee L’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Grand Cherokee L’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.

The battery on the Grand Cherokee L is under the seat, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Grand Cherokee L’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The MDX’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 16 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 Jeep vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 43 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Jeep higher than Acura.

The Grand Cherokee L’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 3 more horsepower (293 vs. 290) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6. The Grand Cherokee L’s optional 5.7 V8 produces 2 more horsepower (357 vs. 355) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (390 vs. 354) than the MDX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V6 is faster than the Acura MDX V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee L 3.6 DOHC V6 4x4 gets better fuel mileage than the MDX Type S 3.0 turbo V6 (18 city/25 hwy vs. 17 city/21 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The MDX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 31.4 cents more per gallon.

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

The Grand Cherokee L’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 Grand Cherokee L stops much shorter than the MDX:

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

The Grand Cherokee L offers an optional 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Cherokee L’s wheelbase is 7.9 inches longer than on the MDX (121.7 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Grand Cherokee L’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the MDX’s (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the Grand Cherokee L more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Grand Cherokee L’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the MDX’s (38.4 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee L Laredo/Limited has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (8.5 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee L to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit’s minimum ground clearance is 1.5 inches higher than on the MDX Type S (10.9 vs. 9.4 inches).

The front grille of the Grand Cherokee L uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The MDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Grand Cherokee L has 20 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (159.1 vs. 139.1).

The Grand Cherokee L has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom, 1.1 inches more third row headroom, 1.2 inches more third row legroom and 2.3 inches more third row hip room than the MDX.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit’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.

Maximum trailer towing in the Acura MDX is limited to 5000 pounds. The Grand Cherokee L 4x4 offers up to a 7200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Grand Cherokee L 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Grand Cherokee L can be unhitched and driven around locally. The MDX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Grand Cherokee L has a higher standard payload capacity than the MDX (1370 vs. 1173 lbs.).

The Grand Cherokee L has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the MDX (1400 vs. 1173 lbs.).

The engine in the Grand Cherokee L 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 Grand Cherokee L’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The MDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Grand Cherokee L has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The MDX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Grand Cherokee L Limited/Overland/Summit’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.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Grand Cherokee L’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The MDX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The MDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its December 2021 issue and they ranked the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4 higher than the Acura MDX SH-AWD.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Acura MDX by almost five to one during 2022.