What Is the Best Acura SUV?
The best overall Acura SUV is the RDX, but you may want to opt for an MDX when looking for a three-row family vehicle.
Written by Mary Cahill
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The RDX and MDX are the best Acura SUVs to buy new or used. The RDX is sporty and affordable, while the MDX is spacious and reliable. And both luxury vehicles are chock full of tech and design features that add comfort and style to your drive.
SUVs continue to dominate the auto market, and Acura has no trouble keeping up with the trend. Although the RDX earned the top spot as Acura’s best SUV, don’t count out its big sister the MDX, which is the best-selling three-row luxury SUV of all time.
So, how do the RDX and MDX compare to each other? The folks at
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—are here with a breakdown of the best Acura SUVs to buy new or used. We'll even help you save on your Acura car insurance costs
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The best Acura SUV overall: RDX
Starting price: $41,795
Number of seats: 5
J.D. Power rating: 76
Swankier than a
Nissan
and more affordable than a Mercedes-Benz
, the Acura RDX
was made for drivers who crave attention to detail, respectable fuel economy, and agile road performance. The RDX gets its pep from a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged engine that offers 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway—if you choose the front-wheel-drive version. Upgrading to all-wheel drive (AWD) will cause both miles-per-gallon ratings to drop slightly.
For 2022, the RDX has been revamped. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard on all trims and a wireless charging pad for smartphones is available. The sheer amount of buttons and controls on the infotainment panel can read as cluttered, but fantastic touches like the RDX Technology Package’s 27-colorinterior lighting system softens up the heavy-handed design.
If you’re feeling fancy, check out the limited PMC Edition trim. Only 200 units will be produced in 2022. The PMC Edition features a unique body paint color called Long Beach Blue Pearl that’s paired with an Orchid interior.
As for its safety ratings, you’ll be glad to know that the RDX earned five out of five stars from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
. A five-star rating was given for the side crash test and four stars were given for the frontal crash and rollover tests. With a starting MSRP of $41,795, the RDX isn’t the most affordable, but it is one of the most spacious in its class, boasting 29.5 cubic feet of space behind the backseat and 58.9 cubic feet of space behind the front seats.
Comfort proved to be king for SUV shoppers in 2021—57,013 RDX units were sold, making up one-third of all Acuras sold that year.
The best Acura SUV to buy used: 2013 MDX
Price range: $17,116 to $19,320
Number of seats: 7
J.D. Power rating: 80
Let’s cut right to the chase: The 2013
Acura MDX
was named by auto researchers as the best affordable used vehicle under $20,000. Why? For starters, a well-maintained RDX can easily run for over 200,000 miles. The MDX is a three-row SUV that comes with AWD, a six-speed automatic transmission, and a
3.7-liter V6 engine
that produces 300 horsepower. Gas mileage isn’t spectacular, with 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway, but that is to be expected of a vehicle its size. The 2013 Acura MDX is available with the following trim package upgrades:
While you may get more bells and whistles when you opt for a higher trim—think 410-watt audio in the Technology Package or ventilated front seats in the Entertainment Package, the MDX is a durable, high-quality SUV with a luxurious interior.
Like the RDX, the design of the MDX infotainment panel is a bit clunky, but the sleek, sculptural body earns back some style points—as do the comfy front seats that come with leather upholstery as a standard feature. In case you’re still doubting the MDX's popularity, a whopping 53,040 units were sold in the U.S. in 2013 when it was brand new.
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The best Acura SUV for families: MDX
Starting price: $49,195
Number of seats: 7
J.D. Power rating: 77 (for the 2020 model)
You guessed it, coming in hot for the family-friendly category is the MDX. The 2022 model year brings some pleasant new changes to the MDX, starting with a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission as the base powertrain. Plus, AWD is available on all trims. Pair that with a classy, redesigned interior featuring dual-zone automatic climate control and leather upholstery, and you’ve got an SUV the whole fam can enjoy.
The 2022 Acura MDX is available in the following trim levels:
Taking a cue from the RDX, the 2022 MDX features ambient, adjustable interior lighting but takes things up a notch with luxurious amenities like a 12-speaker stereo system andmassaging front seats on the upper trims.
Three rows of seats
is certainly a family-focused configuration, but one chink in the MDX’s armor is its cramped legroom in the last seating row. On the other hand, the cargo space is very sizable—with 16.9 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, 39.1 cubic feet when you fold the third row down, and 71.4 cubic feet when you fold down the second and third rows. For those with a few car seats to maneuver, the 2022 MDX is equipped with LATCH car-seat connectors in both the second and third rows of seating.
When you’re on the hunt for a family SUV, safety is a top priority and the MDX doesn’t disappoint. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2022 MDX with its highest rating of Good+ for its LATCH connector system and its top rating of Good in the crash test category.
The MDX safety features also received the highest award from the IIHS thanks to its high-tech driver-assistance equipment like:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keeping assist
- Automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Forward collision warning
- Traffic jam assist
The newer MDX gets a boost in the fuel economy department with 21 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and a combined 25 mpg. However, it loses the hybrid powertrain that was offered on the 2020 model.
Keep the kids entertained with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a large 12.3-inch infotainment screen up front. And keep your hands free with a little help from Amazon Alexa voice control.
The best way to shop for Acura insurance
Once you’ve found the perfect Acura SUV to suit your lifestyle, add peace of mind to the equation by protecting your new purchase with good
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