Compare the2025 Buick EnclaveVS 2024 Acura MDX

The Enclave has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The MDX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Enclave and MDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Enclave has Rear 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 Enclave and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, available all wheel drive, front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

The Enclave’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the MDX’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 4 times as many Buick dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Enclave’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Enclave’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’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick above average in initial quality. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick third in reliability, above the industry average. With 67 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 20th.

The Enclave’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 38 more horsepower (328 vs. 290) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Enclave uses regular unleaded gasoline. The MDX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Enclave FWD’s standard fuel tank has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the MDX (19.4 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Enclave AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the MDX (21.7 vs. 18.5 gallons).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Enclave has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the MDX. The Enclave’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the MDX Type S.

The Buick Enclave’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Acura MDX only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Enclave’s wheelbase is 7.1 inches longer than on the MDX (120.9 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Enclave’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the MDX’s (39 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

The front grille of the Enclave 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 Enclave has 4.1 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room, 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.1 inches more third row headroom, 3 inches more third row legroom, 7.9 inches more third row hip room and 2.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

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

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Enclave’s optional second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The MDX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Acura. J.D. Power ranks Buick third in service department satisfaction. With a 17% lower rating, Acura is ranked 9th.

The Enclave’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 Enclave and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Enclave 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.

The Enclave’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access System standard on the MDX doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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

The Enclave’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.

The Enclave has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the MDX.

The Enclave’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist 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.