2019 Acura MDX vs 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

2019 Acura MDX
2019 Acura MDX
$44,300MSRP
Overview
Overview
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2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
$26,275MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2019 Acura MDX
$44,300MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
$26,275MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP

$44,300

MSRP

$26,275

Listings

395

Listings

1158

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

8.0 out of 10

Expert reviews

8.8 out of 10

Pros

  • Comfortable

  • Easy-to-use technology

  • Excellent value for money

Cons

  • Underwhelming base engine

  • Potentially polarizing design

2019 Acura MDX Reviews Summary

Slowly but surely, Acura is picking itself up and dusting itself off after a decade of wayward product development and marketing decisions took Honda’s luxury division off-track. Through it all, though, the MDX midsize 3-row crossover SUV has propped the company up, selling in great enough quantities and at high enough profit margins to ensure Acura’s survival. Now in its sixth year since a complete redesign, is the 2019 MDX still worthy in a battle against newer competitors?

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Reviews Summary

Last year, Hyundai changed its approach to the Santa Fe. The smaller five-passenger Santa Fe Sport got drop-kicked from the automaker’s lineup, replaced by this completely redesigned version of the SUV. The larger seven-passenger Santa Fe got a new name for one year (Santa Fe XL), and then the all-new 2020 Hyundai Palisade replaced that vehicle.

With the Palisade’s arrival, there is just one Santa Fe for 2020, a five-passenger crossover that resides in a sweet spot between traditional compact and midsize models. It gets several updates, too, including a standard rear-seat reminder system, an available camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor system, and new design accents to better distinguish the top trim level.

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

3.5L 290 hp V6

Engine

2.4L 185 hp I4

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

7

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

290 hp @ 6200 rpm

Horsepower

185 hp @ 6000 rpm

MPG City

20

MPG City

22

MPG Highway

27

MPG Highway

29
2019 Acura MDX
2019 Acura MDX
$44,300MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
$26,275MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2019 Acura MDX
$44,300MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
$26,275MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$44,300
$26,275
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews

4.5

4.5

Expert reviews

8.0 out of 10

Read full review

8.8 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons

Pros

  • Comfortable

  • Easy-to-use technology

  • Excellent value for money

Cons

  • Underwhelming base engine

  • Potentially polarizing design

Summary
Slowly but surely, Acura is picking itself up and dusting itself off after a decade of wayward product development and marketing decisions took Honda’s luxury division off-track. Through it all, though, the MDX midsize 3-row crossover SUV has propped the company up, selling in great enough quantities and at high enough profit margins to ensure Acura’s survival. Now in its sixth year since a complete redesign, is the 2019 MDX still worthy in a battle against newer competitors?

Last year, Hyundai changed its approach to the Santa Fe. The smaller five-passenger Santa Fe Sport got drop-kicked from the automaker’s lineup, replaced by this completely redesigned version of the SUV. The larger seven-passenger Santa Fe got a new name for one year (Santa Fe XL), and then the all-new 2020 Hyundai Palisade replaced that vehicle.

With the Palisade’s arrival, there is just one Santa Fe for 2020, a five-passenger crossover that resides in a sweet spot between traditional compact and midsize models. It gets several updates, too, including a standard rear-seat reminder system, an available camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor system, and new design accents to better distinguish the top trim level.

Video

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
3.5L 290 hp V6
2.4L 185 hp I4
Drive Train
FWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
7
5
Horsepower
290 hp @ 6200 rpm
185 hp @ 6000 rpm
MPG City
20
22
MPG Highway
27
29
Look and feel

2019 Acura MDX

9/10

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

7/10
The 2019 Acura MDX is highly regarded by CarGurus experts, scoring 9 out of 10, while the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe received a rating of 7 out of 10. The Acura MDX is praised for its dominance in the midsize, 3-row crossover segment, offering continuous improvements, a racy new A-Spec Package trim level, and a comfortable and practical interior. The Hyundai Santa Fe is noted for its bold and experimental design, with potential points of controversy in its exterior styling.
Picture of 2019 Acura MDX
Picture of 2019 Acura MDX
Picture of 2019 Acura MDX
Picture of 2019 Acura MDX
Picture of 2019 Acura MDX
Picture of 2019 Acura MDX
Picture of 2019 Acura MDX
Picture of 2019 Acura MDX
Picture of 2019 Acura MDX
Performance

2019 Acura MDX

9/10

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

7/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Acura MDX 9 out of 10 and the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 7 out of 10. The Acura MDX comes with a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, offering 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. It also offers an optional SH-AWD system and a Sport Hybrid model, providing a delightful driving experience. The Hyundai Santa Fe offers a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 235 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, providing a quick, compliant, and communicative driving experience.
Form and function

2019 Acura MDX

9/10

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

9/10
Both vehicles received a rating of 9 out of 10 from CarGurus experts. The 2019 Acura MDX is praised for its exceptionally comfortable and practical interior, offering ample storage and a spacious second-row seat. The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe is noted for its thoughtful attention to detail, creative storage spaces, and comfortable front and rear seats.
Technology

2019 Acura MDX

5/10

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

10/10
The 2019 Acura MDX received a rating of 5 out of 10, while the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe scored a perfect 10 out of 10. The Acura MDX's infotainment system is criticized for its dual-screen approach and flawed voice recognition system. The Hyundai Santa Fe's touchscreen infotainment system is praised for its user-friendly interface, stereo control knobs, and advanced features such as Blue Link connected services and a head-up display.
Safety

2019 Acura MDX

8/10

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

10/10
The 2019 Acura MDX received a safety rating of 8 out of 10, while the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe scored a perfect 10 out of 10. Both vehicles offer a range of safety features, but the Hyundai Santa Fe stands out with its comprehensive safety suite, including a rear-seat reminder system and a Blind-Spot View Monitor.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

Based on the ratings provided by CarGurus experts, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe emerges as the more compelling choice, scoring higher in performance, technology, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

Based on the ratings provided by CarGurus experts, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe emerges as the more compelling choice, scoring higher in performance, technology, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

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By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

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