The Most Reliable Acura SUV And How It Compares To Its Closest Lexus Rival
Honda and Toyota are each recognized for excellent reliability since their introduction to the US market, so it solely is smart for his or her luxurious divisions to comply with swimsuit. In that regard, we are able to count on a few of the finest out of Acura and Lexus, proper? Well, in line with business reliability analysis by JD PowerLexus stays on the prime of the charts with solely 151 issues per 100 automobiles, whereas acura falls beneath the business common at 233 issues per 100 automobiles. Of course, that current research for 2026 takes into consideration all fashions from each manufacturers’ lineups.
What about Acura’s most dependable SUV versus its Lexus rival? In this text, we check out the newest iteration of the Acura MDXand put it head-to-head towards the closest competitor from Lexus. We’ll talk about every mannequin’s total specs and engines, their buyer complaints, remembers, and extra. Here’s every thing you have to learn about Acura’s most dependable SUV mannequin, and the way it stacks as much as the perfect within the enterprise.
The Most Reliable New Acura SUV is…
2026 Acura MDX Overview
2026 Acura MDX Specs Overview | ||
|---|---|---|
Regular | Type S | |
Base Price | $51,800 | $75,850 |
Powertrains | 3.5-Liter V6 | 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 |
Horsepower | 290hp | 355hp |
Torque | 267 lb-ft | 354 lb-ft |
Transmission | 10-Speed Automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD or AWD | AWD |
Fuel Economy (metropolis/freeway/mixed) | 19/26/22 mpg (FWD) | 17/21/19 mpg |
19/25/21 mpg (AWD) | ||
The Acura MDX is presently the model’s largest mannequin, and it occurs to be its most dependable. Under the hood is a tried-and-true 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6 that makes 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque — that is the identical engine discovered within the Honda Pilot (which this Acura mannequin shares a platform with), the Honda Ridgeling pickup truck, and others over the past decade or so. Honda and its luxurious division have had greater than sufficient time to kind out their points because the powertrain was initially built-in into their lineups.
Of course, that is to not point out the Type S variant’s extra highly effective 3.0L turbocharged unit. While that boosted engine may be a dependable selection, we’d follow the time-tested 3.5L possibility. We had a blast driving the Type S varianthowever the usual trims get higher gasoline economic system, price much less total, and carry a dependable drive system.
The Acura MDX has been round since 2001, having undergone adjustments and updates over time till we attain the fourth generationwhich was launched for the 2022 mannequin yr. Excluding its second technology, nearly each MDX model may very well be purchased with a 3.5-liter V6. In this text, we’ll concentrate on the newest technology’s reported complaints and official remembers.
Fourth-Generation Acura MDX Reliability
Fourth-Gen Acura MDX Reported Problems
For being such a preferred SUV with loads of gross sales, the fourth-generation MDX lacks many buyer complaints. That’s nice information for its reliability. Like we mentioned earlier, this mannequin’s 3.5-liter V6 has been across the block just a few instances, giving Honda an opportunity to work out any points over time. However, there are some complaints to deal with.
Firstly, the 2022 mannequin has a pair dozen complaints concerning the SUV’s AWD system failing or malfunctioning in slick circumstances — some individuals have honed in on the issue because the transfer case’s splines carrying down and failing to ship energy to the rear wheels. Almost all mannequin years from this technology have additionally reported electrical points that change from clean screens to the automobile stalling whereas driving. All-in-all, although, the quantity of complaints for these mannequin years is low sufficient to not be regarding.
For extra peace-of-mind, know that RepairPal scores the MDX generally at a 4 out of 5 with wonderful reliability. It additionally explains how the estimated annual upkeep and restore prices come out to about $571.
Fourth-Gen MDX Recalls
As we proceed to concentrate on the MDX’s fourth and present technology, we see the SUV has been affected by three remembers since its 2022 mannequin yr. Here they’re in chronological order from the earliest to the latest:
Airbag May Deploy Unintentionally During a Crash. Affecting 750,114 Honda and Acura items, together with the 2022 Acura MDX, is a recall pertaining to the entrance passenger seat weight sensor, which can crack and brief circuit, thereby failing to suppress the airbag as meant. In different phrases, it may be set off within the occasion of a crash when it is not wanted.
Rear-view Camera Image May Not Display. Affecting 9,221 items of the 2025 Acura MDX is a recall that pertains to the touchscreen within the middle console, which can go clean, ensuing within the rear-view digicam picture not displaying as meant.
Brake Pedal May Shift Out of Position. Affecting 259,033 Honda and Acura Units, together with the 2023–2025 MDX, is a recall pertaining to the brake pedal pivot pin, which was not secured correctly. This may cause the pedal to shift out of place, growing the likelihood of a crash.
