Acura MDX vs 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 2025 Acura MDX underwent subtle styling modifications, including a new grille, revised front bumper, and darkened headlights and taillights. These updates enhanced its sporty and performance-oriented appearance. Inside, the MDX received significant changes with a new touchscreen infotainment system, replacing the previous touchpad interface, and offering more storage. The seats from the MDX Type S model were introduced to the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim, while the Type S received a new seat design. Acura improved cabin quietness with added sound insulation and acoustic laminated window glass. The MDX maintained its reputation for quality, although the gloss black plastic trim on the dashboard was prone to collecting dust and smudges. The controls were logically located, making them easy to use, and the new Platinum Elite A-Spec trim offered a blend of luxury and sportiness.

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. At the top of the range, the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max powertrain featured a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid engine with 362 horsepower and 400 combined net pound-feet of torque. All powertrains came with all-wheel drive in Canada. While not a sports car, the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander excelled in road manners, though it was a bit challenging to maneuver in tight spaces. It offered three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models. The brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate, making it a well-rounded performer.

The 2025 Acura MDX positioned itself as a performance-oriented luxury SUV, featuring a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine in the Type S model, producing 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Most buyers opted for the standard 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system was standard in Canada. The MDX offered a comfortable ride with various driving modes, including Comfort, Normal, Sport, Snow, and Individual. While not the fastest, it provided smooth and consistent handling, making it enjoyable to drive. Fuel economy was a consideration, with most trims rated at 11.2 L/100 km in combined driving. The MDX excelled in typical driving situations, offering a smooth and quiet highway ride. However, it wasn't designed for off-roading, with limited ground clearance unless equipped with the Type S Ultra's air suspension.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was notably larger than its rivals, measuring over 5 metres in length with a 2,950 mm wheelbase. This extra length translated to impressive storage space, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride. Even with all seats in place, it offered 583 litres of cargo space. The Grand Highlander provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for passengers, including adults in the third row. Its spacious interior and good outward visibility made it an excellent choice for families and road trips.

The 2025 Acura MDX Platinum Elite A-Spec trim featured 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage programs, wrapped in perforated leather for exceptional comfort. The second row could be configured as a bench seat or individual bucket seats, with a fold-down middle section for added convenience. The outboard second-row seats offered ample legroom and thigh support, while the third row was best suited for children due to limited space. In-cabin storage was adequate, with a new centre console and wireless smartphone charging pad. Cargo volume measured up to 512 litres behind the third row, with additional storage options available. Folding the third row provided up to 1,367 litres of cargo space, and dropping the second row increased capacity to 2,690 litres.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. An intelligent assistant, activated by saying "Hey Toyota," was available through a connected-services subscription, allowing voice commands for tasks like adjusting temperature and changing radio stations. The subscription also included cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Grand Highlander Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced audio experience. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available, with a three-month trial included.

The 2025 Acura MDX introduced a new infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Alexa Built-in, and Google Built-in, offering access to Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play. This system replaced the previous True Touchpad Interface, providing a more intuitive experience. The MDX supported a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and featured a Bang & Olufsen audio system with 19 speakers, or 31 speakers in the Type S Ultra. The new infotainment system paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, offering two themes and a comprehensive head-up display. The Platinum Elite A-Spec and Type S Ultra trims included a surround-view camera system for enhanced visibility.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested or rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard. This 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 Platinum grade featured traffic jam assist and a head-up display. Adaptive cruise control was standard, offering four following-distance settings.

The 2025 Acura MDX featured hardware upgrades for its AcuraWatch collection of driver assistance features, enhancing accuracy and refinement. Standard features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The MDX Type S Ultra added front cross-traffic alert, evasive steering warning, and active lane-change assist. The MDX received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with the IIHS awarding it the Top Safety Pick+ rating.