Your day begins before the sun rises. It’s not everyone’s style, but you look forward to those moments of solitude, a mug of herbal tea in one hand and a rundown of the day’s back-to-back meetings in the other. When you drive the Lexus RX or the Acura MDX, you can extend these mindful moments to your commute, thanks to their standard and available mood-boosting features, including:

• Multi-zone climate control: Allows you and your front-seat passenger to set and adjust temperature settings for a personalized commute independently.
• Heated front seats: Melts away early-morning or post-meeting tension.
• Thematic Ambient Illumination: Adjusts the cabin's ambient lighting to one of at least 14 pre-selected hues.

The RX sets itself apart in the finishing touches. Available premium touches like Ash Bamboo or Open-Pore Wood accent trim add a luxurious feel, while semi-aniline leather adds depth with its rich grain texture that elevates the mood with a tactile sense of luxury. The MDX has optional Open-Pore Wood, but no other premium touches are offered.

Whether traveling solo or with precious cargo, safety is non-negotiable. The engineers of the Lexus RX and the Acura MDX understand this, so each offers a robust suite of driver-assist features: Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 and AcuraWatch™. With these standard systems, you’re covered by features that monitor surroundings, alert you to potential hazards, and provide gentle assistance when it matters most.

Each SUV includes brand-specific versions of a pre-collision system and lane-keeping technology. However, the RX leans more toward safety with its exclusive Proactive Driving Assist system. This hands-on system provides mild autonomous support, assisting with braking, acceleration, and steering to keep you on track.

The MDX includes an Adaptive Cruise Control system, but it doesn't help with steering in the same fluid way. Proactive Driving Assist is perfect for those who want extra assistance while maintaining control.

Your days might be fully scheduled, but you're ready to let loose when the road opens up. Whether your destination is to yoga class or an upstate vineyard, the Lexus RX and the Acura MDX have the power to make your presence known. Their base configurations deliver similar results, but that's where the similarities end.

The Lexus RX gives you an invaluable asset: options. With four potent powertrains, you can choose the RX that reflects your driving preferences.

	Plug-in Hybrid Configuration	Performance-Trim Configuration
Engine	2.5L	2.4L turbo
Horsepower	304 HP	366 HP
Torque	N/A	406 lb-ft
Acceleration (0-60 MPH)	6.2 sec.	5.9 sec.

The Lexus RX F SPORT trim adds sport-tuned features, like an Adaptive Variable Suspension and lateral performance dampers that turn your evening drive into something closer to a weekend thrill ride. Without comparable features, the MDX keeps things simple. Although simplicity has its place, it sometimes leaves you wanting more.

Design should be pleasing and practical, wouldn't you agree? The designers of the Lexus RX and the Acura MDX think so, so each SUV adds premium amenities like an optional panorama glass roof that floods the cabin with natural light and brings warmth to your early-morning drop-offs and elegant late-night drives.

The differences begin to show when you examine how the designs of these SUVs serve your daily life. The Lexus RX features available power-folding rear seats that make it effortless to reconfigure the cargo space, up to 46.2 cubic feet, with the touch of a button. It’s a thoughtful feature when you’re juggling grocery bags before a dinner party or clearing space after soccer practice.

The Acura MDX delivers more overall cargo space when the seats are fully folded, but you’ll need to fold those seats manually. It’s spacious, yes, but a little less convenient when every second counts or your hands are already full.

A few seconds spent fumbling with settings or conquering touchscreen glare can mean the difference between a drive that centers you and one that challenges your calm before the first meeting. The Lexus RX makes tech feel like second nature. With a crisp touchscreen display of up to 14 inches and an optional 10-inch Head-Up Display, your must-have info is always within your eyeline.

Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ make it easy to cue up the NPR podcast episode you have downloaded to your phone without touching your device. Simply navigate the screen the same way you would your smartphone. From there, the optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson® PurePlaySurround Sound system fills the cabin with rich, layered sound, ideal for solo morning commutes to clear your head.

The Acura MDX offers a 12.3-inch touchscreen across all its trim levels, limiting you to just one screen size regardless of your preference. While you'll find an optional Head-Up Display of a similar size and a premium audio system with a few more speakers, the MDX may lack the refinement of the RX’s Mark Levinson® PurePlay setup—where precision, clarity, and spatial design take priority. Sometimes, more isn’t better—just louder.

After a long day of meetings, errands, and family events, it's nice when something else takes the lead. The Lexus RX offers several advanced features that do just that. Looking at the Acura MDX, you'll find similar tools, but do these systems provide the innovation Lexus is known for?

These features only scratch the surface of the thoughtful conveniences of the RX and the MDX. Yet, this snapshot shows how one seems to anticipate your next move, helping turn even the busiest days into more seamless drives.