2020 Lexus RX 350 vs 2020 Acura MDX: True Five-Year Cost of Ownership

The Short Answer

The 2020 Lexus RX 350 and the 2020 Acura MDX cost exactly the same to own over five years: $49,866, or $831 per month. There is no dollar-amount winner here. Both vehicles carry identical costs across every category in our model, from fuel and insurance to depreciation and repairs. That makes this a side-by-side comparison of what you get for the same money, not a competition decided by price alone.

Cost Breakdown: 2020 Lexus RX 350

The RX 350 carries a five-year fuel bill of $9,975, which works out to $1,995 per year. That figure stays flat across all five years, reflecting consistent driving assumptions and no change in the vehicle's fuel economy as it ages. Fuel is one of the steadier costs in the RX 350's ownership picture.

Depreciation hits hardest in year one, at $6,400, and drops steadily to $2,560 by year five. That curve is typical for a luxury crossover bought used in the 50,000 to 70,000 mile range. The steepest losses are already behind you when you buy at this mileage, which is one reason buying used makes financial sense. Over five years, the RX 350 loses $20,800 in value.

Maintenance costs are where owners need to pay attention. The schedule runs $426 in year one and stays modest through year two at $494. Year three climbs to $928, then spikes sharply in year four to $2,296 before dropping back to $1,387 in year five. That year-four number reflects the kind of scheduled service intervals, fluid replacements, and inspection items that pile up as a vehicle crosses higher mileage thresholds. Plan for it. Repair costs also climb steadily, from $540 in year one to $1,530 by year five, which is a pattern seen across most aging vehicles regardless of brand.

Cost Breakdown: 2020 Acura MDX

The Acura MDX mirrors the RX 350 in every cost category, so the structure of its five-year spending looks identical. Fuel runs $1,995 annually. Depreciation starts at $6,400 and steps down to $2,560. Maintenance spikes in year four at $2,296. Repairs grow from $540 to $1,530. Insurance holds at $1,440 per year throughout.

The MDX is a three-row crossover, which gives it a different value proposition than the two-row RX 350, even if the cost model matches. Buyers who need a third row are comparing two vehicles with meaningfully different utility. The MDX seats up to seven passengers. The RX 350 seats five. That difference doesn't show up in the cost table, but it matters for families.

Like the RX 350, the MDX's year-four maintenance figure is the number to watch. At $2,296, it represents the single largest annual maintenance expense in the five-year window. Buyers who plan to sell before year four should factor that into their timing. Registration fees, meanwhile, decline each year from $400 to $200, which is standard as vehicles lose assessed value over time.

Five-Year Cost Comparison Table

Cost Category	2020 Lexus RX 350	2020 Acura MDX
Total Five-Year Cost	$49,866	$49,866
Average Monthly Cost	$831	$831
Fuel (5 years)	$9,975	$9,975
Maintenance (5 years)	$5,531	$5,531
Repairs (5 years)	$4,860	$4,860
Depreciation (5 years)	$20,800	$20,800
Insurance (5 years)	$7,200	$7,200
Registration (5 years)	$1,500	$1,500

How Costs Change Year by Year

Year one is the cheapest year to own either vehicle. Total costs are held down by low repair expenses ($540), modest maintenance ($426), and the highest depreciation of the cycle ($6,400). That depreciation figure is a paper loss rather than a cash expense, but it reflects real value leaving the vehicle.

Years two and three are relatively stable. Maintenance ticks up from $494 to $928. Repairs grow from $720 to $900. Depreciation continues to slow. For most owners, these are the smoothest years financially.

Year four is the most expensive year in terms of active spending. Maintenance jumps to $2,296 for both vehicles. Repairs reach $1,170. If you're buying one of these vehicles used and hoping to avoid the big service bills, year four is the year that will find you regardless. Neither brand escapes it.

Year five brings some relief on maintenance, which drops to $1,387. But repair costs hit their five-year peak at $1,530. Depreciation is at its lowest, $2,560, which means the vehicle is holding what value it has left more stubbornly. For buyers who plan to sell after five years, that slower depreciation in years four and five is a modest consolation.

Neither vehicle becomes dramatically cheaper or more expensive than the other at any point. The cost curves run in parallel throughout the ownership window.

Reliability Comparison

This is where the two vehicles start to separate, despite identical cost models.

According to RepairPal, the Lexus RX earns a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0, which places it first out of 14 midsize SUVs in its category. The average annual repair cost for the RX is $710, and owners report a lower-than-average frequency of unscheduled repairs. When repairs are needed, they are less likely to be severe.

The Acura MDX also scores reasonably well on RepairPal, with a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 and an average annual repair cost of $571, which is actually lower than the RX. RepairPal ranks the MDX second out of 14 midsize SUVs. Both vehicles perform near the top of their class for long-term dependability.

In practice, the Lexus brand has a long track record of low unscheduled repair frequency, and that reputation is reflected in its ratings. The MDX's lower average annual repair cost on RepairPal suggests it may generate fewer or less expensive surprise repairs in real-world ownership. Neither vehicle is likely to leave you stranded, but neither is immune to the mechanical wear that comes with age and mileage.

Fuel Economy in Real Life

Both vehicles use a 3.5-liter V6 engine and are available in all-wheel drive. According to fueleconomy.gov, the 2020 Lexus RX 350 AWD is rated at 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, with a combined rating of 20 mpg. The 2020 Acura MDX AWD is rated at 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, with a combined rating of 20 mpg as well.

The ratings are identical. At 12,000 miles per year and a fuel price of roughly $3.32 per gallon (consistent with the $1,995 annual fuel cost in our model), both vehicles consume about 600 gallons per year. The monthly fuel cost for each works out to approximately $166.

There is no fuel economy advantage to choosing one vehicle over the other. Buyers hoping to save money at the pump by picking a different model will not find it in this comparison.

Which One Should You Buy?

Buy the 2020 Lexus RX 350 if you want a two-row luxury crossover with a top-tier reliability reputation and a quieter, more polished cabin experience. The RX has been refined over many years into one of the most consistently dependable luxury SUVs on the market. It seats five, and it does that job very well. If your family doesn't need a third row and you prioritize ride quality and long-term peace of mind, the RX 350 is the stronger choice.

Buy the 2020 Acura MDX if you need to carry more than five people. The MDX's third row is a real functional advantage for families with more than two kids or for buyers who regularly transport groups. RepairPal's data also suggests slightly lower average repair costs for the MDX, which could mean marginally fewer surprise bills over time. The MDX gives you more passenger capacity for the same five-year cost. For family buyers who measure value in seats, not just dollars, the MDX makes a compelling case.

The cost data doesn't make the decision for you here. The choice comes down to what you actually need the vehicle to do.