2024 Acura MDX vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a conservative yet blocky style, reminiscent of the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from black Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It offered a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2024 Acura MDX impressed with its sleek design, featuring a large shield grille flanked by rakish headlights and a modern lower bumper. Inside, it was high-tech but busy, with a centre console filled with controls that could be overwhelming. The MDX was available in several trims, including the A-Spec and Platinum Elite, with the Type S Ultra offering top-tier features. Standard features included tri-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic moonroof, and power-adjustable front seats. The Type S Ultra added a 25-speaker ELS sound system and massaging front seats, providing a luxurious experience. Despite its busy interior, the MDX offered a comfortable ride, with a focus on luxury and performance.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain combined a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with electric motors, generating 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All models in Canada came with all-wheel drive, and the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. While the Grand Highlander excelled in acceleration, its size made it less maneuverable in tight spaces, and the steering felt somewhat numb. However, its brakes were solid, and it offered three drive modes: Sport, Eco, and Normal, with additional modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2024 Acura MDX featured a standard 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The Type S Ultra trim came with a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Power was managed through a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive System (SH-AWD). The Type S Ultra offered strong acceleration and a comfortable ride, with Brembo performance brakes and an adaptive air suspension. The Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) provided various drive modes, including Sport+, Snow, Comfort, and Normal, with a Lift mode for added ground clearance. The MDX excelled on highways and boulevards, offering a refined and comfortable ride, with a firm suspension that absorbed road bumps well.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was notably larger than its rivals, with a length of over 5 metres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm. This extra size translated to increased storage space, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride. With seats in position, it offered 1,640 litres behind the second row and 583 litres with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for adults, even in the third row.

The 2024 Acura MDX came standard with three rows of seating, with the first two rows offering comfort and support. However, the third row was smaller and best suited for children. Cargo space measured 512 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,367 litres with the rear seats folded, and a maximum of 2,690 litres with both the second and third rows down. The MDX featured a hands-free power liftgate and additional storage under the cargo load floor. The Type S Ultra trim included a second-row bench with a fold-down centre console, providing a more individual-seat experience. Despite its spaciousness, the centre stack of controls was cluttered, with a touchpad shifter that took some getting used to.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. However, maximizing its usefulness required a connected-services subscription, which included an intelligent assistant, cloud-based navigation, and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced audio experience. While Toyota's tech offerings had improved, careful consideration of subscription options was recommended.

The 2024 Acura MDX's infotainment system was its Achilles Heel, with a clumsy interface controlled by a touchpad. Despite this, the MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, satellite radio, HD radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. It also featured multiple USB ports, a fully digital instrument panel, and wireless device charging. The clever placement of charging ports and a leather handrest for the touchpad were highlights, but the overall system was unintuitive. Acura's newer models, like the Integra, offered more intuitive touchscreen setups, suggesting potential improvements in future MDX models.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it came with an impressive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 included features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. The Platinum grade offered additional features like traffic jam assist and a head-up display. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2024 Acura MDX featured a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and lane keeping assist. It also included driver attention monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. The Platinum Elite grade added a surround-view camera system and a head-up display. The 2022 MDX, which the 2024 model carried over from, earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, with superior crash-prevention technology.