2026 Acura RDX vs Acura MDX: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the RDX — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–2 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($45,100 vs $51,800) and fewer NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (0.54 vs 1.21). Choose the MDX if you want the most power (355 hp vs 272 hp).
Scorecard: RDX 5 pts · MDX 2 pts across 7 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 RDX | 2026 MDX | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $45,100 | $51,800 | RDX |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.54 | 1.21 | RDX |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 52.3% | — | No data |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | Tie |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 272 hp | 355 hp | MDX |
| Max towing (1) | 1,500 lb | 5,000 lb | MDX |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 29.5 cu ft | 16.3 cu ft | RDX |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | — | 5.3% off MSRP | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 4 | 3 | Tie |
| Weighted points | 5 | 2 | RDX |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: it's a wash — RDX 23 mpg vs MDX 22 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the RDX — 29.5 cu ft vs 16.3 cu ft (cargo behind rear seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the RDX — $45,100 vs $51,800 (starting MSRP).
- Towing. Towing: the MDX — 5,000 lb vs 1,500 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The RDX starts at $45,100 and tops out at $54,850; the MDX runs $51,800 to $75,850 (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.
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- RDX: 0.54 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 48th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- MDX: 1.21 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 10th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: RDX 4, MDX 3.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: RDX 2016 (best year) · 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 RDX | 2026 MDX | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $45,100 | $51,800 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $54,850 | $75,850 |
| Horsepower | 272 hp | 290–355 hp |
| Max torque | 280 lb-ft | 354 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 23 mpg | 19–22 mpg |
| Max towing | 1,500 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | — | — / 7 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 29.5 cu ft | 16.3 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| RDX | MDX | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 187.4 in | 198.4 in |
| Width | 74.8 in | 78.7 in |
| Height | 65.7 in | 67.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in | 113.8 in |
| Ground clearance | 8.2 in | 7.3 in |
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) RDX lists for a median $27,590 — 52.3% of today's median new price of $52,750. There's no 5-year retention figure for the MDX yet.
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More on the Acura RDX
More on the Acura MDX
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the RDX better than the MDX?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the RDX — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–2 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($45,100 vs $51,800) and fewer NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (0.54 vs 1.21). Choose the MDX if you want the most power (355 hp vs 272 hp).
Which is more reliable, the RDX or the MDX?
On federal data, the RDX: owners filed 0.54 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold versus 1.21 for the MDX (2015–2022 sales years). That's complaint volume, not a survey score. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 RDX and 3 for the MDX.
Which holds its value better, the RDX or the MDX?
We don't have a 5-year retention figure for both models.
Which is cheaper, the RDX or the MDX?
The RDX starts lower: $45,100 vs $51,800 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the RDX or the MDX?
It's a wash: 23 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 Acura RDX vs Acura MDX: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/acura-rdx-vs-acura-mdx, updated November 8, 2026.