Toyota Highlander (2013) vs. Acura MDX (2013) Specs

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2013 Toyota Highlander and 2013 Acura MDX Specifications

Model Year	2013	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	4266 lb.	4550 lb.	-284 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

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TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013 Toyota Highlander

2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
	Toyota replaced the 2013 Highlander's rear struts with control arms to enable a three-inch-wider third-row seat, and then used the extra space to cram in a third seating position. So if you need seats for eight people, only the Highlander will do in this threesome. A top-of-the-line Santa Fe only seats six. Other eight-pass options include the Honda Pilot and GM's large crossovers. But those three people best be small, as the Highlander doesn't have nearly as much rear legroom as the Pathfinder or the Santa Fe. To fit children of even middling size in the third row it's necessary to slide the second row well forward. The second row seat cushion is mounted too low for adult comfort. The Nissan's second row suffers from a similar shortcoming, but the Hyundai's does not. see full Toyota Highlander review

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013 Toyota Highlander

2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Perfect for two car seats. Really neat trick - the middle seat for the 2nd row rolls up into the center console. I did not remove it nor attempt to sit in it but that does make the 3rd row more likely to be used for those with car seats. I did not attempt to sit in the 3rd row (looked at it before folding into the floor for cargo space for the entire trip) so cannot opine on it. Use at your own risk. see full Toyota Highlander review
2012	4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	I am 6 foot tall, and there is plenty of head and leg room in the driving position. Easy access as well. see full Toyota Highlander review

2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2012	4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	3rd row seats are useless to me. Too little room for adults. Should have been an option for families with small children. With 3rd row seating, you lose storage space. see full Toyota Highlander review

TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013 Acura MDX

2013 Acura MDX Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
2012	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

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013 Acura MDX

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

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