Most luxury brands suffer the same problem of higher depreciation rates. Not unique to Acura. I keep vehicles for 20 years though so I don't really care about depreciation.This is an interesting link. The MDX has a higher depreciation rate than the Pilot. While this link is valuable, it does not have a 1/1 comparison with the ‘23 Pilot. But as I had researched before buying my MDX, the depreciation rate continues to be higher.
Acura MDX vs. Honda Pilot - iSeeCars.com
How do the Acura MDX and Honda Pilot compare? Use our comparison tool to see over 140 data points, including price, trims, reliability ratings, mpg, rankings, horsepower, depreciation, and standard and optional equipment.www.iseecars.com
2023 Acura MDX vs 2023 Honda Pilot ... A quick look at some of the differences and similarities
After watching various videos about the 2023 Honda Pilot online, I got my hands on the Owners' Manual at a Canadian site. The major differences mechanically (Pilot Elite vs MDX Advance) which have already been well publicized are the use of a McPherson strut front suspension on the Pilot vs. Double Wishbones at the front on the MDX and the I-VTM4 vs the SHAWD. I am not exactly sure what noticeable difference any normal driver would observe regarding this suspension setups and my understanding is that the I-VTM4 and SHAWD are essentially the same. The Pilot actually has a newer 3.5 L engine which has a slight bump in power bringing it closer to the MDX. They both use the 10 speed automatic. In short, so far, I am not seeing, mechanically, any justification for the $10k+ price differential.
In terms of features, in several areas, the 2023 Pilot has, in my opinion, jumped ahead of the MDX.
1. I read that the HUD in the Pilot is in color vs. plain white in the MDX.
2. The front camera in the Pilot has a wash feature which the MDX does not have.
3. The front camera has an "Auto display when obstacle is detected" which the MDX does not have.
4. The Pilot's Traffic Sign Recognition System has a "Speed Limit Warning Threshold Setting" unlike the MDX
5. The Pilot appears to have more interior room than the MDX.
6. The Pilot uses the Bose sound system with 12 speakers vs. the 16 speaker ELS system in the MDX.
7. Of course, the Pilot uses regular gas vs premium in the MDX.
8. The Pilot has 7 drive modes including Sport, Snow, Trail, Tow, Sand (?) etc. vs 4 on the MDX.
9. There are vents at the third row which the MDX does not have.
10. Almost all the features I have on my 2022 MDX Advance, however, are to be found on the 2023 Pilot Elite.
11. But the killer app as far as I am concerned, is the ability to remove and store the middle removable 2nd row seat fully, completely out of sight behind the third row, in the Pilot. It is the same removable middle seat as in the MDX. Somehow those who engineered the Pilot figured out how to do this unlike the team that worked on the MDX.
The only thing I could find that the MDX has over the Pilot is the automatic temperature setting for the driver and passenger seats. It appears you have to turn those on manually in the Pilot.
Now, in fairness, I am unable to compare quality of build, quality of materials, sound level etc. and, I admit, I may have missed some key feature differences since I have not sat in or driven the Pilot but just looking at the pictures and from these feature differences above, I am left wondering where the MDX's $10k+ price premium comes from.
In terms of features, in several areas, the 2023 Pilot has, in my opinion, jumped ahead of the MDX.
1. I read that the HUD in the Pilot is in color vs. plain white in the MDX.
2. The front camera in the Pilot has a wash feature which the MDX does not have.
3. The front camera has an "Auto display when obstacle is detected" which the MDX does not have.
4. The Pilot's Traffic Sign Recognition System has a "Speed Limit Warning Threshold Setting" unlike the MDX
5. The Pilot appears to have more interior room than the MDX.
6. The Pilot uses the Bose sound system with 12 speakers vs. the 16 speaker ELS system in the MDX.
7. Of course, the Pilot uses regular gas vs premium in the MDX.
8. The Pilot has 7 drive modes including Sport, Snow, Trail, Tow, Sand (?) etc. vs 4 on the MDX.
9. There are vents at the third row which the MDX does not have.
10. Almost all the features I have on my 2022 MDX Advance, however, are to be found on the 2023 Pilot Elite.
11. But the killer app as far as I am concerned, is the ability to remove and store the middle removable 2nd row seat fully, completely out of sight behind the third row, in the Pilot. It is the same removable middle seat as in the MDX. Somehow those who engineered the Pilot figured out how to do this unlike the team that worked on the MDX.
The only thing I could find that the MDX has over the Pilot is the automatic temperature setting for the driver and passenger seats. It appears you have to turn those on manually in the Pilot.
Now, in fairness, I am unable to compare quality of build, quality of materials, sound level etc. and, I admit, I may have missed some key feature differences since I have not sat in or driven the Pilot but just looking at the pictures and from these feature differences above, I am left wondering where the MDX's $10k+ price premium comes from.
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That's good to hear. The question is, is the 3.0L built to take the punishment, having forged crank, rods, pistons, and so on? Certainly Honda has plenty of experience with turbo motors so they are certainly capable of building a tough V6 built to take gobs of boost. I hope they did
As Ian indicated, the turbo is running at a lower boost for longer life. I haven’t seen any documented issues in this engine in either the TLX or the MDX albeit it is out only for a year and half. Honda has a solid track record in petrol engines, so I would not hesitate to buy them. The only ones that had poor quality control were the 1.5T in Civic, Accord, and CRV with oil dilution and that has since been resolved.That's good to hear. The question is, is the 3.0L built to take the punishment, having forged crank, rods, pistons, and so on? Certainly Honda has plenty of experience with turbo motors so they are certainly capable of building a tough V6 built to take gobs of boost. I hope they did
Right, and so pretty sure that after 20 years, the MDX will not be valued $15K higher than the Pilot
Not worse, just not as "clean" emissions-wise. I assume that's why Honda went to the trouble of making this new V6 for the Pilot. Does the MDX get it? I wouldn't be surprised, but, since the Pilot sells in the hundreds of thousands and the MDX (I actually don't know but I suspect at least 50% less than Pilot if not a lot more) there is less need to put it in the MDX. Just my thoughts. I could be wrong, I frequently am.
I'm pretty sure you're quite right.Right, and so pretty sure that after 20 years, the MDX will not be valued $15K higher than the Pilot
It's not 10-15k. Comparable trim features is less than 5k difference.
2022 they sold just shy of 100k (99567) Pilots and 46425 MDX's.
I would guess the engine will move to mdx and the others at some point to maintain just one engine line.
Actually you are bang on:Not worse, just not as "clean" emissions-wise. I assume that's why Honda went to the trouble of making this new V6 for the Pilot. Does the MDX get it? I wouldn't be surprised, but, since the Pilot sells in the hundreds of thousands and the MDX (I actually don't know but I suspect at least 50% less than Pilot if not a lot more) there is less need to put it in the MDX. Just my thoughts. I could be wrong, I frequently am.
2022 they sold just shy of 100k (99567) Pilots and 46425 MDX's.
I would guess the engine will move to mdx and the others at some point to maintain just one engine line.
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