2025 Acura MDX vs 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Velar
Comparison Overview
The 2025 Acura MDX barrels onto the scene with an exhilarating 290 hp, appealing to drivers who crave immediate, punchy acceleration from its 10-speed automatic transmission, although it trails the Velar in sheer cargo utility. Conversely, the sophisticated 2026 Range Rover Velar offers inherent refinement and superior practicality, boasting 30.9 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the MDX's 18.1 cu ft, despite yielding 43 less horsepower (247 hp vs 290 hp). The significant $10,400 gap in MSRP—$51,200 for the Acura versus $61,600 for the Velar—defines the core conflict: raw power versus established luxury presence and better efficiency metrics (23 combined MPG vs. 22 combined MPG). While the Velar offers standard All-Wheel Drive, the MDX retains FWD, impacting all-weather confidence. This comparison pits accessible, high-output American engineering against European elegance and efficiency, backed by distinct hardware configurations.
Size Comparison
Performance
Fuel Efficiency
Full Specifications
Our Verdicts
2026 Land Rover Range Rover Velar
The Velar wins for commuters due to its slightly better 23 combined MPG and standard AWD, offering better overall efficiency and traction confidence.
2026 Land Rover Range Rover Velar
The Velar provides significantly more usable space with 30.9 cu ft of cargo capacity, a huge advantage for family hauling over the MDX's 18.1 cu ft.
2025 Acura MDX
The MDX is the choice for driving excitement, boasting a substantial 290 hp output that overwhelms the Velar's 247 hp rating.
2025 Acura MDX
The Acura MDX delivers superior power for $10,400 less than the Velar, presenting a much stronger performance-per-dollar proposition.
Choose the Acura MDX if...
- You prioritize outright power, benefiting from the MDX's 290 horsepower rating.
- Budget is a primary concern, as the MDX undercuts the Velar by $10,400 starting at $51,200.
- You prefer the quicker shifting response of the MDX's 10-speed automatic transmission.
Choose the Land Rover Range Rover Velar if...
- Maximum utility is necessary, thanks to the Velar's superior 30.9 cu ft of cargo volume.
- You desire standard All-Wheel Drive for consistent traction in various conditions.
- Marginal fuel economy matters, as the Velar achieves 23 combined MPG versus the MDX's 22.
Key Dimensions
| Dimension | Acura MDX | Land Rover Range Rover Velar |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 198.4" | 188.9" |
| Width | 78.7" | - |
| Height | 67.9" | 66.3" |
| Wheelbase | 113.8" | 113.0" |
Features Comparison
Safety
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Monitor | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lane Departure Warning | ✓ | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Attention Alert | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pre-Collision Safety System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Post-Collision Safety System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Head Airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Head Airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
| Third Row Head Airbags | ✓ | — |
| Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electronic Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Traction Control System | ✓ | ✓ |
| LATCH System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Door Child Safety Locks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) | 4-Wheel | 4-Wheel |
| Front Ventilated Disc Brakes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Solid Disc Brakes | ✓ | — |
| Brake Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic Headlights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Headlight Delay-Off | ✓ | ✓ |
| LED Headlights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors | ✓ | — |
| Front Headrests | 2 | 2 |
| Front Height Adjustable Headrests | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Headrests | 3 | 3 |
| Rear Height Adjustable Headrests | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Engine Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes | — | ✓ |
| Brake Preparation System | — | ✓ |
Engine
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Base Engine Displacement | 3.5 L | 2.0 L |
| Number of Cylinders | V6 | inline 4 |
| Base Engine Type | gas | gas |
| Horsepower | 290 hp @ 6200 rpm | 247 hp @ 5000 rpm |
| Torque | 267 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm | 269 lb-ft @ 1300 rpm |
| Number of Valves | 24 | 16 |
| Camshaft Type | Single overhead cam (SOHC) | Double overhead cam (DOHC) |
| Variable Valve Timing | Variable | Variable |
| Fuel Injection Type | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cylinder Deactivation | ✓ | — |
Drive Train
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission Type | 10-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
| Drivetrain Type | front wheel drive | all wheel drive |
| Transfer Case Gearing | — | Electronic Single-Speed |
| Hill Descent Control | — | ✓ |
Fuel
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Type | premium unleaded (recommended) | premium unleaded (recommended) |
| EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway) | 19/26 MPG | 22/26 MPG |
| EPA Fuel Economy (Combined) | 22 MPG | 23 MPG |
| EPA Driving Range (City/Highway) | 351.5/481.0 mi. | 475.2/561.6 mi. |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 18.5 gal. | 21.6 gal. |
Comfort & Convenience
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Push Button Start | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control on Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audio Controls on Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Power Steering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear View Camera | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wireless Charging Pad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Universal Remote Transmitter | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Cupholders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Cupholders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Door Pockets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Door Pockets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Seatback Storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Rear Seat Easy Entry | ✓ | — |
