2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2023 Acura MDX

When shopping for a new Acura MDX, buyers found both standard and Type S versions, each with trim packages that increased the amount of equipment. The standard MDX came in a base level with available Technology, A-Spec, and Advance packages, while the MDX Type S was offered in standard spec or with an Advance package. Prices ranged from $49,550 to $73,200, plus a destination charge of $1,195.

The test vehicle arrived in Type S Advance trim with extra-cost Apex Blue Pearl paint and an Orchid (white) interior. The MSRP was $74,995. With such a high price, Acura set expectations for quality, luxury, and driving dynamism, but in some respects, it missed the mark. The fourth-generation MDX was the first Acura SUV to wear the Type S badge, and it featured chicane-design LED running lights and taillights, LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and 21-inch wheels. The Type S Advance added open-pore wood and a leather-wrapped dashboard, but some design choices, like the gloss black plastic on the dashboard, made it challenging to use some controls.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid started at $33,700, making it the most affordable electrified version of the SUV. It featured black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out exterior trim for a sporty look, but the interior was relatively basic. The new leather-lined Sport-L Hybrid provided an interior upgrade and started at $36,700, while the Sport Touring Hybrid topped the lineup at $39,850. The test vehicle came with Canyon River Blue paint and no optional accessories, with an MSRP of $41,175.

The CR-V's conservative styling with a technical face resembling an angry robot was expected to age well, but it carried too much visual weight over its front wheels. The best viewing angle was from the rear quarter, where Volvo-adjacent taillights and tidy design gave the CR-V an upscale appearance. Inside, the Sport Touring featured leather seats with orange contrast stitching and numerous details that imparted a sense of quality, such as the sound the doors made when slammed shut and the soft-touch upper dashboard pad.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S was unique due to its engine. It employed a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 generating 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, increases of 65 hp and 87 lb-ft over the standard 3.5-liter V6. However, the Type S also weighed 285 pounds more than the lightest standard MDX with all-wheel drive (AWD). The twin-scroll turbo V6 engine used a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters to power all four wheels through Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). This mechanical torque-vectoring AWD system could put up to 70 percent of total engine output to a single rear wheel, and it was felt when accelerating hard out of a corner or tight curve.

An Integrated Dynamics System provided Snow, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+ driving modes. The MDX Type S had an exclusive Lift mode that increased ground clearance from the standard 7.3 inches to 9.4 inches. However, the performance upgrades didn't gel into a cohesive whole. The MDX Type S never felt like an extension of its driver due to its indecisive transmission, lack of ride compliance, squealing tires, and poor brake pedal modulation. The engine didn't offer a substantial increase in power over the standard V6, making its dismal fuel economy harder to accept. On the evaluation route, the MDX Type S averaged 16.9 mpg, short of the official EPA rating of 19 mpg in combined driving.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a fourth-generation Honda two-motor hybrid drive system that worked differently from other hybrids. It married an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, one for propulsion and the other as a generator/starter motor. The propulsion motor powered the SUV while the generator/starter motor recharged the battery. The gasoline engine operated as an onboard generator in some situations, with energy flowing through the generator/starter motor to the battery pack and then to the propulsion motor. In other situations, the gasoline engine could directly power the hybrid SUV.

The CR-V Hybrid delivered 204 horsepower to the front or all four wheels. According to the EPA, the CR-V Sport Touring should net 37 mpg in combined driving, but the test vehicle returned 32.4 mpg on a mountainous Southern California testing loop. The CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid was relatively quiet on the road and provided a compliant ride quality with predictable handling traits. The steering had an unusually heavy effort level even in the Normal driving mode.

The 2023 Acura MDX offered three rows of seats with a choice of two or three second-row seating positions, plus a cargo area with lots of usable floor space. The test vehicle had all available upgrades, including a triple-zone automatic climate control system, 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, and a power-adjustable steering wheel with a heated rim. The MDX was comfortable, but the Type S' seats fell short of the model's performance-oriented mission.

Seven-passenger seating was standard, with the option to remove the center section of the second-row seat for a pass-through to the third row. The second-row seat slid forward and back to make more space for third-row passengers, but the rearmost position did not supply as much legroom as expected. The third row was best for carrying children. The cargo area offered 18.1 cubic feet of space behind the third-row seat, 39.1 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and a maximum of 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded flat.

The 2024 Honda CR-V excelled in form and function. All CR-V Hybrids included a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, offering excellent support. The front passenger seat had the same design but lacked the same adjustment range. The test vehicle had heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, and all hybrid models featured dual-zone climate control. Getting into and out of the CR-V was easy, especially in the back, where the doors opened to nearly a 90-degree angle. The back seat was comfortable for adults, with generous legroom and adjustable backrest angles.

The CR-V provided plenty of storage, though the glove compartment was smaller than expected. The Sport Touring’s hands-free power rear liftgate revealed a 34.7 cubic foot cargo area, the smallest of any CR-V. The Sport and Sport-L provided 36.3 cubic feet, and all CR-V Hybrid models offered a maximum of 76.5 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a configurable 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. However, the infotainment screen wasn't touch-sensitive and required the use of a True Touchpad Interface (TTI) located on the center console. The TTI design robbed the center console of space and partially blocked the MDX's wireless charging pad. The MDX featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa Built-In, SiriusXM satellite radio, a native navigation system, and AcuraLink connected services. The test vehicle had the top-shelf Signature Edition ELS Studio 3D high-end audio system with 25 speakers.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid came with a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The available 9-inch infotainment display wasn’t much larger. Features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a decent sound system were reserved for the Sport-L and Sport Touring trim levels. The test vehicle’s system included navigation and paired with a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. The voice recognition system was basic and faltered with conversational commands. The CR-V Hybrid’s standard walk-away automatic locking feature provided peace of mind.

The 2023 Acura MDX included Acura Watch, a collection of driving assistance and collision avoidance systems. Safety features included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control with low-speed following capability, and Traffic Jam Assist. The MDX also had a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert. Certain trim packages added front and rear parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The MDX earned good crash-test ratings, with the IIHS naming it a Top Safety Pick+ and the NHTSA giving it an overall five-star rating.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid had Honda Sensing, a collection of advanced driving assistance systems. Safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, and a driver monitoring system. The CR-V also had a rear-seat reminder, automatic high-beam headlights, and a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Sport-L and Sport Touring added front and rear parking sensors and low-speed automatic braking control. The CR-V earned impressive ratings from the IIHS, receiving a Top Safety Pick+ award.