Toyota Highlander vs Acura MDX Sport Hybrid

If you have a family and need a spacious, three-row vehicle to haul around the kids and all their gear, the choices can seem overwhelming. This includes SUVs and minivans. There are also a lot of gimmicks, like built-in vacuums and intercom systems—as if yelling back to the third row isn’t the least bit satisfying. The 2022 Toyota Highlander might be guilty of offering some of these gimmicks, but where it really shines is by covering the basics. This three-row midsize SUV offers tons of versatility, a stout V6 engine, and it comes standard with safety features buyers are looking for.

There is a wide range of trims, features, and prices that make up the Highlander lineup. Depending on your needs and budget, there might be an ideal setup for your family. Read on to learn more about the Highlander and where it stacks up in an all-important family-hauling vehicle segment.

When I talk to folks about cars and mention certain hybrids, some become disappointed. That’s a dated way of thinking. Sure, if you are a performance enthusiast, the sight of a Toyota Prius does nothing to stir your passion. But there are a growing number of vehicles with hybrid drivetrains that provide solid performance as well as a few extra MPGs.

The 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid is one such vehicle. It takes a drivetrain inspired by the Acura NSX hybrid supercar and brings it to a large, three-row SUV that also happens to have sporty driving dynamics. What should stand out to any high-power hybrid skeptic is that the Sport Hybrid is the range-topping version of the 2017 MDX.