Model Year | 2013 | 2014 | |
Model | Toyota Highlander | Acura MDX | |
Engine | 3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 270 hp@6200 248 lb-ft@4700 |
3.5L V6 OHC-4v 290 hp@6200 267 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 | 111.0 in | -1.2 in |
Length | 188.4 in | 193.6 in | -5.2 in |
Width | 75.2 in | 77.2 in | -2 in |
Height | 68.1 in | 66.7 in | 1.4 in |
Curb Weight | 4266 lb. | 4255 lb. | 11 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 19.2 gal. | 19.5 gal. | -0.3 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.6 in | 38.1 in | 2.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 59.7 in | 61.1 in | -1.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 56.7 in | 57.5 in | -0.8 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.2 in | 41.4 in | 1.8 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 40.1 in | 38.3 in | 1.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 59.5 in | 59.1 in | 0.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 56.5 in | 57.8 in | -1.3 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.3 in | 36.6 in | 1.7 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 36.3 in | 35.6 in | 0.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 55.0 in | 54.7 in | 0.3 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 42.3 in | 40.6 in | 1.7 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 29.2 in | 28.1 in | 1.1 in |
Total Legroom | 110.7 in (over 3 rows) | 106.1 in (over 3 rows) | 4.6 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 10.3 ft3 | 14.8 ft3 | -4.5 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 42.3 ft3 | 38.4 ft3 | 3.9 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 95.4 ft3 | 68.4 ft3 | 27 ft3 |
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 |
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 |
2014 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 |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 Acura MDX.