The Maximum Dependable Acura SUV And How It Compares To Its Closest Lexus Rival

Honda and Toyota are each recognized for remarkable reliability since their advent to the U.S. marketplace, so it simplest is sensible for his or her luxurious divisions to practice go well with. In that regard, we will be expecting one of the most perfect out of Acura and Lexus, proper? Smartly, in line with business reliability research via J.D. Energy, Lexus stays on the most sensible of the charts with simplest 151 issues in line with 100 automobiles, whilst Acura falls beneath the business moderate at 233 issues in line with 100 automobiles. After all, that contemporary find out about for 2026 takes into consideration all fashions from each manufacturers’ lineups.

What about Acura’s maximum dependable SUV as opposed to its Lexus rival? On this article, we check out the most recent iteration of the Acura MDX, and put it head-to-head in opposition to the nearest competitor from Lexus. We’re going to speak about every type’s total specifications and engines, their buyer court cases, remembers, and extra. Here is the entirety you wish to have to learn about Acura’s maximum dependable SUV type, and the way it stacks as much as the most efficient within the trade.

The Maximum Dependable New Acura SUV is…

2026 Acura MDX Evaluate

The Acura MDX is recently the emblem’s greatest type, and it occurs to be its maximum dependable. Beneath 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 similar engine discovered within the Honda Pilot (which this Acura type stocks a platform with), the Honda Ridgeling pickup truck, and others over the past decade or so. Honda and its luxurious department have had greater than sufficient time to type out its problems because the powertrain was once to start with built-in into their lineups.

After all, that is not to say the Kind S variant’s extra robust 3.0L turbocharged unit. Whilst that boosted engine may well be a competent selection, we’d keep on with the time-tested 3.5L possibility. We had a blast using the Kind S variant, however the usual trims recuperate gasoline economic system, value much less total, and raise a competent power gadget.

The Acura MDX has been round since 2001, having gone through adjustments and updates over time till we achieve the fourth technology, which was once presented for the 2022 type 12 months. Apart from its 2d technology, nearly each MDX model may well be purchased with a three.5-liter V6. On this article, we will focal point on the most recent technology’s reported court cases and respectable remembers.

Fourth-Technology Acura MDX Reliability

Fourth-Gen Acura MDX Reported Issues

For being any such in style SUV with quite a few gross sales, the fourth-generation MDX lacks many buyer court cases. That is nice information for its reliability. Like we mentioned previous, this type’s 3.5-liter V6 has been across the block a couple of instances, giving Honda an opportunity to determine any problems over time. Alternatively, there are some court cases to deal with.

At the beginning, the 2022 type has a pair dozen court cases in regards to the SUV’s AWD gadget failing or malfunctioning in slick stipulations — some other folks have honed in at the drawback because the switch case’s splines dressed in down and failing to ship energy to the rear wheels. Virtually all type years from this technology even have reported electric problems that modify from clean displays to the auto stalling whilst using. All-in-all, despite the fact that, the quantity of court cases for those type years is low sufficient not to be relating to.

For extra peace-of-mind, know that RepairPal ratings the MDX generally at a 4 out of five with superb reliability. It additionally explains how the estimated annual upkeep and service prices pop out to about $571.

Fourth-Gen MDX Remembers

As we proceed to concentrate on the MDX’s fourth and present technology, we see the SUV has been suffering from 3 remembers since its 2022 type 12 months. Right here they’re in chronological order from the earliest to the newest:

• Airbag Might Deploy By chance All through a Crash. Affecting 750,114 Honda and Acura gadgets, together with the 2022 Acura MDX, is a recall bearing on the entrance passenger seat weight sensor, which would possibly crack and brief circuit, thereby failing to suppress the airbag as supposed. In different phrases, it may well be activate within the tournament of a crash when it is not wanted.
• Rear-view Digicam Symbol Might No longer Show. Affecting 9,221 gadgets of the 2025 Acura MDX is a recall that relates to the touchscreen within the heart console, which would possibly cross clean, ensuing within the rear-view digicam symbol now not exhibiting as supposed.
• Brake Pedal Might Shift Out of Place. Affecting 259,033 Honda and Acura Gadgets, together with the 2023–2025 MDX, is a recall bearing on the brake pedal pivot pin, which was once now not secured correctly. This may motive the pedal to shift out of place, expanding the chance of a crash.

