Improvements inside and out make the 2025 Audi Q7 and 2025 Acura MDX worth considering
Drivers shopping for a three-row mid-size luxury SUV seek a combination of comfort, style, practicality, tech, and performance. While the 2025 Audi Q7 and the 2025 Acura MDX often emerge as top contenders, determining which one is a better fit for your driving needs and preferences requires a closer examination of each SUV. The 2025 Audi Q7 receives a mid-cycle refresh, featuring stylistic updates to the grille, wheel designs, headlamps, taillamps, and exterior colors. Inside, Audi equips this SUV’s cabin with fresh upholstery and accent options, while the infotainment system is enhanced with newly-added Spotify and Amazon music integrations.
Acura
The 2025 Acura MDX has also received a mild styling refresh in areas such as the grille, which features a new mesh design, the bumper, and the wheels. Previous iterations of the MDX contained Acura’s True Touchpad Interface that drivers used to control the infotainment system, but the 2025 model year MDX ditches this controversial feature in favor of a more straightforward 12.3” touchscreen. This Acura’s interior also benefits from improvements in seating, the audio system, sound deadening, and standard features, which we’ll explore more below.
Understated elegance or a bold presence: which do you prefer?
Drivers preferring a cleaner-looking SUV exterior with a more subtle luxury feel may lean toward the 2025 Audi Q7. In comparison, those prioritizing a muscular exterior design with more dramatic lines and accents will likely favor the 2025 Acura MDX. Three new metallic exterior colors are available for the 2025 Audi Q7: Sakhir Gold, Ascari Blue, and Chili Red. This mid-size Audi SUV’s wheel sizes range from 20 to 22 inches and include five new designs. While the Acura MDX’s grille is more dramatic than its Audi counterpart, the Q7’s grille is taller — a look accentuated by teardrop-shaped vertical inlays. Color-framed air intakes are a new addition to the 2025 Audi Q7’s exterior, along with a redesigned front lower spoiler and a reshaped diffuser featuring integrated functional exhaust tips instead of 2024’s decorative ones.
Kyle Edward
Acura
Most exterior dimensions between these two SUVs are comparable, but the 2025 Q7 has a wheelbase that’s 4.1 inches larger at 117.9 inches. Wheel sizes for the 2025 Acura MDX are slightly smaller than the Q7’s, ranging from 19 to 21 inches. The MDX’s diamond-pentagon grille is flashier than the Q7’s grille, and you can get a sportier exterior with the A-Spec Package trim, which starts at $61,800. The A-Spec Package MDX comes with gloss black accents, 20-inch Shark Gray wheels, and LED fog lights, along with additional features that establish a more athletic interior. Shoppers looking for a truly sporty mid-size luxury Audi SUV need to look toward the SQ7, which is significantly more expensive, with a base price of $90,800.
Power, performance, and efficiency spotlight
The 2025 Audi Q7 offers the choice of a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 261 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, or an available turbocharged 3.0L V6 producing 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Both engine configurations come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD). Drivers can expect to get 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway with the four-cylinder engine and 18/23 city/highway mpg with the 3.0L V6.
James Riswick
In comparison, the 2025 Acura MDX delivers more power with its standard 3.5L V6 offering 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, and its 3.0L turbocharged twin-scroll V6 in the peak Type S trim supplying 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. All 2025 Acura MDX trims come with a standard 10-speed automatic transmission. However, the Base and Technology Package trims have standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and available AWD, while the four remaining grades get standard AWD. A FWD Acura MDX provides 19/26 city/highway mpg, while its AWD counterpart is good for 19/25 city/highway mpg. The Type S MDX is rated at 17/21 city/highway mpg.
Acura’s 2025 MDX tech enhancements go beyond ditching the True Touchpad
One exterior tech feature unique to the 2025 Audi Q7 is the model’s available HD Matrix-design LED headlight with Audi Laser light, which is active at speeds above 39 mph (depending on conditions), and enhances visibility by supplementing the LED high beam. The Q7’s interior features a 10.1-inch central touchscreen and a smaller 8.6-inch display below for functions such as adjusting the climate and other vehicle settings. Audi Q7 drivers also receive a standard 12.3-inch virtual cockpit and an available head-up display.
In comparison, the 2025 MDX uses a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch center touchscreen, with an optional head-up display. The base MDX has received another pair of stereo speakers for its 2025 model year, bringing its total to 11, while the Type S gets a new Bang & Olufsen stereo with 31 speakers. Audi Q7 drivers can choose from a standard stereo system with 10 speakers, an available 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, or the optional advanced Bang & Olufsen configuration with 23 speakers.
The Q7’s interior leads with luxurious materials, but the MDX boasts more cargo space
Audi delivers the 2025 Q7’s interior materials as expected, featuring standard leather upholstery in Black, Okapi Brown, and Metropolitan Gray, along with available softer Valcona leather in Sarder Brown and Saiga Beige. Front seats within this Audi feature standard 8-way power adjustments and 4-way driver lumbar support, as well as optional 18-way power adjustments with memory, including shoulder adjustments, extended thigh support, and a massage function. 4-way passenger lumbar support is also available.
While the 2025 MDX’s newly available 16-way adjustable front seats with their more robust massaging function fall short of the 2025 Q7’s optional 18-way power adjustments, the MDX offers significantly more cargo space behind the third row at 18.1 cu ft and behind its second row at 48.4 cu ft. The 2025 Q7 has a maximum cargo capacity of 14.2 cu ft behind the third row and 35.7 cu ft with the third row folded. Despite Acura adding new laminated rear window glass and extra sound insulation to the 2025 MDX, the Q7’s interior is still quieter.
Audi
Acura
Final thoughts
Drivers seeking a more traditional three-row mid-size luxury SUV experience may gravitate toward the 2025 Audi Q7, with its opulent materials, exterior characterized by subtle sophistication, and advanced available HD Matrix-design LED headlights with Audi Laser light technology. In contrast, those prioritizing higher standard power, greater cargo capacity, and sportier exterior styling will likely prefer the MDX. No matter your preferences, be sure to test drive each vehicle before making a decision. The 2025 Audi Q7 starts at $60,500, while the 2025 Acura MDX has a base price of $51,200.
About the author
Cody Carlson
Contributing Writer, Autoblog