2026–27 Acura MDX vs Audi Q7: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Q7 — it leads our weighted scorecard 2–2 across 6 categories, winning on more available power (591 hp vs 355 hp) and more towing capacity (7,700 lb vs 5,000 lb). Choose the MDX if the lower sticker matters most ($51,800 vs $70,900 to start).
Scorecard: MDX 2 pts · Q7 2 pts across 6 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 MDX | 2027 Q7 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $51,800 | $70,900 | MDX |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 1.21 | — | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | — | 35.4% | No data |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | Tie |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 355 hp | 591 hp | Q7 |
| Max towing (1) | 5,000 lb | 7,700 lb | Q7 |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 16.3 cu ft | — | No data |
| Standard seats (1) | — | 7 | No data |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 5.3% off MSRP | 5.3% off MSRP | Tie |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 3 | 4 | Tie |
| Weighted points | 2 | 2 | Q7 |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: it's a wash — MDX 22 mpg vs Q7 22 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the MDX — $51,800 vs $70,900 (starting MSRP).
- Towing. Towing: the Q7 — 7,700 lb vs 5,000 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The MDX starts at $51,800 and tops out at $75,850; the Q7 runs $70,900 to $98,700 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified MDX buyers paid a median 5.3% off MSRP across 5 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 8.7% off. Verified Q7 buyers paid a median 5.3% off MSRP across 15 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 10.8% off.
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- MDX: 1.21 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 10th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Q7: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: MDX 3, Q7 4.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: MDX 2016 (avoid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2026 MDX | 2027 Q7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $51,800 | $70,900 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $75,850 | $98,700 |
| Horsepower | 290–355 hp | 429–591 hp |
| Max torque | 354 lb-ft | 590 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 19–22 mpg | 20–22 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 7,700 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | — / 7 | 7 / 7 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 16.3 cu ft | — |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
There's no 5-year retention figure for the MDX yet. A 5-year-old (2021) Q7 lists for a median $25,345 — 35.4% of today's median new price of $71,533.
Shop both
- See new 2026 Acura MDX for sale →
- See 5,589 new 2027 Audi Q7s for sale →Median listed price $85,556 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Acura MDX
More on the Audi Q7
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the MDX better than the Q7?
On our data, no — the Q7 comes out ahead. Our pick: the Q7 — it leads our weighted scorecard 2–2 across 6 categories, winning on more available power (591 hp vs 355 hp) and more towing capacity (7,700 lb vs 5,000 lb). Choose the MDX if the lower sticker matters most ($51,800 vs $70,900 to start).
Which is more reliable, the MDX or the Q7?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 MDX and 4 for the Q7.
Which holds its value better, the MDX or the Q7?
We don't have a 5-year retention figure for both models.
Which is cheaper, the MDX or the Q7?
The MDX starts lower: $51,800 vs $70,900 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 5.3% off MSRP on the MDX (5 deals) and 5.3% on the Q7 (15 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the MDX or the Q7?
It's a wash: 22 mpg vs 22 mpg best EPA combined.
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2026–27 Acura MDX vs Audi Q7: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/acura-mdx-vs-audi-q7, updated November 8, 2026.