Compare the2024 Toyota HighlanderVS 2024 Acura MDX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Highlander is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Acura MDX, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Highlander	MDX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-22 MPH	-19 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-17 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Low beams	-25 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	2 sec	No Warning

The Highlander has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The MDX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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

Both the Highlander and MDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Highlander Limited/Platinum has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The MDX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Highlander 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, front wheel drive, 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, 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 Toyota Highlander is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Highlander	MDX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Compression	55 lbs.	59 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	321/243 lbs.	463/521 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28.4%	30%

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 Toyota Highlander is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Highlander	MDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	55	107
Chest Movement	.3 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	79 lbs.	105 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	114	142
Spine Acceleration	37 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	152 lbs.	168 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	366	549

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

Warranty

There are almost 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander’s warranty.

Reliability

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

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 Highlander’s reliability 18 points higher than the MDX.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. With 13 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota 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 Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Acura is ranked fourth.

Engine

The Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 43 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Highlander
	FWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 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 Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The MDX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

The Highlander stops shorter than the MDX:

	Highlander	MDX
60 to 0 MPH	133 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Highlander’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the MDX’s (37.4 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (8 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Highlander is 3.5 inches shorter than the MDX, making the Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Highlander offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the MDX can only carry 7.

The Highlander has 2.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (141.8 vs. 139.1).

The Highlander has 2.7 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom and 5 inches more third row hip room than the MDX.

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

Payload and Towing

The Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the MDX’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Highlander has a higher standard payload capacity than the MDX (1330 vs. 1173 lbs.).

The Highlander has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the MDX (1390 vs. 1173 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Highlander and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Highlander 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 see further while navigating curves, the Highlander Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The MDX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $360 less than the MDX over a five-year period.

The Highlander will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Highlander will retain 54.44% to 56.71% of its original price after five years, while the MDX only retains 50.63% to 53.63%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $14798 to $24738 less than for the Acura MDX.

Recommendations

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

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Acura MDX by almost three to one during 2023.