| Leather Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Three Zone Climate Control | ✓ | — |
| Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control | ✓ | — |
| Interior Air Filtration | ✓ | — |
| Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror | ✓ | ✓ |
| Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors | ✓ | — |
| Front View Camera | — | ✓ |
| Side View Camera | — | ✓ |
| Front Parking Sensors | — | ✓ |
| Rear Parking Sensors | — | ✓ |
| Simulated Alloy Trim on Steering Wheel | — | ✓ |
| Heated Steering Wheel | — | ✓ |
| Dual Zone Climate Control | — | ✓ |
| Rear Ventilation Ducts | — | ✓ |
| Dual Vanity Mirrors | — | ✓ |
In Car Entertainment
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment Display | 12.3 in | 11.4 in |
| AM/FM Stereo | ✓ | ✓ |
| Speaker System | 11 | 11 |
| Android Auto (Wireless) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple CarPlay (Wireless) | ✓ | ✓ |
| USB Port | ✓ | ✓ |
| USB Port with External Media Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Speed Sensitive Volume Control | ✓ | — |
| Meridian Speakers | — | ✓ |
| Stereo Power | — | 400W |
| Subwoofer Count | — | 1 |
| Satellite Radio | — | With Real Time Traffic |
| Satellite Radio Trial Period | — | 3 months |
Power Feature
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| One-Touch Power Windows | 4 | 4 |
| Moonroof Type | 1st Row Power Glass Extended | 1st Row Power Glass Extended |
| Keyless Entry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reverse Tilt Dual Mirrors | ✓ | — |
| Heated Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
Frontseats
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Front Head Room | 38.5 in. | 38.2 in. |
| Front Leg Room | 41.6 in. | 40.3 in. |
| Front Shoulder Room | 61.9 in. | — |
| Front Hip Room | 59.3 in. | — |
| Seat Material: Leatherette | ✓ | — |
| Front Seat Type: Bucket | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Seat Power Adjustments | 8-way | 8-way |
| Driver Seat Height Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Seat Lumbar Support | Power | Power |
| Driver Seat Memory Settings | 3 | 3 |
| Passenger Seat Power Adjustments | 8-way | 8-way |
| Passenger Seat Height Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Passenger Seat Lumbar Support | Power | Power |
| Driver Seat Heating | Multi-level | Multi-level |
| Passenger Seat Heating | Multi-level | Multi-level |
| Seat Material: Leather | — | ✓ |
| Driver Seat Manual Adjustments | — | 2-way |
| Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments | — | 2-way |
Rearseats
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Head Room | 38.1 in. | 38.0 in. |
| Rear Leg Room | 38.5 in. | 37.2 in. |
| Rear Shoulder Room | 60.3 in. | — |
| Rear Hip Room | 57.8 in. | — |
| Split-Folding Rear Seatback | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reclining Rear Seats | ✓ | — |
| Folding Center Armrest | ✓ | ✓ |
| Manual Folding Third Row Seat | ✓ | — |
Tires and Wheels
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel Material | Alloy | Alloy |
| Wheel Size | 19 x 8.5 in | — |
| Tire Type | All Season | All Season |
| Tire Size | 255/55R19 | — |
| Wheel Diameter | — | 19 in |
| Spare Tire Type | — | Temporary |
| Spare Tire Location | — | Inside Mounted |
Suspension
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Four-Wheel Independent Suspension | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Stabilizer Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Stabilizer Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
Warranty
| Feature | Acura | Land Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Warranty | 4 yr./ 50000 mi. | 4 yr./ 50000 mi. |
| Drivetrain Warranty | 6 yr./ 70000 mi. | 4 yr./ 50000 mi. |
| Corrosion/Rust Warranty | 5 yr./ unlimited mi. | 6 yr./ unlimited mi. |
| Roadside Assistance | 4 yr./ 50000 mi. | 4 yr./ 50000 mi. |
| Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance | 1 yr./ 12000 mi. | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about comparing the 2025 Acura MDX and 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Velar.
How significant is the performance difference between these two crossovers?
The 2025 Acura MDX holds a distinct performance advantage, delivering 290 horsepower compared to the 2026 Range Rover Velar’s 247 horsepower. While the Velar counters with 269 lb-ft of torque versus the MDX’s 267 lb-ft, the MDX’s extra 43 hp should translate to faster acceleration runs.
Which vehicle offers better practicality for hauling gear or luggage?
The Velar is the undisputed winner in cargo hauling capacity. It offers 30.9 cu ft of storage space behind the second row, dramatically exceeding the MDX's meager 18.1 cu ft allowance.
Is the higher price of the Velar justified by its drivetrain?
The Velar starts at $61,600, requiring an extra $10,400 over the MDX, but it includes All-Wheel Drive as standard, whereas the base MDX utilizes Front Wheel Drive. This standard AWD system is a major component of the Velar's higher cost.
How do their fuel consumption figures compare?
Both vehicles require premium unleaded fuel, but the Velar edges out the MDX slightly in efficiency, posting 23 combined MPG versus the MDX’s 22 combined MPG. Highway efficiency is identical at 26 MPG for both models.
Does the MDX have a better transmission setup?
The MDX utilizes a modern 10-speed shiftable automatic transmission, which generally provides smoother and quicker gear changes than the Velar’s 8-speed unit, supporting its more performance-oriented character.
Which car offers a smaller physical footprint for city driving?
The 2026 Range Rover Velar is notably more compact, measuring 188.9 inches in length compared to the Acura MDX's 198.4 inches. This nearly 10-inch difference could be beneficial when navigating tight urban streets.
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