2024 Acura MDX vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

In the past, the minivan aesthetic was a tough sell for many shoppers. It often conjured memories of childhood road trips in cars with sliding doors and slab-slide designs, recalling the days when families navigated with bulky atlases. The rise of the body-on-frame SUV in the 90s didn't help the minivan's status. However, those bulky SUVs eventually made way for car-based crossovers, which often resembled high-riding minivans sans sliding doors. Given that context, the minivan was far more stylish and functional than it appeared to be, offering larger cargo capacity, easy access, and inventive interior features.

Toyota had put significant effort into redefining the Sienna’s style. The front-end design, resembling a Japanese bullet train, was one such endeavor. While most trims came with 18-inch wheels, the front-wheel-drive (FWD) versions of the XSE and Platinum trims featured 20-inch wheels. Buyers had a plethora of trim levels to choose from, starting with the base LE Sienna, climbing up to the XLE, sporty XSE, upscale Limited, and top-tier Platinum trims. For 2023, Toyota also introduced the 25th Anniversary Special Edition trim, priced just below the Limited trim.

The XLE trim seemed to be the optimal choice for value-conscious shoppers, as it included standard LED fog lights, power-sliding doors, and a power liftgate—features that became invaluable with more children to shepherd around. Inside, the Sienna's interior was both lovely and high-quality, especially in the Platinum trim, which boasted brown leather upholstery and beautiful wood-grain accents on the center console.

Toyota offered the Sienna with either seven or eight seats. The LE and XLE were the choices for those needing the larger capacity, with the middle bench seat accommodating three car seats across the middle row secured with LATCH anchors.

Meanwhile, Acura had clearly nailed the look of the MDX. Its large shield grille, flanked by rakish headlights and intake vents below, gave it a modern, refined presence. However, inside was a different story. The interior was high-tech but felt busy with a bevy of center console controls that were quite overwhelming at first.

Acura’s trim structure, known as packages, included the base model, Technology Package, A-Spec Package, and Advance Package. There was also the sportier MDX Type-S and ultimate Type-S Advance, which featured premium attributes like the 26-speaker ELS sound system and massaging front seats.

Standard features on the MDX included tri-zone climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable front seats, and heated front seats. The Technology Package added ambient lighting, genuine leather upholstery, and a premium stereo system, while the A-Spec included unique styling touches and an upgraded audio system. The Advance Package further enhanced comfort with a heated steering wheel, additional USB ports, and a remote start function.

The Type-S boasted 355 horsepower and came equipped with Brembo performance brakes and an adaptive air suspension system that could automatically level itself. It featured various drive modes, including Sport, Sport+, Snow, Comfort, Normal, Individual, and Lift modes for additional ground clearance. The MDX excelled in providing a refined and comfortable ride on boulevards and highways while maintaining a firm, sporty demeanor.

When Toyota unveiled the fourth-generation Sienna in 2020, they introduced a hybrid-only powertrain. The Sienna featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two front-mounted electric motors and a third rear-mounted electric motor for AWD trims. This setup generated a combined 245 net system horsepower. Unfortunately, these specs were less impressive than the competition’s, and the Sienna's powertrain felt underpowered for its size and weight. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) added to this by clawing its way up the rev band, making the powertrain sound less than stellar. Compared to the more powerful Honda Odyssey, the Sienna's lackluster acceleration was noticeable.

However, Toyota did an outstanding job with the Sienna's chassis and steering. The platform was surprisingly nimble, making the hefty minivan enjoyable to drive both around town and on the highway. The light steering feel and tight turning radius were particularly beneficial for city driving. While the Sienna offered multiple drive modes—EV, Normal, Eco, and Sport—the recommendation was to stick with Normal mode. Eco mode overly dampened throttle response and extended the CVT’s simulated gears, while EV mode seldom worked without engaging the gas engine, and Sport mode failed to convince anyone they weren't driving a minivan.

In contrast, the Acura MDX’s performance package was more robust. The standard powertrain was a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. The MDX Type-S packed an even greater punch with its twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, generating 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Power was delivered through a 10-speed automatic transmission to either the front wheels or Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system (AWD).