Lexus’ Answer to Rival Acura’s Best SUV
2026 Lexus TX Overview
2026 Acura MDX Specs Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Gas | Hybrid | Plug-In Hybrid | |
Base Price | $56,740 | $70,260 | $80,610 |
Powertrains | 2.4L Turbo Inline-4 | 2.4L Turbo Inline-4 Hybrid | 3.5L Inline-4 PHEV |
Horsepower | 275hp | 366hp | 404hp |
Torque | 317 lb-ft | 406 lb-ft | N/A |
Transmission | 8-Speed Automatic | 6-Speed Automatic | eCVT |
Drivetrain | FWD or AWD | AWD | AWD |
Fuel Economy (metropolis/freeway/mixed) | 21/27/23 mpg (FWD) | 27/28/27 mpg | 76 MPGe mixed |
20/26/23 mpg (AWD | |||
Lexus has a wide range of SUVs with fuel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid choices that match everybody’s wants. The mannequin that finest rivals the Acura MDX is the Lexus TX. This three-row SUV shares a platform with the Toyota Grand Highlander. Our first drive occasion allowed us to expertise all three of the TX’s powertrains. On the within, consumers can count on a nicely-appointed Toyota, moderately than a high-end, luxurious Lexus like another SUVs from the model. However, it is proving dependable to this point. It nonetheless has loads of time to show itself, although, because the TX was simply launched for the 2024 mannequin yr.
We nonetheless really feel comfy evaluating it to the MDX, although, because the 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder engine (and its hybrid variant) has been round for a lot longer. That engine is utilized in a bunch of different fashions, just like the Toyota Tacoma, Land Cruiser, Crown, Highlander, Grand Highlander, and 4Runner. It’s additionally used within the Lexus NX and RX. So, despite the fact that the TX hasn’t been round for too lengthy, there’s loads of information from tons of different fashions that again this powertrain up as being one of the vital reliable Toyota/Lexus engines of our time.
First-Generation Lexus TX Reliability
First-gen Lexus TX Reported Problems
Like we mentioned earlier, the TX has solely been round for just a few years. Therefore, there hasn’t been a lot time to guage reliability as precisely as we would wish to. There have been, nevertheless, loads of different automobiles with this powertrain to guage. Before we get into the powertrain itself, we are able to let about just a few complaints directed on the TX: the 2024 mannequin yr has 32 complaints associated to the airbags, with the overwhelming majority of these pertaining to a recall that we’ll get to subsequent. Otherwise, the remaining complaints up to now are negligible.
Other sources inform us the TX is kind of dependable — as a lot as we are able to count on from a contemporary Lexus. JD Power gave the TX an 81 out of 100 by way of high quality and reliability for 2025. CarEdge estimates its 10-year upkeep and restore prices to be roughly $7,948, which beats the business common by $4,546.
First-Gen TX Recalls
The Lexus TX has been affected by 4 remembers because it debuted. Most of them are innocent to the SUVs reliability, however for the sake of being thorough, listed below are all 4 in chronological order from the earliest to the latest:
Curtain Airbag May Deploy Improperly. Affecting 145,254 Toyota and Lexus items, together with the 2024 Lexus TX350, TX500 Hybrid, and TX550 Hybrid+, is a recall that pertains to the driving force and entrance passenger aspect curtain airbags failing to unroll correctly within the occasion of a crash.
Instrument Panel Failure. Affecting 591,377 Toyota and Lexus items, together with the 2024–2025 Lexus TX, is a recall that pertains to an error within the instrument panel software program at car startup; The instrument panel could fail to show car velocity, brake system, and tire strain warning lights.
Rear-view Camera Image May Not Display. Affecting 1,024,407 Toyota and Lexus items, together with all TX items geared up with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system, is a recall that pertains to a software program error which will trigger the rear-view digicam to freeze or show a clean display when the car is in reverse.
Rear-view Camera Image May Not Display. Another 144,200 Toyota and Lexus fashions, together with the 2024–2026 TX350, are affected by a recall pertaining to a rear-view digicam that will not show a picture when in reverse.
Which Would You Rather Drive?
No matter which model you find yourself with, most consumers are certain to like their Lexus or Acura SUV for his or her driving traits, consolation options, and low upkeep prices. The MDX and TX each have some very minor points that should not be very costly to unravel. All remembers are simply taken care of at your native dealership, too. All that is left is to see how every SUV ages, and if their reliability continues. So, which might you moderately take dwelling?
Sources: Acura, Lexus, NHTSA, Car Complaints, JD Power, RepairPal, CarEdge