Compare the2024 Ford ExplorerVS 2024 Acura MDX

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

Safety

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The Explorer has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply 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 Explorer 4WD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Explorer and MDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Explorer offers optional Cross Traffic Braking (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 Explorer 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, 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 Ford Explorer is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Explorer	MDX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	125	244
Neck Injury Risk	26.3%	29%
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	304 lbs.
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	59 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/210 lbs.	463/521 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29.2%	30%
Leg Forces (l/r)	380/405 lbs.	392/458 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Explorer is safer than the MDX:

	Explorer	MDX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	225/180 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	225/180 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Chest Rating
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

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 Ford Explorer is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Explorer	MDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	65	107
Hip Force	224 lbs.	226 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	142
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	41 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	288	549
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	40 G’s

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

Warranty

There are almost 11 times as many Ford dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

Reliability

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The MDX doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford 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 Ford vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

Engine

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (300 vs. 290) and 43 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6. The Explorer ST/King Ranch/Platinum’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 45 more horsepower (400 vs. 355) and 61 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 354) than the MDX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Acura MDX V6:

	Explorer	MDX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	88.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Explorer
	RWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
	AWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
		ST/King Ranch/Platinum 3.0 turbo V6	18 city/24 hwy
		Timberline 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/22 hwy
		ST/King Ranch/Platinum 3.0 turbo V6	17 city/24 hwy
		Timberline 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/21 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

The Explorer V6 Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the MDX (20.2 vs. 18.5 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

The Explorer ST’s optional 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 Explorer stops much shorter than the MDX:

	Explorer	MDX
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The Explorer’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The MDX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the MDX (119.1 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

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

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .85 G’s, while the MDX SH-AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the MDX SH-AWD (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Explorer’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 Explorer King Ranch has a greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (7.9 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Explorer 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.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Explorer XLT 4WD is quieter than the MDX Type S (73 vs. 76 dB).

Passenger Space

The Explorer has 13.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (152.7 vs. 139.1).

The Explorer has 2.2 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, 2.4 inches more rear headroom, .5 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room, 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.7 inches more third row headroom, 3.1 inches more third row legroom and .3 inches more third row hip room than the MDX.

Cargo Capacity

The Explorer’s cargo area provides more volume than the MDX.

	Explorer	MDX
Behind Third Seat	18.2 cubic feet	18.1 cubic feet

The Explorer 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 button automatically lowers or raises the Explorer’s (except Base/XLT/ST-Line) optional third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The MDX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Acura MDX is limited to 5000 pounds. The Explorer 4WD offers up to a 5600 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Explorer 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

The power windows standard on both the Explorer and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Explorer 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 case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. 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 Explorer 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.

The Explorer’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.

The Explorer ST/Platinum’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The MDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Explorer will be $12417 to $14365 less than for the Acura MDX.

Recommendations

The Ford Explorer outsold the Acura MDX by over three to one during 2023.