Acura MDX vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: Specs Compared
Also searched as Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Acura MDX specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Acura MDX is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 27 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $150 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Jeep Grand Cherokee leads in 3. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Acura MDX
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 39 configurations
2015–2027
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 87 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Acura MDX | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 27 mpg ✓ | 25 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 26 mpg ✓ | 23 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 28 mpg | 30 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,800 | $2,650 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 329 g/mi | 177 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI, Hybrid, 3.0, SIDI; Stop-Start | SIDI, 3.6, SIDI; PHEV, 5.7 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S10), Automatic (S9), Automatic (AM-S7) | Automatic 8-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium | Regular, Regular Gas and Electricity, Midgrade |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2015–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 39 | 87 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Acura MDX vs Jeep Grand Cherokee dimensions and size
The Acura MDX is 5.1 inches longer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee on a wheelbase 2.8 inches shorter, and 862 lbs lighter. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Acura MDX (2026) | Jeep Grand Cherokee (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 198.4 in | 193.3 in | 5.1 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 78.7 in | 77.6 in | 1.2 in |
| Height | 66.9 in | 70.9 in | 3.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 in | 116.5 in | 2.8 in |
| Curb weight | 4,506 lbs | 5,368 lbs | 862 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Acura MDX vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Jeep Grand Cherokee burns about $2,650 of fuel annually against $2,800 for the Acura MDX. That $150 yearly gap compounds to roughly $750 over five years and $1,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Acura MDX is the stronger commuter at 26 mpg city, while the Jeep Grand Cherokee pulls ahead on the interstate at 30 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Acura MDX is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, Hybrid, 3.0), the Jeep Grand Cherokee with 4 (SIDI, 3.6, SIDI; PHEV). Across 39 recorded Acura MDX configurations and 87 for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Acura MDX is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Jeep Grand Cherokee with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Jeep Grand Cherokee emits 177 g/mile of CO2 versus 329 g/mile for the Acura MDX. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
MDX vs Grand Cherokee: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Acura MDX or the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The Acura MDX is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 27 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $150 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Jeep Grand Cherokee runs about $2,650 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,800 for the Acura MDX — a difference of roughly $150 per year.
What engines do the MDX and Grand Cherokee offer?
Acura MDX: SIDI, Hybrid, 3.0, SIDI; Stop-Start. Jeep Grand Cherokee: SIDI, 3.6, SIDI; PHEV, 5.7.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Acura MDX as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Jeep Grand Cherokee as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More MDX comparisons
More Grand Cherokee comparisons
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