Compared: 2023 Acura MDX vs. 2023 Audi Q7

Acura/Audi

Article QuickTakes:

• Pricing
• Features
• Fuel economy

Much like other models in the midsize, luxury SUV segment, the seven-passenger, three-row 2023 Acura MDX and 2023 Audi Q7 mix spirited motoring with well-equipped cabins and sleek exteriors. Unsurprisingly, the Japanese model has the edge in price, while the German leads in power and features.

Acura

Acura MDX vs. Audi Q7: Price

The MDX starts around $50,000, with a 290-hp V6 engine and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive costs $2,200, and Acura offers tech and appearance packages that bring leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, remote start, and/or other desirable features. A performance-oriented Type S model with a 355-hp, turbocharged six-cylinder tops the lineup and costs nearly $69,000.

Audi

Audi’s Q7 variants demand higher prices than Acura’s MDXs. The lineup has two core models: The Q7 45, which features a 261-hp turbo four-cylinder and starts around $59,000, and the Q7 55, which gets a 335-hp turbo V6 and starts at about $64,000. Both come standard with all-wheel drive, and the upper trim levels provide such luxuries as a head-up display, soft-closing doors, and Audi’s matrix-design LED headlights. A racy SQ7, packing a 500-hp, twin-turbo V8, is also available, which starts around $90,000.

Acura

Acura MDX vs. Audi Q7: Features

Both the MDX and Q7 boast stylish interiors with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver. Audi’s unit has more built-in functionality, offering Google Earth imagery and 3D maps. As for the infotainment systems, Audi’s comprises two touchscreens integrated into the center stack: The top unit controls the radio, vehicle settings, and navigation system, while the bottom displays in-cabin climate. The MDX’s 12.3-inch display sits atop the dash and requires the driver to input commands on a touchpad.

Audi

Every MDX has push-button transmission controls, a large wireless phone charging deck, and a gigantic drive-mode control knob that you might mistake for a volume dial at first glance. Audi installs a rocker-type shifter in the Q7 and charges extra for a signal booster/wireless charger. At least leather seating comes standard on the Audi; the base MDX makes do with leatherette.

Buyers can spec either SUV with an air suspension for improved ride quality, but only Audi shoppers have the option of all-wheel steering, which—the automaker claims—allows for more precise cornering and easier parking.

Acura

Acura MDX vs. Audi Q7: Fuel Economy

The MDX and Q7 require premium fuel and achieve middling fuel-economy ratings for the three-row SUV segment. The front-drive MDX returns 22 mpg combined, while the all-wheel-drive model sees 21. And the sporty Type S manages 19 mpg.

Audi

The four-cylinder Audi Q7 is rated by the EPA with a combined estimate of 21 mpg. Its six-cylinder counterpart, meanwhile, is good for 20 mpg. You’ll likely have to make frequent visits to the pump if you opt for the SQ7; it has a paltry 17-mpg average.