2024 Hyundai Tucson 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, bringing the MSRP to $74,995. Despite the high price, the MDX Type S missed the mark in some respects regarding quality, luxury, and driving dynamism.

The fourth-generation MDX was the first Acura SUV to wear the Type S badge, and it featured subtle design elements like 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. However, the body tapering at the doors sometimes made it look like the MDX had a massive dent on the side. The gloss black plastic on the dashboard also made it challenging to find and use some controls. Despite these nit-picks, the MDX Type S was fundamentally an attractive luxury SUV.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson, introduced for the 2022 model year, marked the fourth generation of this compact SUV. It carried over largely unchanged from 2022 to 2023 to 2024. The Tucson had fantastic styling with taut angles and unique choices, such as headlights that blended into the grille. Even in white, the test vehicle color, this crossover looked sharp. The contrasting angles gave it an athletic presence, and the headlight integration was a design trend Hyundai executed well. Trim levels included SE, SEL, XRT, and Limited, each with distinct features like alloy wheels, roof rails, and dark chrome grilles.

Inside, the Tucson's modern, refined cabin was packed with technology in an approachable way. However, the test model's missing volume dial was a drawback, replaced by touch-capacitive buttons and a toggle on the steering wheel. The location of some controls closer to the shifter and cupholders was a nice touch. Standard features on the base SE trim included two USB ports, remote keyless entry, a manually adjustable driver’s seat, HD radio, power windows, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. The Limited trim, which was tested, came extremely well-equipped with ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, genuine leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, an upgraded Bose premium stereo system, and memory settings for the driver’s seat.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S was unique due to its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, generating 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. This was an increase of 65 hp and 87 lb-ft of torque 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 system could put up to 70 percent of total engine output to a single rear wheel, enhancing cornering performance.

The MDX Type S featured an Integrated Dynamics System with Snow, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+ driving modes, along with a Lift mode to increase ground clearance. Despite these enhancements, the MDX Type S fell short as a cohesive performance vehicle. The transmission was indecisive, the ride lacked compliance, and the brake pedal modulation was poor. The engine's power increase over the standard V6 was not substantial, making its dismal fuel economy harder to accept. On the evaluation route, the MDX Type S averaged 16.9 mpg, falling short of the EPA rating of 19 mpg in combined driving. The turbocharged V6 sounded great when revved but guzzled fuel like a big V8.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, developing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels or available all-wheel drive (AWD). This was the only non-hybrid powertrain offered in the Tucson, which was disappointing. It was fine for around-town driving, but getting up to highway speeds and making passing maneuvers required putting the throttle nearly to the floor, resulting in significant engine noise. For more power, the 226-hp Tucson Hybrid or the 261-hp Tucson Plug-In Hybrid were better options.

Despite the powertrain limitations, the Tucson shined in handling and ride quality. It struck a deft combination of ride comfort and cornering prowess, soaking up bumps in the road, making it great for long trips or daily commutes. The steering was well-weighted and precise, though not as athletic as a Mazda CX-5 or CX-50. The Tucson's driving experience was well-rounded, making it a solid choice for most drivers.

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 and 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage. The seats were wrapped in quilted leather upholstery, and the power-adjustable steering wheel had a heated rim. However, the driver's seat was firm and didn't hold the driver in place as well as expected when driving with enthusiasm.

Seven-passenger seating was standard in all MDXs, 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 cabin's style took precedence over storage space, with a small bin under the front center armrest and a touchpad interface that blocked the wireless charging pad. The cargo area offered 18.1 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 39.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded flat.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson provided up to 74.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and up to 38.7 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. These were excellent numbers for the compact SUV segment, only outclassed by the Honda CR-V. The Tucson SE came with a manual liftgate, while all other trims had a hands-free power liftgate. The hands-free liftgate was intuitive, requiring the key fob and standing within three feet of the rear bumper for more than three seconds to operate.

The Tucson had room for up to five passengers, with plenty of headroom and legroom in both rows. The front seats were more spacious, but the rear area was also comfortable for adults. The vehicle could handle four adults for longer trips, which was more than some other small SUVs could claim. There were plenty of deep cup holders throughout the cabin, and the center tray between the shifter area and the center stack had room for items, including a standard wireless device charging pad.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a Digital Precision Cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. However, the infotainment screen was not 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 storage space and partially blocked the wireless charging pad. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa Built-In, SiriusXM satellite radio, a native navigation system, and AcuraLink connected services with a complimentary three-year subscription.

The MDX offered several sound systems, with the test vehicle featuring the top-shelf Signature Edition ELS Studio 3D high-end audio system with 25 speakers. The Advance package added a 10.5-inch head-up display (HUD) showing navigation instructions, driving assistance status, current vehicle speed, and the posted speed limit. However, the traffic sign recognition system occasionally misread signs, leading to incorrect speed limit displays.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson's standard infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. The system was straightforward to operate, with home buttons for functions like Radio, Media, and Setup. The SEL Convenience Package, XRT, and Limited trims came with a fully digital instrument panel and a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen. However, the larger screen lost wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and had an annoying haptic volume toggle instead of thumb rollers.

Hyundai's remote start system evolved to detect the key when the vehicle was remotely started, allowing the driver to put it in Drive and go without pressing the start button. This feature added convenience and ease of use.

The 2023 Acura MDX's traffic sign recognition system was part of Acura Watch, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and Traffic Jam Assist. The MDX also had a blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert, 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 Hyundai Tucson came standard with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited trim added front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera system, and Hyundai’s Smart Park remote-parking feature. The Tucson earned a best overall score of "Good" in most IIHS crash tests and was a Top Safety Pick+ for 2023. The NHTSA gave it five stars in a frontal crash test and four stars in a rollover test.