2024 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2023 Acura MDX

The 2023 Acura MDX presented a sophisticated yet understated design, especially in its Type S Ultra trim. This model featured chicane-design LED running lights and taillights, along with LED headlights that offered automatic high-beam operation. The subtle styling modifications, including muted badges and 21-inch wheels, contributed to its refined appearance. Inside, the MDX Type S Ultra boasted quilted leather, aluminum interior trim, and a Sport Appearance package, which included a black headliner and stainless steel pedal covers. However, some design choices, like the gloss black plastic on the dashboard, made it difficult to locate controls, and the electronic transmission switchgear was occasionally confusing.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a larger and more spacious vehicle, designed with a more conservative and blocky style compared to its smaller sibling, the Highlander. Its design drew inspiration from rugged vehicles, with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights reminiscent of the Toyota 4Runner. The Grand Highlander offered three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from black Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. The spacious interior provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room across all three rows, making it a comfortable choice for families. The Grand Highlander also excelled in cargo capacity, offering 2,761 litres of total cargo space, making it a practical option for those needing extra storage.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S was distinguished by its turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, producing 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. This was a significant increase over the standard 3.5-litre V6, but the Type S also weighed 130 kilograms more than the lightest standard MDX with AWD. The engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, which could direct up to 70% of engine output to a single rear wheel. Despite these enhancements, the MDX Type S struggled to deliver a cohesive driving experience, with issues like an indecisive transmission, lack of ride compliance, and poor brake pedal modulation. The fuel economy was also disappointing, averaging 13.9 litres per 100 kilometres during testing.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, including a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with 245 combined net horsepower, and the Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. In Canada, all powertrains came with AWD. The Hybrid Max provided impressive acceleration, with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was not designed for sports car performance, but it offered adequate acceleration and solid brakes. The steering feel was somewhat numb, and the vehicle's size made it less maneuverable than smaller models. However, the Grand Highlander provided a comfortable ride, with three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—available on all models.

The 2023 Acura MDX offered a functional interior with three rows of seats and a cargo area with ample floor space. The Type S Ultra trim featured 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, wrapped in quilted leather upholstery. However, the seats were firm and didn't provide the expected support for enthusiastic driving. The second-row seats could slide forward and back, but the third row was best suited for children. The MDX's interior design prioritized style over storage space, with limited storage options in the centre console. The cargo area offered 461 litres of space behind the third row, expanding to 1,107 litres with the third row folded and 2,021 litres with both rear rows down.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander excelled in interior space, offering more room than its primary rivals. With a length of over 5 metres and a 2,950 mm wheelbase, it provided 2,761 litres of total cargo capacity. Behind the second-row seats, there were 1,640 litres of space, and with all three rows up, 583 litres were available. The Grand Highlander was comfortable, with good visibility and ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row. The third row could comfortably accommodate a six-foot adult, making it a practical choice for families needing extra seating and storage.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a Digital Precision Cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. However, the infotainment screen was not touch-sensitive and required the use of a True Touchpad Interface (TTI) on the centre console. This system was not intuitive, and the touchpad design reduced available storage space. The MDX offered Bluetooth and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with Amazon Alexa Built-In. The top-tier ELS Studio 3D audio system with 25 speakers provided excellent sound quality. The MDX also included a 10.5-inch head-up display with navigation instructions and driving assistance status.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous Toyota interfaces. An intelligent assistant, activated by saying "Hey Toyota," was available through a connected-services subscription, along with cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Grand Highlander Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, offering a balanced sound experience. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were also available, with a three-month trial subscription.

The 2023 Acura MDX included a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as a collision mitigation braking system with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, and adaptive cruise control with low-speed following capability. The MDX also featured Traffic Jam Assist, rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Some trims added front and rear parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The MDX received good crash-test ratings, earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested, but it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) as standard equipment. This suite included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The updated lane-departure alert could identify three-dimensional objects, reducing false warnings. Traffic jam assist and a head-up display were exclusive to the Platinum grade. The Grand Highlander also featured adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings.