2026–27 Infiniti QX60 vs Acura MDX: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the QX60 — it leads our weighted scorecard 2.5–1.5 across 5 categories, winning on better fuel economy (24 mpg vs 22 mpg best EPA combined) and more towing capacity (6,000 lb vs 5,000 lb). Choose the MDX if you want the most power (355 hp vs 268 hp).
Scorecard: QX60 2.5 pts · MDX 1.5 pts across 5 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 QX60 | 2026 MDX | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $51,890 | $51,800 | Tie |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | — | 1.21 | No data |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 24 mpg | 22 mpg | QX60 |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 268 hp | 355 hp | MDX |
| Max towing (1) | 6,000 lb | 5,000 lb | QX60 |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | — | 16.3 cu ft | No data |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | — | 5.3% off MSRP | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 6 | 3 | MDX |
| Weighted points | 2.5 | 1.5 | QX60 |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the QX60 — 24 mpg vs 22 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Budget. Tight budgets: it's a wash — QX60 $51,890 vs MDX $51,800 (starting MSRP).
- Towing. Towing: the QX60 — 6,000 lb vs 5,000 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The QX60 starts at $51,890 and tops out at $66,890; 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
- QX60: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- 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: QX60 6, MDX 3.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: QX60 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
| 2027 QX60 | 2026 MDX | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $51,890 | $51,800 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $66,890 | $75,850 |
| Horsepower | 268 hp | 290–355 hp |
| Max torque | 286 lb-ft | 354 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 24 mpg | 19–22 mpg |
| Max towing | 6,000 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | — / 7 | — / 7 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | — | 16.3 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Shop both
- See 7,515 new 2027 INFINITI QX60s for sale →Median listed price $60,009 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See new 2026 Acura MDX for sale →
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 Infiniti QX60
More on the Acura MDX
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the QX60 better than the MDX?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the QX60 — it leads our weighted scorecard 2.5–1.5 across 5 categories, winning on better fuel economy (24 mpg vs 22 mpg best EPA combined) and more towing capacity (6,000 lb vs 5,000 lb). Choose the MDX if you want the most power (355 hp vs 268 hp).
Which is more reliable, the QX60 or the MDX?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 QX60 and 3 for the MDX.
Which holds its value better, the QX60 or the MDX?
We don't have a 5-year retention figure for both models.
Which is cheaper, the QX60 or the MDX?
They start within 3% of each other: $51,890 vs $51,800.
Which has better gas mileage, the QX60 or the MDX?
The QX60: up to 24 mpg combined vs 22 mpg for the MDX (best EPA rating across each lineup).
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 Infiniti QX60 vs Acura MDX: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/infiniti-qx60-vs-acura-mdx, updated November 8, 2026.