**Based on current year EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery pack age/condition (hybrid models only) and other factors.
2024 Acura MDX vs. Competitors
As Acura’s most popular model, the MDX is a significant player in the luxury brand’s lineup. In fact, it is the best-selling three-row luxury crossover of all time, with more than a million sold. The MDX maintains its leadership position by balancing fine engineering, features, value, and style. But this premium family hauler isn’t the only compelling option in this very competitive segment. Let’s compare the 2024 Acura MDX against the 2024 editions of the Cadillac XT6, Infiniti QX60, and Volvo XC90. Note: Unless we mention otherwise, all references are for base models with all-wheel drive.
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Cost of Ownership
There’s more to buying a luxury three-row crossover than looking at the window sticker; an informed shopper considers long-term operating costs. Many expenses, like depreciation, maintenance, and repairs, are part of the calculation. According to Edmunds, the five-year ownership costs (including financing costs, taxes, fees, fuel, and insurance) for a new MDX add up to $73,936, or $0.99 per mile (based on 15,000 miles per year). In comparison, these expenses for the Cadillac XT6 are close, at $74,766 or $1.00 per mile. But the Infiniti and Volvo prove to be more expensive, at $77,104 ($1.03/mile) for the QX60 and $77,917 ($1.04/miles) for the XC90.
Powertrain
The base engines for the XT6 and XC90 have four cylinders. More automakers are following this trend to
reduce costs – albeit at the expense of performance and smoothness. The 3.5-liter V6 in the MDX makes a
stout 290 horsepower, while the 2.0-liter four-cylinder powerplants in the Cadillac and Volvo make 235
and 247 horsepower, respectively. At 295 horsepower, the output of the QX60’s V6 is similar to the
MDX.
Transmissions can be overlooked in the car shopping process, but what manages engine power
and spins the wheels matters: a transmission with more speeds generally provides a smoother ride, since
the occupants’ ability to feel the automatic shifting is minimized. The MDX uses a ten-speed automatic
gearbox to maximize performance and fuel economy, but the transmissions in the others aren’t quite as
sophisticated. The Volvo relies on an eight-speed unit, while the Cadillac and Infiniti have nine-speed
transmissions.
Cargo Space
People buy three-row crossovers for their versatility, mainly with extended road trips and other drives that require transporting a significant amount of gear. Even if you don’t have kids to drive to hockey practice, there are always groceries to be fetched, plus visits to the home improvement store. The MDX’s extra cargo room makes these errands easier with 18.1 cubic feet of space behind the third row and 95.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The XC90 is spacious but still comes up short with just 12.6 cubic feet in the rear and 85.7 cubic feet with both back rows folded. The XT6 (12.6 cu. ft./78.7 cu. ft.) and the QX60 (14.5 cu. ft./75.4 cu. ft.) have even smaller cabins.
Cabin Dimensions
Unsurprisingly, these four premium crossovers are relatively on par with their passenger space. Key measurements, like front leg and headroom, are very similar across the comparison. But the MDX stands out in the second row, with 38.5 inches of rear legroom – which beats out both the QX60 and XC90. The MDX also excels with abundant second-row shoulder room: its 60.3 inches far exceeds the 56.5 inches in the Volvo and the 57.4 inches in the Cadillac. The Infiniti also trails with 59.7 inches of shoulder room. The MDX's generous second row means more room for passengers of all sizes and an easier time with child car seats.