2024 Acura MDX vs 2025 Toyota Sequoia

The 2024 Acura MDX presented a striking exterior with its large shield grille, rakish headlights, and modern intake vents, creating a refined presence. Inside, the MDX was high-tech but somewhat cluttered, with a centre console filled with controls that could be overwhelming at first. The vehicle was available in several trims, including the A-Spec and Platinum Elite, with the Type S Ultra offering top-tier features like a 25-speaker ELS sound system and massaging front seats. The interior boasted ambient lighting, power-adjustable seats, and genuine leather upholstery, enhancing its luxurious feel.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Sequoia, particularly the U.S.-only 1794 Edition, showcased a rugged yet appealing design with dark grey painted 20-inch wheels and less exterior chrome. The Canadian lineup included trims like the SR5 TRD Off-road and Capstone, with prices ranging from $87,174 to $106,175. The Sequoia's interior featured Toyota-grade plastic, which was less impressive compared to the Acura's luxury finishes. Despite its rarity on the road, the Sequoia's design and features, such as the Saddle Tan leather upholstery and open-pore walnut wood trim, garnered attention.

The 2024 Acura MDX was powered by a standard 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The Type S Ultra variant featured a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. This power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive System (SH-AWD). The MDX Type S Ultra offered strong acceleration and a comfortable ride, with adaptive air suspension and Brembo performance brakes enhancing its driving dynamics. The SUV's towing capacity maxed out at 2,268 kilograms.

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia came standard with an i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbocharged 3.4-litre V6 engine, an electric motor, and a 1.87-kilowatt-hour battery pack. This setup produced 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Despite its muscular performance, the Sequoia's fuel economy was disappointing, averaging 14.5 L/100 km in testing. The SUV's towing capacity reached 4,137 kilograms, but its driving dynamics were compromised by a solid rear axle and battery placement, affecting ride quality and cargo space.

The 2024 Acura MDX offered three rows of seating, with the first two rows providing comfort and support, while the third row was best suited for children. Cargo space was generous, with a maximum of 2,690 litres available when both the second and third rows were folded. The MDX featured a hands-free power liftgate and a centre console with ample storage. However, the centre stack of controls was cluttered, and the shifter's button layout required some adjustment.

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia accommodated up to eight passengers, though seven or six would be more comfortable. The Platinum and Capstone trims offered 10-way power adjustable seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. Access to the third row was challenging due to the high floor and low roof, and cargo space was limited, with a maximum of 2,460 litres available. The Sequoia's interior featured step rails and an adjustable cargo shelf, but its overall space was less than rival full-size SUVs.

The 2024 Acura MDX's infotainment system was its Achilles Heel, with a clumsy interface controlled by a touchpad rather than a touchscreen. Despite this, the MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The vehicle also featured multiple USB ports, a digital instrument panel, and wireless device charging, though the infotainment system's unintuitive design detracted from its appeal.

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, starting from the Limited trim. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system offered various connected services, though many required active subscriptions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system was available on higher trims. The Sequoia's tech included a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, though the lack of a tuning knob was a minor inconvenience.

The 2024 Acura MDX came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The MDX earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and was a 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+. However, the infotainment system's design posed a distraction, requiring drivers to look away from the road.

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, offering adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning. While the safety tech was helpful, the lane assist features could be aggravating, with frequent false warnings. At the time of publication, crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable for the Sequoia.