2026 Acura MDX vs. 2027 Buick Enclave

Kelley Blue Book says the MDX and Enclave each offer a satisfying, comfortable ride, recommending the MDX for a sportier look and feel and the Enclave for Super Cruise hands-free driving plus more cargo room (22.9 vs 18.1 cubic feet behind the last seat) and a third row more suitable for adults (32.1 vs 29.1 inches of legroom). Lithia says in IIHS Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 testing, the Buick Enclave achieved a 'Good' rating, the highest possible, in forward collision warning and automatic braking, outperforming the Acura MDX's 'Acceptable' score, and the Enclave has standard Post-Collision Braking that automatically applies the brakes after a crash to help prevent secondary collisions, a system the MDX doesn't offer.

Which to choose, and why

MDX for sportiness, Enclave for cargo and third-row room

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) says the MDX and Enclave each offer a satisfying, comfortable ride, recommending the MDX for a sportier look and feel and the Enclave for Super Cruise hands-free driving plus more cargo room (22.9 vs 18.1 cubic feet behind the last seat) and a third row more suitable for adults (32.1 vs 29.1 inches of legroom).

The Enclave rates higher on IIHS crash-prevention testing

Lithia (opens in a new tab) says in IIHS Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 testing, the Buick Enclave achieved a 'Good' rating, the highest possible, in forward collision warning and automatic braking, outperforming the Acura MDX's 'Acceptable' score, and the Enclave has standard Post-Collision Braking that automatically applies the brakes after a crash to help prevent secondary collisions, a system the MDX doesn't offer.

Questions buyers ask

Which has more third-row legroom, the Acura MDX or Buick Enclave?

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) says the Enclave, at 32.1 inches versus the MDX's 29.1.

Which rates higher on IIHS crash-prevention testing, the Acura MDX or Buick Enclave?

Lithia (opens in a new tab) says the Enclave, 'Good' versus the MDX's 'Acceptable.'

Side-by-side matrix

The published fields that can change the decision.

Acura MDX: 3 records · Buick Enclave: 2 records.

Decision field	Acura MDX	Buick Enclave
Exact EPA records	3	2
Model / option labels	3	2
Drive layouts	All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive
Engines / propulsion	3.5L 6-cyl SIDI, 3L 6-cyl SIDI	2.5L 4-cyl SIDI
Transmissions	Automatic (S10)	Automatic 8-spd
Fuel types	Premium	Regular
EPA classes	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Combined efficiency	19–22 MPG/MPGe	21–22 MPG/MPGe
Electric range	Not listed	Not listed
Annual fuel / energy estimate	$3650–4200 per year	$2950–3100 per year

Head to head

Acura MDX vs. Buick Enclave: size, power, capability and price.

Measure	Acura MDX	Buick Enclave
Starting price (KBB base)	$53,250	$48,595
Top trim price (KBB base)	$77,300	$67,295
Horsepower	290-355 hp	328 hp
Torque	267-354 lb-ft	326 lb-ft
Curb weight	4,268-4,776 lb	4,733 lb
Length	198.4 in	207.6 in
Wheelbase	113.8 in	121 in
Cargo volume	95 cu ft	97.5 cu ft
Towing capacity	3,500-5,000 lb	5,000 lb
Seating	7 seats	7 seats
Basic warranty	4 years	3 years

Figures are ranges across each model’s trims from Kelley Blue Book records (2026 and 2027 model years); prices are KBB base prices.

The Buick Enclave starts $4,655 lower: $48,595 against $53,250 before options and fees.
On peak horsepower, the Acura MDX leads: 355 hp against 328 hp.
On peak torque, the Acura MDX leads: 354 lb-ft against 326 lb-ft.
The Acura MDX is lighter, comparing lightest trims: 4,268 lb against 4,733 lb.
On length, the Buick Enclave leads: 207.6 in against 198.4 in.
On wheelbase, the Buick Enclave leads: 121 in against 113.8 in.
On cargo volume, the Buick Enclave leads: 97.5 cu ft against 95 cu ft.
Both list the same maximum towing capacity: 5,000 lb.
Both list the same seating capacity: 7 seats.
On basic warranty, the Acura MDX leads: 4 years against 3 years.

Background on each vehicle

What public sources say about the Acura MDX and the Buick Enclave.

2026 Acura MDX

The Acura MDX is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by the Japanese automaker Honda under its luxury Acura division since 2000. The alphanumeric moniker stands for "Multi-Dimensional" luxury. It has ranked as the second-best selling mid-size luxury SUV after the Lexus RX in the U.S.

Safety: Fourth generation (YD8/9/YE1; 2022) Skipping the 2021 model year, the fourth-generation MDX was revealed as a prototype on October 14, 2020, virtually revealed on December 8, went into bulk production on January 12, 2021, for the 2022 model year, and went on sale on February 2, with the Type-S trim released on December 23.
Awards: North American Car of the Year Utility Finalist for 2019. Car and Driver magazine's Best Luxury SUV in 2001. Motor Trend magazine's SUV of the Year Contender in 2017.

Source: Acura MDX (Wikipedia)

Recent recalls (3 campaigns across the latest model years)

May 2026, Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger. 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… Consequence: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
June 2025, Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles… Consequence: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
January 2025, Back Over Prevention:Software. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2025 Acura MDX vehicles. The touchscreen in the center console may go blank, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of… Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Owners filed 105 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Acura MDX, most often about engine (63), electrical system (48), unknown or other (26).

2027 Buick Enclave

The Buick Enclave is a three-row full-size crossover SUV produced by General Motors since 2007. It was previewed at the 2006 North American International Auto Show, officially as a concept car, making it the first Lambda vehicle to be displayed. The Enclave is partially based on the Buick Centieme concept shown at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show.

Source: Buick Enclave (Wikipedia)

Recent recalls (1 campaign across the latest model years)

February 2026, Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual. General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette… Consequence: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Owners filed 37 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Buick Enclave, most often about service brakes (14), electrical system (9), unknown or other (7).

Open both dossiers

Resolve the exact engine, drive and EPA ID.

01 · 2026Acura MDX3 configurations →02 · 2027Buick Enclave2 configurations →

Comparison answer desk

12 answers for this exact pairing.

Q01Which is more efficient: the 2026 Acura MDX or the 2027 Buick Enclave?

Efficiency

The 2027 Buick Enclave lists the higher combined-efficiency midpoint in this snapshot (21.5 vs. the 2026 Acura MDX's 20.5 MPG/MPGe).