Compare the2025 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2025 Acura MDX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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With its standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the Toyota Grand Highlander is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Acura MDX, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Grand Highlander	MDX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-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 Brights	AVOIDED	-33 MPH
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.8 sec	No Warning

The Grand 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 Grand Highlander XLE AWD/Limited AWD/Nightshade/Platinum’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Grand Highlander and MDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade 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 Grand 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 Grand Highlander is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Grand Highlander	MDX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	218	244
Neck Compression	12 lbs.	59 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	331/316 lbs.	463/521 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	60 lbs.	75 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	384/277 lbs.	392/458 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 Toyota Grand Highlander is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Grand Highlander	MDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	42	107
Chest Movement	.3 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	64 lbs.	105 lbs.
Hip Force	199 lbs.	226 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	63	142
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	55 lbs.	168 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	344	549

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

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Grand Highlander for 1 year and 13000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the MDX (2/25000 vs. 1/12000).

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 Grand Highlander’s warranty.

Reliability

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 1 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 Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Acura is ranked fifth.

Engine

The Grand Highlander has more powerful engines than the MDX:

	Horsepower	Torque
Grand Highlander 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	265 HP	310 lbs.-ft.
Grand Highlander Hybrid Max 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	362 HP	400 lbs.-ft.
MDX 3.5 SOHC V6	290 HP	267 lbs.-ft.
MDX Type S 3.0 turbo V6	355 HP	354 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the MDX Type S 3.0 turbo V6:

	Grand Highlander	MDX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	6.2 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Grand Highlander
	FWD	LE/XLE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	37 city/34 hwy
		Limited 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/32 hwy
		2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
	AWD	LE/XLE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/32 hwy
		Limited 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/31 hwy
		2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/27 hwy
		LE/XLE 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
		Limited/Platinum 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 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

Regenerative brakes improve the Grand Highlander Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The MDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Grand Highlander higher (6 out of 10) than the Acura MDX (4). This means the Grand Highlander produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the MDX every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Grand Highlander offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The MDX doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Grand Highlander stops much shorter than the MDX:

	Grand Highlander	MDX
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Highlander’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the MDX (116.1 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Grand Highlander’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the MDX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the Grand Highlander more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Grand Highlander’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the MDX’s (38.1 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

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

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Grand Highlander Platinum AWD is quieter than the MDX Type S:

	Grand Highlander	MDX
At idle	31 dB	36 dB
Full-Throttle	73 dB	76 dB
70 MPH Cruising	67 dB	68 dB

Passenger Space

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

The Grand Highlander has 14.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (153.3 vs. 139.1).

The Grand Highlander has 3 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 1 inch more rear legroom, 1 inch more third row headroom, 4.4 inches more third row legroom, 5.1 inches more third row hip room and 2.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

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

Cargo Capacity

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

	Grand Highlander	MDX
Behind Third Seat	20.6 cubic feet	18.1 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.9 cubic feet	48.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.5 cubic feet	95 cubic feet

Payload and Towing

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

The Grand Highlander has a much higher standard payload capacity than the MDX (1575 vs. 1173 lbs.).

The Grand Highlander has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the MDX (1710 vs. 1173 lbs.).

Ergonomics

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

The Grand Highlander’s standard Smart Key System allows 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 see further while navigating curves, the Grand 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.

The Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Highlander Platinum also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The MDX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

Recommendations

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

The Grand Highlander was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The MDX hasn’t been picked since 2001.

The Toyota Grand Highlander outsold the Acura MDX by 36% during 2024.

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