Whenever you’re in the market for a luxury vehicle that’s guaranteed to be reliable, Lexus is going to be your go-to brand. Lexus, after all, is Toyota’s luxury brand, and so its reliability-focused engineering is pretty much carried over to the Lexus brand as well. The thing is, Lexus isn’t the only luxury brand that makes reliable cars.
There is, however, one thing in common about the other luxury brands that can match the reliability of Lexus: they’re all Japanese. Case in point, the luxury SUV for this article. Today, we’ll be talking about a luxury SUV that’s so highly underrated that you probably forgot it exists. Lexus, particularly the RX, simply dominates luxury SUV sales in the United States. It is so popular that it even outsells the Japanese luxury brand that created the SUV in today’s article.
The question now is, why is this Japanese luxury SUV so underrated that barely anyone talks about it, even if it’s a great offering? Let’s find out.
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The U.S. Luxury SUV Market Situation In 2026
To understand how underrated the reliable luxury SUV for today’s article is, we have to take a look at how the luxury SUV market in the United States is performing.
BMW Leads The Way
Fresh from its 2025 dominance, BMW continues its lead in the first quarter of 2026 by selling 84,231 units. This, however, is a three-percent decline—one that unfortunately reflects the overall luxury car market. Lexus sits in a comfortable second, selling 80,952 vehicles, which is down 2.5 percent from the same period last year. In third is Mercedes-Benz, which sold 78,500 units—also down by three percent from the same quarter last year.
Surprisingly, in fourth is Honda’s luxury brand Acura, whose 32,352 units in the first quarter of 2026 represent a 5.2-percent increase. The shift in positioning is strongly attributed to Audi’s massive decline—a brand that historically would have always been among the third or fourth biggest in the United States luxury car market. With 29,886 units sold, Audi lost 30 percent of its sales. Only the new A5 and A6 sedans saw sales gains for the first quarter of 2026.
The Lexus RX Still The Best-Selling Luxury SUV
Take a look at the sales breakdown of these luxury automakers, and you’ll see that the Lexus RX continues to be America’s best-selling luxury SUV and the outright best-selling luxury vehicle. A whopping 29,336 units were sold in the first quarter of 2026, which nearly matches Audi’s entire first quarter 2026 sales figures.
Unfortunately, Mercedes-Benz doesn’t provide a model breakdown of its sales, so we can’t be too sure who is in second. Therefore, the unofficial second-best-selling luxury SUV in the United States would be the BMW X5, with 18,680 units sold. As for the underrated reliable luxury SUV in today’s article, 10,928 copies were sold, which is actually a good figure, considering it isn’t too far off from the mean sales figures of some of the other popular luxury SUVs in the United States. This model, however, does the heavy lifting for this Japanese luxury brand, as this model alone already accounts for about a third of its sales.
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Consider The Acura MDX, Too
The reliable luxury SUV that nobody talks about, yet has the same reliability as a Lexus, would be the Acura MDX. This is by far Acura’s best-selling model in the United States, and for good reason. Not only is it reliable, but it’s also perfectly sized for its price tag.
As Reliable As The Lexus RX
The RX is one of the most reliable Lexus models, and so it becomes a perfect match for the MDX, which is likewise one of the most reliable Acura models. According to iSeeCars, the MDX is predicted to have an average lifespan of 153,225 miles or 11.2 years, and it has a high 22.9 percent chance of reaching 200,000 miles. A major contributor to its durability is its J-series V-6 engines, which are so robust, whether you go for the 3.5-liter or the turbocharged 3.0-liter version in the performance-oriented Type S.
- Base Trim Engine
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3.5L V6 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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10-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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290 HP @6200 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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267 lb.-ft. @ 4700 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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19/26/22 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
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Lead acid battery
- Make
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Acura
- Model
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MDX
For the Lexus RX, the publication has split the comparison between the RX 350h and the turbocharged gas-powered RX 350. No data has been provided for the performance-oriented RX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid. Perhaps not to my surprise, the Toyota Hybrid System proves its robustness in the RX 350h, as it’s the most reliable version of the lot, as this version has an average lifespan of 166,936 miles or 14.3 years. It also has a very high 29.6 percent chance of reaching 200,000 miles. The turbocharged RX 350 has a slightly lower but still impressive average lifespan of 148,840 miles or 12.8 years, and a 19.2-percent chance of reaching 200,000 miles.
