Which Acura SUV is the best fit for you?

ADX is the right first drive when smaller really is better

The ADX is Acura’s smallest SUV, and that is its reason for existing. Its 190-hp turbocharged engine, continuously variable transmission, and choice of front-wheel drive or AWD suit a shopper who wants an upscale compact crossover without paying for RDX power or MDX space. The rear seat folds for cargo, and Acura publishes up to 55.1 cubic feet of maximum cargo room.

The compromise is straightforward: ADX has the least power here and no third row. Drive it with the people and cargo you normally carry. If the rear seat, passing response, or cargo opening feels tight during that test, move to RDX rather than trying to solve a size problem with a richer ADX package.

RDX is the middle choice in size, not in effort

Every 2026 RDX uses a 272-hp turbocharged engine, 10-speed automatic, and torque-vectoring SH-AWD. That makes it the strongest default for a shopper who does not need a third row but wants quicker response and a more substantial two-row SUV than ADX. Its maximum published cargo volume is 79.8 cubic feet, including underfloor space, though the shape of your cargo can be more useful than one volume figure.

RDX also has a different control layout: its infotainment system uses Acura’s True Touchpad Interface rather than the touchscreen approach in ADX and MDX. Try it while parked, connect your phone, and use the functions you touch most. A feature list cannot tell you whether that interaction feels natural to you.

• Choose Technology for a meaningful audio, leather, navigation, and parking-sensor step
• Choose A-Spec for the sport appearance, ventilated front seats, and 16-speaker audio
• Choose Advance for the surround-view camera, head-up display, and heated rear seats
• Choose A-Spec Advance when you want the Advance equipment with the A-Spec look

MDX wins when the third row or trailer is real

The MDX is the only Acura SUV here with three rows and seating for up to seven. Its removable second-row center seat can work as a center position, fold into an armrest, or come out to create a pass-through. That flexibility can be more useful than the seat count if child seats, older relatives, or frequent third-row access are part of the plan.

Core MDX packages use a 290-hp V-6. Type S Advance changes the character with a 355-hp turbo V-6, adaptive air suspension, and Brembo front brakes. For towing, Acura rates front-wheel-drive MDX models up to 3,500 pounds and SH-AWD models up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. If you do not need the row or tow rating, drive RDX beside it—the smaller two-row SUV may be the cleaner answer.

Use one test to settle the final two

Set the driver’s seat, then sit behind yourself. Fold the seats, load the awkward item you carry most often, connect your phone, and park each SUV using its actual camera system. On the road, repeat the same loop with a merge, broken pavement, a tight turn, and a quiet stretch where seat comfort and cabin noise are easier to judge.

Do not compare a loaded ADX with a base RDX and call it a model comparison. First choose the body that fits. Then compare the packages and total prices available on those two exact vehicles. That keeps a long feature list from hiding the decision you came to make.