Compare the2026 Acura MDXVS 2026 Ford Explorer

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Acura MDX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Explorer doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Acura MDX achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Ford Explorer has not been tested.

The Acura MDX’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Ford Explorer does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the MDX and the Explorer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Acura MDX is safer than the Ford Explorer:

	MDX	Explorer
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	105 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	168 lbs.	604 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches
Hip Force	424 lbs.	573 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The MDX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Explorer’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the MDX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Explorer. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Explorer ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 8 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The MDX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 55 more horsepower (355 vs. 300) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 310) than the Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the MDX Type S 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Ford Explorer turbo 4 cyl.:

	MDX	Explorer
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.9 MPH	89.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the MDX gets better mileage than the Explorer:

			MPG
MDX
	FWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/25 hwy
Explorer
	RWD	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
		Tremor 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/23 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the MDX’s fuel efficiency. The Explorer doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The MDX has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Explorer. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the MDX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Explorer:

	MDX	Explorer
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.4 inches

The MDX stops shorter than the Explorer:

	MDX	Explorer
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The MDX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Explorer’s standard 65 series tires. The MDX Type S’ tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Explorer’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the MDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Explorer.

The MDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Explorer doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The MDX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Explorer’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The MDX Type S has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The MDX’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Explorer doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The MDX Type S handles at .87 G’s, while the Explorer Active 4WD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The MDX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the Explorer 4WD (25.7 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the MDX Type S has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Explorer Tremor (9.4 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the MDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the MDX Type S is quieter than the Explorer ST 4WD:

	MDX	Explorer
At idle	36 dB	41 dB
Full-Throttle	76 dB	77 dB

Passenger Space

The MDX has .1 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more rear legroom and .6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Explorer.

Cargo Capacity

The MDX’s cargo area provides more volume than the Explorer.

	MDX	Explorer
Behind Third Seat	18.1 cubic feet	16.3 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	46 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	95 cubic feet	85.8 cubic feet

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the MDX’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Explorer doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The MDX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Explorer uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 24% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Explorer (except Active), the MDX offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The MDX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Explorer, and is not available on all models.

The MDX Advance/Type S has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction, incoming text message and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Explorer doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The MDX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Explorer’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the MDX the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Explorer can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the MDX’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Explorer’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The MDX’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Explorer’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

When the MDX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Explorer’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Acura MDX has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Ford charges extra for Homelink® on the Explorer.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Acura MDX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Explorer and isn’t available on the Explorer Active.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Acura MDX and the Ford Explorer, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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