2025 Acura MDX vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile was reminiscent of older models, yet it featured angular headlights that tied it to the contemporary Land Rover lineup. Inside, the Defender felt rugged and adventure-ready, with a durable cabin that shared more similarities with a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco than with other Land Rovers. Despite its robust nature, the interior was enhanced with soft-touch materials, offering a balance of comfort and utility.

The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims like S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound. The Defender 110 S, the most popular configuration, came with the County visual package, featuring white wheels and vintage graphics. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable and heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof. The X-Dynamic SE and X trims offered additional styling touches and features, while the Carpathian Edition and Outbound trim catered to those seeking a more aggressive or spacious option.

The 2025 Acura MDX underwent subtle exterior updates, including a new grille, revised front bumper, and darkened headlights and taillights, which enhanced its sporty appearance. The interior saw more significant changes with the introduction of a new touchscreen infotainment system, replacing the previous touchpad interface and adding more storage. The MDX Advance and A-Spec Advance trims received seats from the previous Type S model, while the Type S got a new seat design. Acura also improved cabin quietness with added sound insulation and acoustic laminated window glass.

The MDX lineup introduced a new A-Spec Advance trim, blending luxury with a sportier look. Our test vehicle, equipped with this trim and Apex Blue Pearl paint, had an MSRP of $69,950, including a $1,350 destination charge. The base MDX started at $50,900, with various trims like Technology, A-Spec, Advance, and A-Spec Advance available. The MDX Type S Advance topped the lineup, offering maximum performance for $74,950 plus the destination charge.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, the P500 and P525, provided 493 hp and 450 lb-ft, and 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender could tow up to 7,716 pounds with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines, while the four-cylinder version could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system available on certain trims.

The 2025 Acura MDX positioned itself as a performance-oriented luxury SUV, with the A-Spec design and Type S engineering. The Type S featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Most MDX buyers opted for the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, which delivered 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) was optional on lower trims and standard on higher ones. The MDX offered various driving modes, including Comfort, Normal, Sport, Snow, and Individual, with the A-Spec Advance trim achieving an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving. The MDX provided a smooth and comfortable ride, with the ability to tackle twisty roads confidently, though it was not designed for off-roading.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a blend of luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and ample cargo compartments. Seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 had an optional third row, while the Defender 130 offered three seats in the third row. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 providing up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 offered up to 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row version, while the Defender 90 provided up to 58.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2025 Acura MDX featured 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage programs in the MDX Advance and A-Spec Advance trims. The second row could be configured as a bench seat or individual bucket seats, with the option to remove the center section for a pass-through to the third row. The third-row seat was best suited for children, with limited leg support and space. The MDX offered 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 71.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. In-cabin storage included a new center console tray, wireless smartphone charging pad, and various small storage compartments.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup provided a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2025 Acura MDX introduced a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Alexa Built-in and Google Built-in, offering access to Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play for three years. The system replaced the previous True Touchpad Interface, providing a more intuitive experience. The MDX featured AcuraLink connected services, an AT&T 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and upgraded sound systems, with Bang & Olufsen audio available on higher trims. The infotainment system paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 10.5-inch head-up display, offering comprehensive data and easy access to features.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender included standard driver assistance features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were noted to be overly sensitive.

The 2025 Acura MDX featured the AcuraWatch collection of driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control and Traffic Jam Assist were also standard. The new AcuraWatch 360, available on the Type S Advance, added features like front cross-traffic alert and evasive steering warning. The MDX received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though SH-AWD models lacked a rollover resistance rating.