Compare the2023 Acura MDXVS 2022 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the MDX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Acura MDX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The MDX offers an optional Low-Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The MDX’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the MDX has standard Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, helping the driver avoid collisions. Mercedes charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Both the MDX and the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura MDX is safer than the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon:

	MDX	E-Class All-Terrain Wagon
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	29%	30%

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon:

	MDX	E-Class All-Terrain Wagon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	107	132
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	105 lbs.	149 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	215
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	168 lbs.	594 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	424 lbs.	836 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the MDX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the MDX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the MDX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

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 35 points higher than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 16 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the MDX’s fuel efficiency. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura MDX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The MDX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura MDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the MDX has larger standard tires than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (255/55R19 vs. 245/45R19). The MDX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (275/40R21 vs. 245/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the MDX Type S has standard 21-inch wheels. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The MDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The MDX SH-AWD has a standard space-saver spare (not available on FWD/Type S) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the MDX is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

For greater off-road capability the MDX has a 1.55 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (7.3 vs. 5.75 inches), allowing the MDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The MDX Type S’ minimum ground clearance is 3.65 inches higher than on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (9.4 vs. 5.75 inches).

Chassis

The Acura MDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 300 pounds less than the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

The MDX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The MDX has 1 inch more front headroom, 4.1 inches more front shoulder room, 2.4 inches more rear legroom and 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Third row passengers in the MDX sit facing forward, making them more comfortable and giving them a better view. The third row passengers in the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon face rearward.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the MDX’s middle row seats recline. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s middle row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The MDX’s cargo area provides more volume than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

	MDX	E-Class All-Terrain Wagon
Behind Third Seat	18.1 cubic feet	0 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	24.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	95 cubic feet	64 cubic feet

Towing

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the MDX uses the Vehicle Stability Assist sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 22% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

The MDX’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s parking brake has to be released manually.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the MDX has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Model Availability

The MDX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the MDX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the MDX will cost $9095 to $9680 less than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Acura MDX will be $14309 to $25586 less than for the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Acura MDX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Acura MDX outsold the Mercedes E-Class/CLS by over two to one during 2022.

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