Posted this on the Toyota forum as well.
In a big dilemma over this. The pricing difference between 2016 Ltd Highlander and 2016 MDX Navi is about $4000 in Canada for all cash purchase.
Here are the pros and cons
Highlander
1. Reliability
2. Captain seats
3. Panoramic Roof
4. Price Advantage
5. Regular Gas
6. Rear Parking Sensors.
7. Cheaper Service/Overall cost to own.
8. Comfortable front and rear seats.
9. Tri zone climate control with real vents in Third rows.
10. Heated second row seats.
Cons
1. Only Basic Safety Tech like blind Spot. No adaptive cruise, FCW, CBMS etc.
2. Not exciting to drive.
3. No HID/LED Lights.
MDX
Pros
1. More engaging to drive. This is the biggest plus.
2. Lots of safety tech, including Adaptive Cruise. This is another big plus.
3. LED Lights.
4. Different drive modes. The MDX in comfort mode has steering just like Regular Highlander.
5. More upscale fit/finish and materials.
6. Better warranty-4 years and 100,000 kms.
7. Loaner cars from dealers.
8. Overall lots of more features like Headlight washers, Better Audio system etc.
Cons
1. 9 speed transmission with questionable reliability.
2. 9 speed transmission with jerky shifts at slow speeds.
3. Front seats aren't very comfortable. The cushion length at the bottom is shorter than that of Highlander seats, without considering the thigh extender.
4. Overall reliability of Acura has fallen a bit.
5. Poor infotainment system with strange double screens.
6. Lots of basic things handled via infotainment system with poor response.
7.Premium Gas, though it gets better overall fuel economy than Highlander.
8. Overall higher cost of maintenance. ($150 oil changes?).
I want a vehicle that's more engaging to drive, but I'm not totally happy with either of these. Pilot has been ruled out by DW.
In a big dilemma over this. The pricing difference between 2016 Ltd Highlander and 2016 MDX Navi is about $4000 in Canada for all cash purchase.
Here are the pros and cons
Highlander
1. Reliability
2. Captain seats
3. Panoramic Roof
4. Price Advantage
5. Regular Gas
6. Rear Parking Sensors.
7. Cheaper Service/Overall cost to own.
8. Comfortable front and rear seats.
9. Tri zone climate control with real vents in Third rows.
10. Heated second row seats.
Cons
1. Only Basic Safety Tech like blind Spot. No adaptive cruise, FCW, CBMS etc.
2. Not exciting to drive.
3. No HID/LED Lights.
MDX
Pros
1. More engaging to drive. This is the biggest plus.
2. Lots of safety tech, including Adaptive Cruise. This is another big plus.
3. LED Lights.
4. Different drive modes. The MDX in comfort mode has steering just like Regular Highlander.
5. More upscale fit/finish and materials.
6. Better warranty-4 years and 100,000 kms.
7. Loaner cars from dealers.
8. Overall lots of more features like Headlight washers, Better Audio system etc.
Cons
1. 9 speed transmission with questionable reliability.
2. 9 speed transmission with jerky shifts at slow speeds.
3. Front seats aren't very comfortable. The cushion length at the bottom is shorter than that of Highlander seats, without considering the thigh extender.
4. Overall reliability of Acura has fallen a bit.
5. Poor infotainment system with strange double screens.
6. Lots of basic things handled via infotainment system with poor response.
7.Premium Gas, though it gets better overall fuel economy than Highlander.
8. Overall higher cost of maintenance. ($150 oil changes?).
I want a vehicle that's more engaging to drive, but I'm not totally happy with either of these. Pilot has been ruled out by DW.