2024 Acura MDX vs 2025 Nissan Armada

The Acura MDX is a mainstay of the luxury SUV segment, and it covers the bases remarkably well. Its well-rounded nature is perhaps because it shares a platform with the Honda Pilot (another fantastic family hauler) but for that same reason, it doesn’t offer the same cachet as a BMW X5 or Mercedes-Benz GLE. Whether you are on a road trip or heading to work, the MDX is comfortable, refined, and has space for the family and their gear. For 2024, there’s a new Type S Ultra trim level, bringing a new level of performance to the three-row, seven-passenger midsize luxury SUV. But as we’ll get into in a bit, the MDX is held back by a maddening infotainment system that could truly be a sticking point to overshadow all other positive attributes.

Verdict: The MDX is a beautiful, safe, and cost-effective luxury SUV, and the new Type S Ultra trim level delivers a higher level of performance. However, it doesn’t offer as much space as some of its competitors, and we wouldn’t recommend it to anyone easily frustrated by finnicky tech interfaces.

The everyman’s version of the Infiniti QX80, Nissan’s Armada full-size SUV, gets an expanded range for 2025. It’s still offered in familiar SL and Platinum trims, but Platinum Reserve has joined the roster along with, for the first time ever, a PRO-4X trim. We tested both new trims on a first drive program hosted by the automaker.

Verdict: Nissan has undeniably improved the Armada with this new generation, and the PRO-4X and Platinum Reserve trim levels both bring something new to the table. The PRO-4X adds just enough adventure-ready content to make it worth a look to shoppers who find that space appealing, while the Platinum Reserve challenges the value of stepping up to an Infiniti.