DecodedCars2026 Acura MDX
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV AWD, Type S 4dr SUV AWD
- Engines
- 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
- Horsepower
- 290 hp
- Transmission
- 10-speed automatic
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 22 combined · 19 city / 26 hwy
- Length
- 198.4 in
- Curb weight
- 4,506–4,736 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 1 campaign
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
- Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 22 MPG combined, 27% below the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG.
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
- Modest powerUp to 290 hp, versus about 409 hp for similar 2026 models.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 35 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2026 Acura MDX is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (3.5L 6-cyl and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 198 inches long and 79 inches wide on a 114-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,506 lb (4dr SUV AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 22 MPG combined (19 city / 26 highway), 27% worse than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $3,750 a year in fuel.
It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2026
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2025 MDX — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 MDX →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: East Liberty, Ohio
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 4 2026 MDX configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV AWD | 198.4 in | 78.7 in | 66.9 in | 113.8 in | 67.7 / 67.7 in | 4,506 lb | 60/40 |
| Type S 4dr SUV AWD | 198.4 in | 78.7 in | 66.9 in | 113.8 in | 67.7 / 67.7 in | 4,736 lb | 58/42 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDX FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic (S10) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 22 | -27% | $3,750 | 411 |
| MDX AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic (S10) | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | -19% | $3,900 | 423 |
| MDX AWD Type-S | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 21 / 19 | -5% | $4,350 | 474 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 Acura MDX.
Similar 2026 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Acura MDX (this car) | 22 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Tesla Model Y | 357 mi | Not rated | 8 |
| 2026 Land Rover Range Rover | 23 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2026 Porsche Cayenne | 19 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 BMW X5 | 25 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Lexus RX | 36 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2026 Volvo XC90 | 27 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
Recalls (1)
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger · May 21, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V332000 · 98,892 vehicles
- Problem
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
- Risk
- Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Not every 2026 Acura MDX is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Other MDX years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 MDX | 22 | 198.4 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 112 |
| 2024 MDX | 22 | 198.4 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 43 |
| 2023 MDX | 22 | 198.4 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 48 |
| 2022 MDX | 22 | 198.4 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 181 |
| 2020 MDX | 27 | 196.1 in | ★★★★★ | 8 | 231 |
| 2019 MDX | 27 | 196.1 in | ★★★★★ | 9 | 198 |
| 2018 MDX | 27 | 196.1 in | ★★★★★ | 10 | 170 |
| 2017 MDX | 27 | 196.1 in | Not rated | 9 | 268 |
| 2016 MDX | 23 | 193.7 in | Not rated | 7 | 377 |
| 2015 MDX | 23 | 193.7 in | Not rated | 8 | 67 |
| 2014 MDX | 23 | 193.7 in | Not rated | 8 | 128 |
| 2013 MDX | 18 | 190.9 in | Not rated | 1 | 24 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Acura. How we calculate this →