Acura MDX vs Jeep Renegade

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, shared its underpinnings with the Jeep Compass but drew design inspiration from the iconic Wrangler SUV. It featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The 2019 refresh carried over to 2021, making previously optional features standard. Inside, the Renegade had a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack, reminiscent of the Wrangler, putting controls within easy reach. It offered various trims and special editions, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk, each with unique features and equipment.

The 2022 Acura MDX, a pioneer in the three-row luxury crossover SUV category, was built on a new dedicated platform, enhancing its proportions with a longer wheelbase, wider body, and increased dash-to-axle distance. The MDX featured standard Jewel Eye LED headlights and larger wheels, giving it a sportier, more assertive look. Inside, the MDX had a modernized, spacious cabin with authentic materials like natural wood, genuine aluminum, and real leather. The center console housed multiple controls, including a unique gear selection and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The front seats were comfortable and adjustable, and the steering wheel housed redundant controls, including paddle shifters.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The turbocharged engine provided better torque and refinement, while the 2.4-liter engine was less spirited and noisier under hard acceleration. The Renegade had a solid ride quality, good maneuverability, and impressive visibility, making it a great city car. The Trailhawk trim, with its off-road capabilities, was the only trim with Jeep’s “Trail Rated” designation.

The 2022 Acura MDX featured a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission. The MDX offered front-wheel drive (FWD) in base and Tech trims, with Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) optional on these trims and standard on others. The SH-AWD system provided torque vectoring, enhancing cornering feel and control. The MDX’s suspension was upgraded to a double-wishbone setup in the front and revised multi-link suspension in the rear, improving ride quality and sporty handling. The MDX’s overall stiffness and rigidity were significantly improved, providing a solid ride feel. The 10-speed automatic transmission worked smoothly with the engine, offering five drive modes for various driving conditions.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. Its tall, boxy design provided ample headroom in both rows, with great legroom in the front seats and adequate space for adults in the rear seats. The Renegade featured helpful storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold forward for added space.

The 2022 Acura MDX, as a three-row SUV, provided comfortable seating for the first two rows, with dual bucket sport seats in the front and an innovative second row with a removable center section. The second row could slide fore and aft and recline up to 12 degrees. The third row was best suited for pre-teens and smaller passengers. The MDX offered flexible cargo capacity, with 16.3 to 18.1 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, expandable to 39.1 to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 71.4 to 95 cubic feet with the second row folded. The power tailgate featured “Grab ‘N Go” and Hands-Free Access functions, and the interior lighting was customizable with 27 themes.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect system, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Kenwood premium audio system was available.

The 2022 Acura MDX offered the ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio System with 16 speakers and 710 watts of amplification in the A-Spec and Advance Packages. The base MDX had a nine-speaker system, while the Tech Package included a 12-speaker system. Navigation was standard on Tech and above trims, and all MDX models featured a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and Acura Precision Cockpit digital instrument panel. The MDX included Amazon Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Qi-compatible wireless charging, CabinTalk, a head-up display, HD rearview camera, WiFi hotspot, and over-the-air updates.

For 2021, the Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and parking sensors were optional. The Renegade received a four-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2022 Acura MDX had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2020 model received high marks, and Acura aimed for even better ratings. The MDX featured a higher percentage of high-strength steel and an advanced safety structure. The front end was redesigned for pedestrian safety, and a low-speed braking control system was included. The AcuraWatch suite of safety technologies was standard, including collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitor, pedestrian detection, and traffic-jam assist.