Driving the MDX Type-S Advance was a delightful experience, thanks to its strong acceleration, never leaving drivers wanting for power even during quick maneuvers. The adaptive air suspension and performance brakes offered confident handling, and the ride height lowered in Sport mode, enhancing stability and responsiveness. Drive modes included Sport+, Snow, Comfort, Normal, Individual, and Lift for increased ground clearance. The MDX Type-S, although weighing around 4,500 pounds, was remarkably agile, with steering responsiveness akin to a luxury sedan. Its tight turning radius made navigating tight spaces a breeze. With a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, the MDX demonstrated impressive versatility.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna’s interior design was a testament to functionality. It featured numerous cubbies, nooks, shelves, and bins that made storage a breeze. The open cubby below the center console could accommodate a large bag or purse, and a long shelf ran across the dashboard in front of the passenger seat—ideal for phones and equipped with a wireless charging pad in higher trims. The Sienna also boasted ample cupholders (enough for everyone to have at least two drinks) and a big bin in the center console.

The Sienna's dimensions added to its practicality. Measuring over 200 inches in length with a 120.5-inch wheelbase, it was spacious. Unlike three-row crossovers, the minivan platform allowed for significant cargo space, offering 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a total of 101 cubic feet. However, these numbers were somewhat behind other minivans like the Honda Odyssey, which offered a more flexible middle row that could be fully removed. The Sienna's permanent second row was a potential downside for those needing maximum cargo space, although the extending ottomans and long seat slides provided excellent flexibility and comfort for passengers of all heights.

On the other hand, the 2024 Acura MDX also offered a robust interior setup but fell short in some areas compared to the Sienna’s spaciousness. The MDX provided standard three-row seating, but the third row was smaller, suited more for children. Cargo space included 16.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 39.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The maximum cargo space reached 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded, supplemented by an additional storage area beneath the cargo load floor.

Our test vehicle, the Type-S Advance, featured a second-row bench with a fold-down center console and integrated cupholders. While lacking an option for captain’s chairs, the fold-out armrest provided a similar individual-seat experience for second-row passengers. Cupholders were plentiful, and the center console offered ample storage. However, the center stack of controls was cluttered, with a row of buttons for the shifter and a large dial for the IDS, occupying valuable real estate without enhancing the driving experience.

Toyota's technology in the 2023 Sienna didn’t keep pace with its newer models. Instead, the Sienna relied on an older infotainment interface. While it included core features like SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an optional navigation system, and seven USB ports, the system felt outdated and somewhat clunky. Accessing Android Auto required a wired connection and navigating through the menu view every time, which was cumbersome. The interaction between Toyota’s music player and apps like Spotify was also less than ideal.

Nevertheless, the Sienna's technology was reliable, with a 9-inch touchscreen that looked adequate in person. The 12-speaker JBL audio system performed well, providing quality sound even if the infotainment system itself felt dated.

In stark contrast, the Acura MDX’s infotainment system represented a significant technological misstep. The 12.3-inch display, not a touchscreen, required navigation through a touchpad below the shifter—an unintuitive and clumsy mechanism. However, the MDX did redeem itself with several positive features. It came standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, multiple USB ports, a fully digital instrument panel, and wireless device charging.

Despite these positives, the unintuitive touchpad interface significantly hampered the MDX's overall user experience. While Acura had made clever design decisions, such as the seamless integration of the charging pad and touchpad, these advancements were overshadowed by the frustration of interacting with the entertainment system.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in safety, equipped with a robust suite of advanced driver assistance systems. These included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. Such features were particularly important in a family vehicle.

It was not surprising that the 2023 Sienna earned a 5-star crash-test rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from IIHS, similar to the 2022 model. While its competitors, like Honda and Chrysler, also boasted top safety ratings and additional family-friendly features, the Sienna's standard safety technology made it a solid choice.

Similarly, the Acura MDX offered a comprehensive array of high-tech safety features. Standard equipment included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-departure warning, driver attention monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Technology Package added front and rear parking sensors, reverse automatic emergency braking, and rain-sensing wipers, while the Advance package included a 360-degree parking camera system and a head-up display.

The 2024 MDX had not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to carry over the strong safety ratings of the 2022 MDX, which received a 5-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS. Despite its comprehensive safety features, the MDX's touchpad infotainment interface posed a possible distraction for drivers.