Well-Priced, Well-Sized
And then there’s the MDX’s positioning, because with a base price of $53,250, this three-row midsize luxury SUV is right in line with the two-row RX’s base price of $52,275. Talk about value—for those who still prefer a V-6 engine instead of either a turbo four-cylinder or a hybrid, the appeal of the MDX is easy to appreciate.
Unfortunately, somewhere along those lines, the MDX doesn’t just resonate as well as the RX with luxury car buyers. Maybe it’s because of brand appeal, as Lexus is simply held in higher regard than Acura, at least anecdotally speaking. Perhaps Acura, as a luxury brand, lacks enough distinction to stand out, whether compared to its luxury peers or even Honda. In my opinion, however, the MDX is just as good as some of the luxury SUVs Lexus makes, which I hope I’m able to establish as we now talk about its core strengths.
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Why The MDX Is Worth A Look
If you’re considering the Lexus RX, why not take a look at the MDX as well? Granted, if a reliable hybrid luxury SUV is what you’re looking for, then the RX is pretty much your only choice. Otherwise, I’m here to tell you that among purely gas-powered peers, the MDX is probably the better choice.
Sporty Looks Inside And Out
Whichever variant of the MDX you go for, you’ll end up with a sporty luxury midsize SUV, but if you opt for the A-Spec, A-Spec Advance, or Type S, this is where the MDX is at its most handsome. Outside these three sport-oriented variants, the MDX is dressed in satin silver trimmings, silver alloy wheels, and a front fascia that balances elegance and sportiness. Going for the A-Spec, A-Spec Advance, or Type S adds a sportier front bumper, 20-inch wheels in Shark Gray or Berlina Black, while the Type S adds even more sporty exterior details, together with larger 21-inch wheels.
As for the interior, this is where the MDX may not resonate as well with buyers. For the most part, I love the MDX’s interior design, especially due to the sporty layout provided by the wide center console and deeply sculpted dash. Where it somewhat gets left behind by its competitors is with some of its trim choices. There’s a large expanse of gloss black on the center console and dash, with just a sliver of genuine wood or aluminum to break the expansive glossy surface. Everywhere else, however, the MDX feels properly plush and premium. Oh, and did we mention it’s a three-row SUV with decently sized third-row seating?
V-6 Thrill With Sporty Handling To Match
Now, here’s why I’d gravitate towards the MDX instead of the RX. For one, the V-6 is creamy smooth and reliable. It’s the Honda J series V-6, after all, one of the most overengineered V-6s out there. Its peak performance is realized with the Type S version, wherein the 3.0-liter turbo mill not only produces a healthy 355 horsepower, but it also sounds pretty nice. Our team has comprehensively reviewed the Type S, and indeed, it is a fine-handling and properly sporty SUV. Brembo brakes up front, plus adaptive dampers all around, help make the MDX Type S agile. The 10-speed automatic could be snappier, especially next to the BMW X5’s excellent ZF eight-speed auto, but the MDX, as a whole, is still a properly sporty SUV.
And don’t go thinking that the non-Type S versions aren’t fun, because in reality, they still are. Especially with its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), the MDX offers a degree of torque vectoring at the rear axle. Yet, despite all of this, the MDX’s ride quality is properly balanced. Sporty when you want it, comfortable when you need it. But the degree of ride variability is even more pronounced with the adaptive dampers of the MDX Type S. Unfortunately, this V-6 engine isn’t efficient, and that’s even when compared to BMW’s powerful B58 3.0-liter turbo inline-six in the X5. Nevertheless, there’s a lot to like about the MDX, and to me, its three-row practicality and top-notch sportiness make it a compelling choice in the midsize luxury SUV segment.
Sources: Acura, iSeeCars