Lexus’ Resolution to Rival Acura’s Perfect SUV

2026 Lexus TX Evaluate

Lexus has a variety of SUVs with fuel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid choices that have compatibility everyone’s wishes. The type that perfect competitors the Acura MDX is the Lexus TX. This three-row SUV stocks a platform with the Toyota Grand Highlander. Our first power tournament allowed us to enjoy all 3 of the TX’s powertrains. At the inside of, patrons can be expecting a nicely-appointed Toyota, fairly than a high-end, sumptuous Lexus like every other SUVs from the emblem. However, it is proving dependable up to now. It nonetheless has quite a few time to turn out itself, despite the fact that, because the TX was once simply presented for the 2024 type 12 months.

We nonetheless really feel at ease evaluating it to the MDX, despite the fact that, because the 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder engine (and its hybrid variant) has been round for a long way 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 is also used within the Lexus NX and RX. So, despite the fact that the TX hasn’t been round for too lengthy, there’s quite a few information from heaps of different fashions that again this powertrain up as being one of the vital dependable Toyota/Lexus engines of our time.

First-Technology Lexus TX Reliability

First-gen Lexus TX Reported Issues

Like we mentioned previous, the TX has simplest been round for a couple of years. Due to this fact, there hasn’t been a lot time to pass judgement on reliability as appropriately as we might love to. There were, then again, quite a few different automobiles with this powertrain to pass judgement on. Prior to we get into the powertrain itself, we will help you learn about a couple of court cases directed on the TX: the 2024 type 12 months has 32 court cases associated with the airbags, with the majority of the ones bearing on a recall that we will get to subsequent. In a different way, the remainder court cases to this point are negligible.

Different resources let us know the TX is fairly dependable — up to we will be expecting from a contemporary Lexus. J.D. Energy gave the TX an 81 out of 100 with regards to high quality and reliability for 2025. CarEdge estimates its 10-year upkeep and service prices to be more or less $7,948, which beats the business moderate via $4,546.

First-Gen TX Remembers

The Lexus TX has been suffering from 4 remembers because it debuted. Maximum of them are innocuous to the SUVs reliability, however for the sake of being thorough, listed below are all 4 in chronological order from the earliest to the newest:

• Curtain Airbag Might Deploy Improperly. Affecting 145,254 Toyota and Lexus gadgets, together with the 2024 Lexus TX350, TX500 Hybrid, and TX550 Hybrid+, is a recall that relates to the motive force and entrance passenger aspect curtain airbags failing to unroll correctly within the tournament of a crash.
• Tool Panel Failure. Affecting 591,377 Toyota and Lexus gadgets, together with the 2024–2025 Lexus TX, is a recall that relates to an error within the device panel device at automobile startup; the device panel would possibly fail to show automobile pace, brake gadget, and tire drive caution lighting fixtures.
• Rear-view Digicam Symbol Might No longer Show. Affecting 1,024,407 Toyota and Lexus gadgets, together with all TX gadgets supplied with a Panoramic View Observe (PVM) gadget, is a recall that relates to a device error that can motive the rear-view digicam to freeze or show a clean display screen when the automobile is in opposite.
• Rear-view Digicam Symbol Might No longer Show. Some other 144,200 Toyota and Lexus fashions, together with the 2024–2026 TX350, are suffering from a recall bearing on a rear-view digicam that won’t show a picture when in opposite.

Which Would You Relatively Pressure?

Regardless of which emblem you find yourself with, maximum patrons are certain to like their Lexus or Acura SUV for his or her using traits, convenience options, and coffee upkeep prices. The MDX and TX each have some very minor problems that should not be very dear to unravel. All remembers are simply sorted at your native dealership, too. All that is left is to look how every SUV ages, and if their reliability continues. So, which might you fairly take house?

Assets: Acura, Lexus, NHTSA, Automotive Court cases, J.D. Energy, RepairPal, CarEdge