Model Year | 2009 | 2013 | |
Model | Toyota Highlander | Acura MDX | |
Engine | 3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 270 hp@6200 248 lb-ft@4700 |
3.7L V6 OHC-4v 300 hp@6300 270 lb-ft@4500 |
|
Transmission | 5-speed shiftable automatic | 6-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 109.8 in | 108.3 in | 1.5 in |
Length | 188.4 in | 191.6 in | -3.2 in |
Width | 75.2 in | 78.5 in | -3.3 in |
Height | 68.1 in | 68.2 in | -0.1 in |
Curb Weight | 4178 lb. | 4550 lb. | -372 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 19.2 gal. | 21.0 gal. | -1.8 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.6 in | 39.2 in | 1.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 59.7 in | 61.6 in | -1.9 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 56.7 in | 59.0 in | -2.3 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.2 in | 41.2 in | 2 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 40.1 in | 38.6 in | 1.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 59.5 in | 61.5 in | -2 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 56.5 in | 59.1 in | -2.6 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.3 in | 38.7 in | -0.4 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 36.3 in | 37.5 in | -1.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 55.0 in | 57.1 in | -2.1 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 42.3 in | 42.0 in | 0.3 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 29.2 in | 29.1 in | 0.1 in |
Total Legroom | 110.7 in (over 3 rows) | 109 in (over 3 rows) | 1.7 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 10.3 ft3 | 15.0 ft3 | -4.7 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 42.3 ft3 | 42.9 ft3 | -0.6 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 95.4 ft3 | 83.5 ft3 | 11.9 ft3 |
2009 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr SUV 187-horsepower 2.7L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Lots of room in the second row, including seats that recline and move back & forth. Having the third row as an option for occasional use was really the deciding factor. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2008 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Limo-like leg room and captains chairs see full Toyota Highlander review |
2008 | 4dr SUV 209-horsepower 3.3L V6 Hybrid CVT AWD |
The widest seats of all Midsize SUVs (X5, Q7, Tourag, Cayenne, etc.) see full Toyota Highlander review |
2008 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Third row seating and 2nd row has more leg room than the Murano by about 1". see full Toyota Highlander review |
2008 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
4 cup holders see full Toyota Highlander review |
2009 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Only two seats in the 2nd row, very small leg room in the 3rd row. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
seats were hard and flat. Even top of the line luxury model seats were a big disappointment . . . one of the principal reasons we did not choose this vehicle see full Toyota Highlander review |
2008 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
3rd row seat is full bench seat and individual side can not be raised or lowered independently. Access and available room much less than MDX. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2013 Acura MDX Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
That's it for the significant advantages of the new Acura MDX. Most things it does well, but not significantly better than the generally good segment averages. It's quick, but not thrillingly so. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, and cushier than those in the Infiniti, but provide less lateral support than those in the smaller Acura RDX and are no match in comfort or support for those in a BMW X5, a Lexus RX, or the big buck Mercedes reviewed a few weeks ago. Ride quality, like the seats, is good but short of luxurious. With additional sound deadening and laminated front door glass, the 2014 MDX is quieter than the 2013, but this only brings it in line with the others. By the same token, there aren't many clear reasons to reject the 2014 MDX. The most obvious follows from its relatively compact size: though (as already mentioned) cargo volume is more than competitive, there's less room in the rearmost row than in the QX60. By sliding the second row up a couple of inches (it has a half-foot of travel), adults of middling size will fit back there. But with their butt low and knees high they won't be comfortable. The QX60 offers far more combined legroom based on the spec sheets, and a couple more inches in the real world. (The Acura's specs seem to under-represent reality for passengers even as they might over-represent it for cargo.) But the Infiniti's seats are flatter and less comfortable. The new Hyundai Santa Fe offers more legroom than the Infiniti, while Ford's large crossovers could be best of all for transporting up to seven adults--if still not as good as the typical minivan. see full Acura MDX review |
2013 Acura MDX Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 4dr SUV 300-horsepower 3.7L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The interior prioritizes appearance over actual utility; it's surprisingly cramped for such a large vehicle. For example, my Highlander is roughly the same size externally but seems downright cavernous on the inside in comparison. A rear passenger can fully stretch out in the Toyota. Not so in the Acura. see full Acura MDX review |