The 2022 Acura MDX is the kind of luxury SUV that has everything you need and a whole lot of bonus additions that you probably want. It’s also safe, holds its value, and is reliable. Yet the Acura MDX doesn’t take the top spot on iSeeCars’ list of the Best Luxury Midsize SUVs for 2022. No, that honor goes to the 2022 Volvo XC90. So why does the MDX fall short, and should you still consider buying one? Let’s take a look.

The 2022 Acura MDX has a high overall score

iSeeCars gives the 2022 Acura MDX very high ratings. In fact, its overall score is an excellent 8.7 out of 10. To determine the list of the best luxury SUVs – and all lists that they compile – iSeeCars analyzed data from more than 12 million vehicles. It used information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as well as from its own team of data scientists. iSeeCars has conducted Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies which have helped inform these rankings. While the lists are ranked based on overall score, each vehicle is rated in three major categories: reliability, value retention, and safety.

The Acura MDX also has an excellent reliability rating. iSeeCars gives it a 9.3 out of 10 for reliability. iSeeCars analyzes how long each vehicle lasts, so this score being so high is a good indicator that the MDX has a good chance of lasting a long time.

The Acura MDX has a perfect safety rating

The 2022 Acura MDX has a perfect safety rating of 10.0. iSeeCars uses data from the NHTSA as well as information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick awards to determine the vehicle’s safety rating. The NHTSA gives the Acura MDX four out of five stars for its overall frontal crash rating, as well as four stars for both the front driver side and front passenger side.

In addition, the Acura MDX wins the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. To be awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, a vehicle must score at least a good or higher in all of the IIHS crashworthy ratings. These include the driver-side small overlap front, the passenger-side small overlap front, and the moderate overlap front. In addition to these front crash testings, the vehicle must get a good or higher in the side crash tests, roof strength, and head restraint tests. 

The MDX has just an okay value retention score

The 2022 Acura MDX has some pretty great ratings, but one area where it falls slightly low is its value retention. With a value retention rating of just 7.0, the Acura MDX has a lower rating than the SUV in the number one spot, the 2022 Volvo XC90.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 has a value retention score of 7.8. This, combined with its reliability rating of 8.8 and its safety score of 10.0, gives the Volvo XC90 an overall score of 8.9 and puts it at the top of the list.

If you’re in the market for a new luxury SUV, the 2022 Acura MDX is a great choice. That doesn’t mean that it’s a perfect option, but it’s very good. Overall, the Acura MDX is a fantastic luxury SUV.