2026 Acura MDX Safety Rating
Midsize luxury SUVs Β· Current IIHS listing Β· IIHS data updated 2026-09-04
The 2026 Acura MDX scores 84.5/100, ranking #20 of 23 current midsize luxury SUVs and #82 of 137 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It does not hold a current IIHS award.
Results below Good: Moderate overlap front (updated test) rated Acceptable. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Marginal; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (55 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: updated test
Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Seat belt reminders
Child seat anchors
Opens on iihs.org in a new tab
How the score is built
Full formula, weights, and missing-data rules β
NHTSA 5-star rating
2026 ACURA MDX SUV N/A FWD
NHTSA stars are shown for reference and carry no weight in the score. NHTSA source. Why the two programs disagree β
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 11 per million registered vehicle-years | Midsize luxury SUVs as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
| Acura MDX 4WD (2017-20) driver death rate | 6 (95% CI 0β16) | Earlier model years of this nameplate; class average for that study 10.9. Reflects who bought and drove those cars as well as the car. |
| Acura MDX 2WD (2017-20) driver death rate | 11 (95% CI 0β27) | Earlier model years of this nameplate; class average for that study 10.9. Reflects who bought and drove those cars as well as the car. |
Compared with other midsize luxury SUVs
Closest-scoring current midsize luxury SUVs with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every midsize luxury SUVs ranked β
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Tesla Model Y | #1 of 23 | TSP+ | $39,990 | 98.6 | |
| 2026 Volvo XC90 | #16 of 23 | TSP | $62,345 | 93.6 | |
| 2026 Volvo XC60 | #18 of 23 | β | $49,700 | 90.6 | |
| 2026 Cadillac Lyriq | #19 of 23 | β | $59,200 | 90.0 | |
| 2026 Acura MDX (this page) | #20 of 23 | β | $51,800 | 84.5 |
Other model years of the Acura MDX
| Model year | Status | IIHS award | Primary tests reported | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Acura MDX | Archived | TSP+ | 4/4 | Not ranked |
Each model year keeps its own record. Ratings from one year are never copied to another unless IIHS states the test applies.
Our analysis
The 2026 Acura MDX belongs to the Midsize luxury SUVs class. This class has one of the lowest driver death rates of any category, well below the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years, reflecting mass, structure, and typical driver demographics. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Acura MDX has no IIHS Top Safety Pick award for 2026. That can mean a result below the award threshold in one test, or tests IIHS has not completed. Absence of an award is not evidence that the vehicle is unsafe.
Across the 6 IIHS rating categories reported, the Acura MDX earned 5 Good ratings. One result sits below Good; the verdict at the top of the page names it.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Acura or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Acura MDX
No recalls on record. NHTSA lists this model year and currently shows no recall campaigns against it.
Use this score on your own site
Writing about the 2026 Acura MDX? Paste this badge into a post or forum reply. It updates on its own whenever IIHS publishes new results for this model.
Free to use with the link left intact. The badge is a plain image and an ordinary link, with no tracking script.
Questions about the 2026 Acura MDX
Continue comparing
Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.