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Both are three-row luxury SUVs. The 2026 Acura MDX uses a 290-hp 3.5-liter V-6 with a 10-speed automatic; the Lexus TX 350 uses a 275-hp 2.4-liter four with an 8-speed. The MDX adds SH-AWD with torque vectoring, five drive modes including Snow, 12-way front seats and a standard panoramic moonroof.
This is the fairer Lexus comparison for a three-row shopper. The TX is Lexus’s answer to the MDX, where the RX is a two-row vehicle that only looks like a competitor on price.
The two are closer than the RX matchup, but the mechanical differences still favor the Acura, and several convenience items are standard on the MDX and optional on the TX.
| Specification | 2026 Acura MDX | 2026 Lexus TX 350 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.5-liter V-6 | 2.4-liter inline four |
| Horsepower | 290 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 275 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Front suspension | Double-wishbone | MacPherson strut |
| All-wheel drive | Available SH-AWD with torque vectoring | Available AWD without torque vectoring |
| Drive modes | Five, including Snow | Four, no Snow mode |
| Power front seats | 12-way | 8-way |
| Panoramic moonroof | Standard | Additional cost |
| Wireless charging | Standard | Additional cost |
| Driver memory system | Standard | Additional cost |
Base-trim figures as published by each manufacturer. Trim content changes during a model year.
The MDX puts a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 against the TX 350’s 2.4-liter turbocharged four — 290 horsepower to 275, and a 10-speed automatic against an 8-speed.
With seven people aboard and a full cargo area, a V-6 with ten ratios simply has more ways to answer a hill. It is also the quieter of the two under sustained load.
| Specification | MDX | TX 350 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.5-liter V-6 | 2.4-liter turbocharged four |
| Horsepower | 290 hp | 275 hp |
| Transmission | 10-speed | 8-speed |
Available Super Handling All-Wheel Drive on the MDX sends extra torque to the outside rear wheel through a corner, which helps rotate the vehicle rather than just adding traction. The TX 350’s all-wheel-drive system does not offer torque vectoring.
The MDX has five selectable drive modes — Normal, Comfort, Snow, Sport and Individual. The TX has four, and none of them is a Snow mode. If you take the family up Highway 50 in January, that is a mode you will use.
| Specification | MDX | TX 350 |
|---|---|---|
| AWD torque vectoring | Yes | No |
| Drive modes | Five, including Snow | Four, no Snow mode |
| Front suspension | Double-wishbone | MacPherson strut |
Front seats are 12-way power on the MDX against 8-way on the TX 350, and the driver memory system is standard on the Acura and an extra cost on the Lexus.
Wireless phone charging and the power panoramic moonroof are also standard on the MDX and optional on the TX. The MDX has a capless fuel filler; the TX 350 uses a conventional cap on a tether.
| Specification | MDX | TX 350 |
|---|---|---|
| Power front seats | 12-way | 8-way |
| Driver memory system | Standard | Additional cost |
| Wireless charging | Standard | Additional cost |
| Panoramic moonroof | Standard | Additional cost |
| Fuel filler | Capless | Conventional cap |
Lexus reliability and resale strength is documented and consistent, and for a vehicle you intend to keep ten years that is a legitimate financial argument.
The TX is offered as a hybrid and as a plug-in hybrid. If your driving is mostly short trips around Elk Grove and Sacramento, a TX 500h or 550h+ can undercut the MDX substantially on fuel cost. The MDX has no hybrid equivalent.
The TX has a slightly longer wheelbase and a third row that some adults find more habitable. If your third row carries grown-ups regularly rather than kids, sit in both.
The MDX is the better drive and the better-equipped vehicle at comparable trim levels — more power, more gears, torque vectoring, a Snow mode, and several convenience items included rather than optioned.
The TX is the better choice if you want a hybrid or plug-in hybrid three-row, or if adult third-row comfort is your first priority.
Both are worth an hour. We will have an MDX ready if you want to drive them the same afternoon.
The MDX makes 290 horsepower from a 3.5-liter V-6. The TX 350 makes 275 horsepower from a 2.4-liter turbocharged four. The MDX also has a 10-speed automatic against the TX 350’s 8-speed.
No. The TX 350 offers four drive modes and none of them is a dedicated Snow mode. The Acura MDX offers five: Normal, Comfort, Snow, Sport and Individual.
Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive adds torque vectoring, sending extra torque to the outside rear wheel through a corner to help turn the vehicle. The TX 350 all-wheel-drive system distributes torque front to rear but does not offer rear torque vectoring.
No. The MDX is not offered as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. Lexus offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid TX variants, which is a genuine advantage if fuel cost is your priority.
The TX. It is Lexus’s three-row SUV and the direct competitor to the MDX. The RX 350 is a two-row vehicle and does not offer a third row in any trim.
Elk Grove Acura at 8585 Laguna Grove Dr in Elk Grove keeps new MDX inventory on site. Call 833-857-1325.
Elk Grove Acura, 8585 Laguna Grove Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95757. Sales 833-857-1325. Sales hours Monday–Saturday 9 AM–8 PM, Sunday 10 AM–7 PM.
Specifications, features and pricing are as published by each manufacturer at the time of writing and are subject to change. Competitive figures are drawn from manufacturer-published product information. Starting MSRP excludes tax, title, license, destination and handling, registration and documentary fees, and dealer-installed accessories. Dealers set actual selling prices. Feature availability varies by trim and may change during the model year — confirm equipment on the window sticker of the specific vehicle you are considering. Driver-assistance systems are aids only and do not replace safe driving; see the Owner’s Manual for limitations.