The towing capacity of the Acura MDX SUV ranges from 3,500 to 5,000 pounds depending on whether you outfit your ride with standard front-wheel drive or Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®).

If you’re looking for the perfect SUV to take camping on the weekend or hook up to your trailer, knowing your intended vehicle’s towing capacity is essential. Most SUVs are built with some towing in mind, but your vehicle’s size, engine power, transmission, and other features can determine the maximum weight you can haul behind you.

Here with all the information you need about the Acura MDX’s towing capabilities is

car insurance

savings app

Jerry

. We’ll look at the MDX’s maximum towing capacity (and how to achieve it), along with tips on how to increase towing capacity while decreasing your

Acura MDX insurance costs

Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds

Find Savings!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

How much can an Acura MDX tow?

Base towing capacity: 3,500 pounds

Maximum towing capacity: 5,000 pounds

Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (290 hp) or turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (355 hp)

The mid-size three-row SUV from Honda’s luxury and performance division, the Acura MDX offers sporty handling, generous cargo space, and an impressive towing capacity for a vehicle of its size.

The baseline towing capacity of an MDX with front-wheel drive is a respectable 3,500 pounds, but you can go all the way up to 5,000 pounds if you choose Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®). All-wheel drive is standard on the

A-Spec

Advance

, and Type S trims, but it’s also available as an option on the base and

Technology

trims.

Trailer hitches for the Acura MDX

If you’re buying a new Acura MDX, you’ll have the option to outfit it with a Trailer Hitch Kit, along with the Trailer Hitch ATF cooler kit, which cools the transmission to permit towing up to 5,000 pounds.

To add a trailer hitch to an existing MDX, though, you’ll have plenty of options, such as the top-rated

CURT 13146 Class 3

trailer hitch, which is rated for up to 6,000 pounds gross trailer weight.

MORE:

How to install a tow bar

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

How to calculate the towing capacity you need

Just how much can you haul with the MDX’s towing capacity? Keep in mind that your towing capacity should be greater than the biggest load you plan to pull—so don’t expect to hitch a full 3,500 pounds to your MDX if it’s only got front-wheel drive.

Although the exact weights of different loads will vary, here’s what you can expect to tow with an MDX.

With front-wheel drive:

Canoe or kayak trailer (600 to 800 lbs.)

Motorcycle trailer (800 to 3,000 lbs.)

With all-wheel drive:

Pop-up camper (2,800 to 4,300 lbs.)

Some utility trailers (up to 5,000 lbs.)

If you want to take your MDX down to the lake for some paddling on the weekends, you should be set with the base or Technology trim and front-wheel drive. But if you’ve got bigger camping dreams or need to haul a utility trailer, you’ll need to spring for SH-AWD®.

Remember, every load is different, so be sure to check the total weight of your trailer and hitch when it’s fully loaded. You’ll also need to factor in the vehicle’s weight along with the weight of passengers and cargo.

How to increase towing capacity

If you’re looking for ways to increase the load your MDX is capable of pulling, check out these tips:

Install a weight-distribution hitch to reduce sway and give the suspension a break

Upgrade your brake pads and rotors to accommodate heavier loads

Add a bigger radiator to improve your engine’s cooling capacity

Level up to stronger axles such as RV axles

Keep in mind, though, that some upgrades can actually decrease your SUV’s towing capacity. Swapping out the MDX’s standard 19-inch wheels for bigger aftermarket rims, for instance, could put more pressure on your engine and reduce the vehicle’s overall towing capabilities.

While you can improve towing performance with upgrades, keep in mind minor changes won’t give your MDX a significantly larger towing capacity. If you’re looking for an SUV capable of hauling truly huge loads, you may be better off with a full-size SUV such as the

Ford Expedition

, which has a maximum towing capacity of 9,300 pounds, or the

Dodge Durango SRT R/T

, with its maximum rating of 8,7000 pounds.

MORE:

The top 10 cheapest SUVs to insure

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

How to find affordable car insurance

No matter what you’re planning to haul behind your MDX, make sure you’ve got the right insurance coverage—at the right price. You can avoid overpaying for

car insurance

for any SUV by downloading Jerry, the #1-rated insurance app.

Comparing insurance rates with

Jerry

is simple. Just enter your information, and in 45 seconds or less, Jerry will search for customized quotes from a pool of 50+ top providers.

You’ll be able to see the lowest rates available, and if one of them is lower than your current rate, you’ll have the chance to cut down your annual premiums—often by a significant amount! On average, Jerry users save $887 a year on car insurance.

“I thought my previous insurance rate was the best I could get, since I have a luxury SUV. After
Jerry
found me quotes, I ended up paying only $80 a month for the same exact coverage. I’ll be shopping for auto insurance through Jerry from now on!” —Petra S.

RECOMMENDED

Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry

This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍

Gabriella R.

Find insurance savings

4.7/5 Rating on App Store

FAQs

Is Acura MDX good for towing?

The Acura MDX is a mid-size luxury SUV capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds with all-wheel drive. While the MDX can handle smaller loads like motorcycle or kayak trailers, it’s not designed to tow weights above 5,000 pounds, such as large trailers or campers.

Can you put a trailer hitch on an Acura MDX?

Acura offers a trailer hitch kit for the MDX SUV, but it’s also easy to find an aftermarket trailer hitch compatible with the MDX.

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry