Compare the2026 Hyundai PalisadeVS 2026 Acura MDX

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Palisade are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Acura MDX doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

Both the Palisade and MDX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Palisade has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The MDX’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Palisade has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The MDX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Hyundai Palisade is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Acura MDX, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Palisade	MDX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-17 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-33 MPH
37 MPH Low beams	-34 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.4 sec	No Warning

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Hyundai Palisade achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Acura MDX, which scored only an “Acceptable” in these critical safety features.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Palisade AWD’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Palisade and MDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Palisade has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The MDX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Palisade and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, driver alert monitors, 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 Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Palisade	MDX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Palisade is safer than the MDX:

	Palisade	MDX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg Forces L/R	315/382 pounds	562/427 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	POOR

The Hyundai Palisade (built after November 2025) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The MDX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

The Palisade comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The MDX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Palisade 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Acura covers the MDX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the MDX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The Palisade’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the MDX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

There are over 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Palisade’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 15th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 27 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Hyundai higher than Acura.

The Palisade’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 39 more horsepower (329 vs. 290) and 72 lbs.-ft. more torque (339 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Hyundai Palisade 4 cyl. hybrid gas is faster than the Acura MDX V6:

	Palisade	MDX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.6 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	96.1 MPH	88.6 MPH

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

			MPG
Palisade
	FWD	Blue 2.5 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	33 city/35 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	31 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	29 city/30 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
MDX
	FWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/25 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	17 city/21 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Palisade Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The MDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Palisade uses regular unleaded gasoline. The MDX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Palisade higher (6 out of 10) than the Acura MDX (4). This means the Palisade produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the MDX every 15,000 miles.

The Palisade’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MDX are solid, not vented.

The Palisade stops much shorter than the MDX:

	Palisade	MDX
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

The Palisade’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The MDX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Palisade’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the MDX (116.9 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Palisade XRT PRO’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the MDX’s (39 feet vs. 40.5 feet). The Palisade’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the MDX’s (39.2 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Palisade has a greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (7.4 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Palisade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the Palisade uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The MDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Palisade Calligraphy HTRAC is quieter than the MDX Type S:

	Palisade	MDX
At idle	34 dB	36 dB
Full-Throttle	71 dB	76 dB
70 MPH Cruising	67 dB	68 dB

The Palisade offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the MDX can only carry 7.

The Palisade has 22.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (161.9 vs. 139.1).

The Palisade has 3 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, 2.6 inches more rear headroom, 4.5 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.6 inches more third row headroom, 3 inches more third row legroom, 4.7 inches more third row hip room and .4 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Palisade’s middle and third row seats recline. The MDX’s third row seats don’t recline.

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

	Palisade	MDX
Behind Third Seat	19.1 cubic feet	18.1 cubic feet

The Palisade has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The MDX doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Palisade’s second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Palisade Limited/Calligraphy’s third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The MDX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Palisade’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the MDX’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The power windows standard on both the Palisade and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Palisade is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The MDX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Palisade has standard extendable sun visors. The MDX doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Palisade SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy/Hybrid has standard heated front seats and second and third row heated seats also available, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Acura doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the MDX.

The Palisade SEL Premium/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy/Hybrid has standard front air conditioned seats and the Palisade SEL Premium/Limited/Calligraphy/Hybrid also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The MDX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Palisade Calligraphy’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The MDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Hyundai Palisade retains 52.47% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 46.29% resale value of the 2026 Acura MDX after five years, which can save the Hyundai’s owner up to $10142 in depreciation.

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

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Palisade as the 2026 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The MDX was last chosen as a North American vehicle of the year in 2001.

The Hyundai Palisade outsold the Acura MDX by almost three to one during 2025.