Compare the2026 Acura MDXVS 2025 Buick Enclave

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
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 Enclave doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the MDX and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura MDX is safer than the Buick Enclave:

	MDX	Enclave
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30%	35.9%
Neck Stress	122 lbs.	159 lbs.

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

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 Buick Enclave:

	MDX	Enclave
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.6 inches
Hip Force	226 lbs.	372 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	168 lbs.	518 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	424 lbs.	721 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Acura MDX is safer than the Enclave:

	MDX	Enclave
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	171	260
Neck Tension	112 lbs.	290 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.75 in	.83 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the MDX is 2.3% to 3.4% less likely to roll over than the Enclave.

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 Enclave’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 Buick covers the Enclave. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Enclave ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The MDX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Enclave’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 6 places higher in reliability than Buick.

Engine

The MDX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 27 more horsepower (355 vs. 328) and 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 326) than the Enclave’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Acura MDX is faster than the Buick Enclave:

	MDX V6	MDX Type S	Enclave
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	5.4 sec	6.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.6 sec	5.8 sec	7.1 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the MDX 3.5 SOHC V6 SH-AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Enclave AWD (19 city/25 hwy vs. 19 city/24 hwy).

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

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura MDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Enclave.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	MDX	MDX Type S	Enclave
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	14.3 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13 inches	12.4 inches

Tires and Wheels

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

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 Enclave doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the MDX can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Enclave doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

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 Enclave doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The MDX Type S handles at .87 G’s, while the Enclave Avenir pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The MDX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the Enclave Avenir AWD (25.7 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the MDX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Enclave (7.3 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the MDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The MDX Type S’ minimum ground clearance is 2.6 inches higher than on the Enclave (9.4 vs. 6.8 inches).

Chassis

The Acura MDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Buick Enclave.

The MDX is 9.2 inches shorter than the Enclave, making the MDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the MDX. The Enclave doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The MDX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Buick. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 7% lower rating, Buick is ranked 9th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Enclave, 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 Enclave.

The MDX’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the MDX the driver can close them all 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 Enclave can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The MDX’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Enclave’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the MDX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Enclave doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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. Buick charges extra for Homelink® on the Enclave.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Acura MDX retains 46.29% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 41.48% resale value of the 2025 Buick Enclave after five years, which can save the Acura’s owner.

Recommendations

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

The Acura MDX outsold the Buick Enclave by almost two to one during 2024.

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