Compare the2026 Acura MDXVS 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2025Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. LBX32-ZKK1R 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2025/08/01

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Acura MDX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Acura MDX achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L has not been tested.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Acura MDX’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

Both the MDX and the Grand Cherokee L have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the MDX is much safer than the Grand Cherokee L:

	MDX	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	120	252
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	POOR
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

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 Jeep Grand Cherokee L:

	MDX	Grand Cherokee L
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	105 lbs.	147 lbs.
Hip Force	226 lbs.	276 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	168 lbs.	375 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
Hip Force	424 lbs.	432 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 Grand Cherokee L:

	MDX	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	83	163
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.71 in	1.06 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.3 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	870 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.75 in	1.38 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.46 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	915 lbs.
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 3.4% less likely to roll over than the Grand Cherokee L.

The Acura MDX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Grand Cherokee L is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

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

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the MDX’s reliability 24 points higher than the Grand Cherokee L.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 26 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Acura higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 14 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee L’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The MDX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 62 more horsepower (355 vs. 293) and 94 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee L’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Acura MDX is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L:

	MDX V6	MDX Type S	Grand Cherokee L
Zero to 60 MPH	7.4 sec	5.4 sec	8.8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	14 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	101 MPH	85 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the MDX 3.5 SOHC V6 SH-AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Grand Cherokee L 4x4 (19 city/25 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

Regardless of its engine, the MDX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Jeep only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Grand Cherokee L V6.

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 Grand Cherokee L.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the MDX Type S’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the Grand Cherokee L:

	MDX Type S	Grand Cherokee L
Front Rotors	14.3 inches	13.9 inches

The MDX stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

	MDX	Grand Cherokee L
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	194 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	150 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The MDX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee L’s standard 60 series tires. The MDX Type S’ tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Grand Cherokee L Summit’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the MDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Grand Cherokee L.

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 Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the MDX is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee L.

The MDX Type S handles at .87 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The MDX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee L Overland (25.7 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The Acura MDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

The MDX is 6.5 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee L, making the MDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the MDX Type S is quieter than the Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4:

	MDX	Grand Cherokee L
At idle	36 dB	39 dB
Full-Throttle	76 dB	79 dB
70 MPH Cruising	68 dB	68 dB

Passenger Space

The MDX has .3 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear hip room, 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room and 3.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

Cargo Capacity

The MDX’s cargo area provides more volume than the Grand Cherokee L.

	MDX	Grand Cherokee L
Behind Third Seat	18.1 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	46.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	95 cubic feet	84.6 cubic feet

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Jeep. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 23% lower rating, Jeep is ranked 21st.

Ergonomics

The MDX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes 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 Grand Cherokee L can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the MDX’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Grand Cherokee L’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

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. Homelink® is only available on the Grand Cherokee L Limited/Overland/Summit.

Compared to traditional radio, the Acura MDX’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Acura MDX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Acura MDX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L isn't recommended.

See Available Inventory