2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2022 Acura MDX

The 2022 Acura MDX had undergone a significant transformation, shaking up the three-row luxury crossover SUV market with its revamped look. Unlike its predecessors, which shared the Honda Pilot's platform, the newest MDX boasted a dedicated platform specifically engineered for Acura. This unique foundation allowed for tweaks in the vehicle's proportions, including a longer wheelbase, overall length, wider body, and wider track. One critical enhancement was the increased dash-to-axle distance by over four inches, a design hallmark that imbued the MDX with a refined elegance. Acura’s Jewel Eye LED headlights, larger wheels and tires (19 x 8.5 inches for the base model and 20 x 9 inches for higher trims), along with aggressive yet modern styling) improved the MDX’s sporty appeal. The car, manufactured in East Liberty, Ohio, demonstrated high craftsmanship and quality.

Inside the 2022 MDX, significant refinements mirrored its exterior advancements. The layered dashboard sat lower and further from the front-seat occupants, enhancing the cabin's spacious feel. The interior materials included a mix of natural wood, aluminum, leather, and high-quality plastics, creating a sophisticated environment. The center console featured a fighter jet-inspired gear selector with quirky but quickly intuitive control layout alongside a square touchpad for infotainment functions. The 12.3-inch non-touchscreen infotainment display was strategically positioned in a landscape orientation on the top of the center stack, emphasizing safety by keeping it out of direct reach while driving. Besides the array of controls, front-row comfort was assured with seats that offered a wide range of adjustments and a steering wheel adorned with redundant controls, including paddle shifters. The MDX offered a variety of exterior colors, from Lunar Silver Metallic to Apex Blue Pearl, and interior themes such as Ebony, Graystone, and Red/Suede, catering to diverse style preferences.

Conversely, the 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design. Its flared fender arches and dynamically kicked-up third-row window helped give the Highlander an illusion of compactness. However, once inside, the spaciousness was undeniable, complemented by clever storage solutions for everyday items like iPads and juice boxes.

The Highlander trims ranged from L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, to Platinum. Notably, the XSE stood out with its distinct aesthetic enhancements and sport-tuned suspension. The XSE’s bold red leather interior, a no-cost option, contrasted delightfully with a conservative navy blue exterior. As one moved up the trim levels, from the base L with its basic amenities to the top-tier Platinum, each level brought additional features like LED fog lights, synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable seats, sunshades, various digital screens, and a moonroof. The Limited and Platinum trims went further, offering luxury features like genuine leather upholstery, acoustic noise-reducing windows, adaptive headlights, and a comprehensive 360-degree parking camera system, epitomizing the brand's focus on comfort and technology.

Under the hood, the 2022 Acura MDX featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain configuration was available with front-wheel drive on the base and Tech trims and Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) on higher trims. The SH-AWD system, equipped with torque vectoring, allowed up to 70% of torque to reach the rear wheels and could send up to 100% of that torque to either side during cornering. This technology greatly enhanced the MDX’s cornering control and reduced steering effort. The new suspension setup, featuring a double-wishbone front and a revised rear multi-link suspension, along with bigger disc brakes, significantly improved handling and ride quality.

The MDX's upgraded rigidity and stiffness, with fortified suspension connection points, added to the vehicle's solid and confident ride. Acura's new 10-speed transmission ensured smooth gear shifts and maintained optimal engine revs, while the drive modes (Snow, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual) allowed drivers to tailor the driving experience. During comparative test drives around southeastern Michigan involving the Lexus RX L, Volvo XC90, and Audi Q7, the MDX showed its mettle, delivering a closer-to-benchmark experience akin to the Audi Q7 and highlighting the drawbacks of its competitors. It impressed with its adept cornering and highway cruising capabilities.

In comparison, the 2022 Toyota Highlander was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). While the Highlander’s V6 engine offered slightly more horsepower than the MDX, it lacked the immediate punch off the line but excelled at highway speeds and overtaking maneuvers, backed by a throaty exhaust note. The AWD system, complemented by a drive-mode button (Sport, Normal, and Eco) and an AWD dial (Mud/Sand, Rock, and Normal), further improved versatility across varied driving conditions.

The sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim ensured reduced body roll and a smooth ride over bumps, contributing to the Highlander’s composed handling during both city and highway driving. It offered a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, matching its segment average and handling a max payload of 1,685 pounds in the FWD L and LE trims.

The 2022 Acura MDX's interior space was designed to cater to various needs, from family hauling to utility use. The innovative second row featured a removable center section and slide functionality, allowing customization of legroom for second- and third-row passengers. The third-row seats, while best suited for pre-teens and smaller individuals, did offer USB connections across all three rows. The MDX provided 16.3 to 18.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to between 39.1 and 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 95 cubic feet with the second row down. Additional storage included 1.8 cubic feet of hidden underfloor space. The power tailgate had advanced features like “Grab ‘N Go,” where a button press enabled the tailgate to automatically close and lock as you walked away, complementing its hands-free opening mechanism and customizable max height feature.

Interior customization was taken a notch higher with “Iconic Drive Lighting,” offering 27 different lighting themes that could transform the cabin ambiance, adding a touch of personal style during night drives.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander offered a similar level of interior flexibility. With second- and third-row seats folded, it provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Keeping the second-row seats up, the Highlander managed 48.4 cubic feet, and with all seats deployed, it still offered a respectable 16 cubic feet behind the third row. The ease of lowering the seats via quick-release latches and lifting them with pull-straps exemplified user-centric design. Trims above the base L featured power liftgates, and higher trims like Limited and Platinum had hands-free power liftgates.

The cockpit featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, with deep door pockets, extra ledges, and a large center console, making it highly functional. The second-row captain’s chairs in the XSE trim allowed easier access and added space between occupants, a practical solution for families. However, much like the MDX, the third-row seats were best suited for smaller passengers or short trips.

The 2022 Acura MDX was at the forefront of automotive technology. It came with a standout ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio System featuring 16 speakers with 710 watts of amplification on upper trims like the A-Spec and Advance Packages. Audiophiles appreciated the transparent and natural sound quality it delivered. The base MDX featured a nine-speaker system, while the Tech Package offered a 12-speaker set-up. All trims had a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and the Acura Precision Cockpit 12.3-inch HD digital instrument panel, offering customizable looks and functions. Amazon Alexa integration allowed users to remotely control home devices from the car, ensuring a smart transition from outside to inside. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Qi-compatible wireless device charging, and a WiFi hotspot were standard across all trims. Features like the CabinTalk interior PA system and a 10.5-inch head-up display on the Advance package added to the high-tech feel, with over-the-air updates ensuring the software and firmware remained current.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander also embraced technological advancements effectively. It came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. This straightforward infotainment system drew praise for its combination of screen layouts and hard buttons. Higher trims offered a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and optional features like a digital instrument panel screen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system. The combination of USB and USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and straightforward climate controls highlighted the user-friendly nature of the Highlander.

Safety was a priority for the 2022 Acura MDX. While crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were pending, Acura engineers had targeted top marks, as the 2020 model had achieved high ratings. The MDX incorporated advanced safety features, including enhanced high-strength steel construction, improved pedestrian protection with an impact-absorbing front end, and low-speed braking control. The AcuraWatch suite included collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitor, enhanced pedestrian detection, and traffic-jam assist, ensuring comprehensive safety for all occupants.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, which included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. However, the heightened sensitivity of the lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems was noticeable, sometimes feeling overly active, particularly on certain highways and back roads.