Acura MDX (base FWD) price & real 5-year cost in the U.S.
The Acura MDX (base FWD) starts at $51,800. As of August 6, 2026, over 5 years, owning one (gas car) costs about $63,630 in the U.S. — $1,061/month, $1.06/mile — including depreciation, fuel, maintenance, insurance, financing and fees. That's $71,504 less than a comparable Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE over the same 5 years.
Acura MDX (base FWD) · U.S. average · 5-year estimate$63,630 total · $1,061/mo · $1.06/mi
Where the money goes
| Cost component | Gas · Acura MDX | Gas · Land Rover Range Rover |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $25,900 (41%) | $69,906 (52%) |
| Charging / fuel | $10,492 (16%) | $12,823 (9%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | — | — |
| Maintenance | $6,060 (10%) | $9,480 (7%) |
| Insurance | $11,000 (17%) | $21,180 (16%) |
| Financing interest | $9,178 (14%) | $20,744 (15%) |
| Registration & fees | $1,000 (2%) | $1,000 (1%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $63,630 | $135,134 |
Acura MDX (base FWD) specs & assumptions
- Starting MSRP
- $51,800manufacturer base
- Powertrain
- Gas
- Efficiency
- 22 mpgEPA
- Gas (US avg)
- $3.85/galAAA
- Annual miles (assumed)
- 12,000adjustable in tool
Compare the Acura MDX (base FWD) against any car, your miles & your state
What else moves your Acura MDX (base FWD) cost
The 5-year total already folds in depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance and financing. These are the levers that actually move money on this car, biggest first — each figure re-run through the same kernel with one input changed. Levers that don't move $400+ here aren't listed.
- Financing. The total finances $48,800 of the $51,800 price at 7.0% over 60 months: $9,178 of pure interest, 14% of everything above. Paying cash or shopping the rate removes it outright — both are inputs in the calculator.
- Depreciation curve. We cost the Acura MDX (base FWD) on its own residual curve, not the gas car average: it holds 50% of its $51,800 after 5 years against 61% for a typical gas car. That is about $5,698 more depreciation than the class curve would give it — and depreciation is $25,900 of the $63,630 above (41%).
- Fuel price. The total runs on the U.S. average $3.85/gal. Add a dollar to the pump price and this car's 5-year total rises $2,727 to $66,357 — at 22 mpg and 12,000 mi/yr, fuel is the lever your own driving moves most.
Acura MDX (base FWD) cost anatomy — where the money concentrates
The Acura MDX (base FWD) costs about $63,630 to own over 5 years in the U.S. — $1,061/month, $1.06/mi at 12,000 mi/yr — and depreciation is the biggest line: $25,900, 41% of the total (as of August 6, 2026).
- Where the Acura MDX (base FWD)'s $63,630 actually goes: depreciation $25,900 (41%), insurance $11,000 (17%), gas $10,492 (16%), financing interest $9,178 (14%), maintenance $6,060 (10%), registration & fees $1,000 (2%).
- Per mile, that is $0.43 of depreciation and $0.17 of gas, with $0.45 for everything else — $1.06/mile all-in.
- Gas vs the fleet: the Acura MDX (base FWD)'s 5-year gas bill ($10,492) runs $1,259 above the $9,233 median of the 37 gas and hybrid models we price at the same rates.
What we assume for maintenance
Maintenance & repairs for the Acura MDX (base FWD) are costed at $0.101/mi (our standard gas car rate) — about $1,212/yr at 12,000 mi/yr, and $6,060 of the 5-year total above. That's about $684/yr less than the $0.158/mi we cost for the gas Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE it is compared against above ($9,480 over 5 years).
Rates are anchored to U.S. DOE 2025 per-mile figures (AAA-calibrated) — full sourcing in the methodology. The total scales with the annual-miles input in the calculator.
Recalls & reliability record — MDX
Official U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety record for the MDX, MY 2017–2026. Figures cover all powertrains and trims sold under the MDX nameplate for the model years shown. A recall means a free remedy is available at no cost. Source: NHTSA (nhtsa.gov), data as of .
Recalls (15)
- Structure
Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge.
- Air Bags
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.
- Service Brakes
Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge.
- Exterior Lighting
Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge.
- Back Over Prevention
Dealers will replace the center information display unit, free of charge.
- Air Bags
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.
- Fuel System
Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge.
- Engine And Engine Cooling
Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall history: every MDX campaign → — all 15 campaigns, grouped by year.
Consumer complaints
NHTSA has 1,062 consumer complaints on file for the MDX (MY 2017–2026). The most-reported areas: Engine, Electrical System, Power Train. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA.
Where the Acura MDX (base FWD) numbers change most
Same car, same 5-year horizon, 51 different state rate sets: the total runs from $61,016 in Indiana to $67,385 in California — a $6,369 swing, 10% of its U.S.-average $63,630. Every 10¢/gal at the pump moves this car's total by about $272; state registration fees stack on top of that. Each link opens that state's cost table at the Acura MDX (base FWD) row.
Cheapest states for the Acura MDX (base FWD)
Most expensive states for the Acura MDX (base FWD)
- California $67,385
- Hawaii $67,365
- Washington $66,440
- Alaska $65,629
- Oregon $65,293
- Nevada $65,012
Does any state change the verdict? No. Against the Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE — the segment rival we price it against — the Acura MDX (base FWD) is cheaper in all 51 state rate sets, by $71,504 at the U.S. average. No state's mix of electricity, pump price and fees closes that gap, so there is no "it depends on where you live" story here.