2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2022 Acura MDX

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson was known for its more conventional styling, maintaining an upright layout that provided a commanding view of the road. Inside, the Tucson featured a modern, attractive dash design where tech features effortlessly blended into the overall aesthetic. Every button and dial was easy to find, making for an intuitive driving experience. The trim levels ranged from SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate. Each offered various incremental upgrades, from basic 17-inch alloy wheels in the SE trim to elements like an 8-inch touchscreen, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof in the Ultimate trim.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Acura MDX introduced a sportier and more assertive design with elements like the standard Jewel Eye LED headlights and larger wheels ranging from 19-inch to 20-inch in diameter, depending on the trim. The MDX, built in East Liberty, Ohio, showcased a high level of craftsmanship. The vehicle felt much modernized with a longer wheelbase, a wider body, and an increased dash-to-axle distance, emphasizing elegance. Inside, the MDX featured a layered dashboard that emphasized the cabin's width and featured authentic materials such as natural wood, genuine aluminum, and real leather. The controls had a unique layout but quickly made sense in operation, featuring a futuristic gear selection system.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came with two engine choices. The base model had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, which felt underwhelming around town and on highways. Most trims, such as the SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate, featured a more robust 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine generating 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The towing capacities were 1,500 pounds for the base engine and 2,000 pounds for the 2.4-liter engine. The Tucson was praised for its comfortable, refined ride, neither too soft nor too athletic.

The 2022 Acura MDX offered a single engine option at launch but a potent one. The naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine delivered 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on base MDX and Tech trims, whereas the super-handling all-wheel drive (SH-AWD) system was available as an option for these and standard for all other trims. The SH-AWD featured torque vectoring, significantly enhancing cornering feel and control. The MDX's handling was further improved by a new double-wishbone front suspension and an updated rear multi-link suspension. Additionally, the MDX had beefier disc brakes for better stopping power and variable-ratio steering for improved maneuverability.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, which expanded to 61.9 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded down. Although these figures were slightly on the lower side within the compact SUV segment, it provided adequate space for weekend bags or large boxes. Higher trims like Sport and above also included a hands-free power liftgate. The Tucson delivered solid front-seat headroom and legroom, and while the rear seats weren’t as spacious, they were still accommodating enough for adults.

On the other hand, the 2022 Acura MDX excelled in flexibility and space, given its three-row configuration. It offered comfortable seating with dual bucket sport seats in the front row and a second row that included a removable center section, reclined up to 12 degrees, and easily slid forward for easier access to the third row. Cargo capacity ranged from 16.3 to 18.1 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 39.1 to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and a massive 71.4 to 95 cubic feet with the second row down. Furthermore, the MDX featured innovative functions like the “Grab ‘N Go” tailgate closure, customizable interior lighting themes, and numerous storage compartments, significantly enhancing its utility.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims or the Ultimate trim offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging. The interface was user-friendly, with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons.

Technology in the 2022 Acura MDX stood out with its available ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio System, part of the A-Spec and Advance Packages. This premium system included 16 speakers and 710 watts of amplification. Even the base Premium Audio system had nine speakers and 350 watts. The MDX featured a 12.3-inch landscape-oriented infotainment screen and a matching HD digital instrument panel, standard wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Other notable tech features included Amazon Alexa, Qi-compatible wireless device charging, CabinTalk interior PA system, a head-up display, and a WiFi hotspot. The system’s software could also be updated over the air.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a solid suite of standard safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned five out of five stars from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS.

As for the 2022 Acura MDX, crash-test ratings were not available at the time but were expected to improve upon the already strong results of the 2020 model, which earned a "Good" rating from IIHS and five stars from NHTSA. The MDX was built with a higher percentage of high-strength steel and advanced structural engineering focused both on rigidity and safety. It included the AcuraWatch suite of safety technologies standard on all models, featuring systems like collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, traffic sign recognition, and more. Enhanced pedestrian safety features and low-speed braking control further added to its safety credentials.