Compare the2026 GMC AcadiaVS 2026 Acura MDX

The Acadia has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The MDX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the GMC Acadia achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Acura MDX which scored only an “Acceptable” in these critical safety features.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Acadia AT4’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Acadia and MDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Acadia has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The MDX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Acadia and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Acadia	MDX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	165	244
Neck Injury Risk	20.1%	29%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	304 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	59 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	463/521 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	234	288
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	75 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/266 lbs.	392/458 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Acadia	MDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	107
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	105 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	113	142
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	346	549

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Acadia’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the MDX’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 6 times as many GMC dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Acadia’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Acadia’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the MDX’s camshafts. If the MDX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

The Acadia’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 38 more horsepower (328 vs. 290) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Acadia gets better mileage than the MDX:

			MPG
Acadia
	FWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/23 hwy
MDX
	FWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	17 city/21 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Acadia uses regular unleaded gasoline. The MDX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the MDX (21.7 vs. 18.5 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the GMC Acadia higher (6 out of 10) than the Acura MDX (4). This means the Acadia produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the MDX every 15,000 miles.

The Acadia’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MDX are solid, not vented.

The Acadia stops much shorter than the MDX:

	Acadia	MDX
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Acadia offers optional 22-inch wheels. The MDX’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The GMC Acadia’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Acura MDX only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Acadia’s wheelbase is 7.1 inches longer than on the MDX (120.9 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Acadia Elevation’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the MDX’s (38.8 feet vs. 40.5 feet). The Acadia Denali Reserve’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the MDX’s (40.1 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

The front grille of the Acadia uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The MDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Acadia offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the MDX can only carry 7.

The Acadia has 4.1 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom, .6 inches more rear hip room, 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room, 2 inches more third row headroom, 3 inches more third row legroom, 8 inches more third row hip room and 2.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

The Acadia’s cargo area provides more volume than the MDX.

	Acadia	MDX
Behind Third Seat	23 cubic feet	18.1 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.3 cubic feet	48.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.5 cubic feet	95 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Acadia Denali’s second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The MDX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Acadia’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the MDX’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Acadia’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The MDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Acadia and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Acadia is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The MDX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Acadia has standard extendable sun visors. The MDX doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Acadia has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the MDX Advance/Type S.

The Acadia’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The MDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 GMC Acadia retains 46.9% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 46.29% resale value of the 2026 Acura MDX after five years, which can save the GMC’s owner up to $4991 in depreciation.

The GMC Acadia outsold the Acura MDX by 33% during 2025.