2023 Acura MDX

Pros:

• You get a smooth ride with good handling when you combine a large cargo area with a comfortable cabin.
• For the price, there are a lot of amenities and things to help you drive.

Cons:

• The standard engine is loud and has less power than competitors with turbochargers.
• The infotainment touchpad is hard to figure out at first.

What moves the MDX? The MDX’s most impressive dynamic features are how it steers and drives. The latest version of Super Handling All-Wheel Drive from Acura makes the MDX more agile and gives it a better grip when wet. Even though the MDX has a smooth ride, it can turn as well as an SUV half its size. Accurate and easy-to-understand steering helps with all kinds of driving, from turning corners to long highway trips.

The standard MDX’s V6 engine isn’t as powerful. It revs quickly and has a lot of personality, but it needs more power in the end. On our test track, it took an MDX Advance 7.5 seconds longer to go from 0 to 60 mph than almost every luxury three-row midsize SUV we’ve tested, including the previous MDX. The 10-speed automatic transmission is also less smooth or quick than we would like. On the other hand, the turbocharged engine and faster tuning of the MDX Type S give it a more lively personality.

How easy to use is the MDX? The MDX has some of the most comfortable front seats in the class. They are instrumental and easy to use. The chairs in the second row can move and lay back, but they are more comfortable than the seats in the front. The suspension makes the ride surprisingly comfortable because it smooths out most of the bumps in the road.

The climate control system was easy to use and comforted us on long trips. The middle console only has one vent for the second row and none for the third. The seat ventilation isn’t excellent, but the heaters are great. Despite not finding the cabin particularly noisy, we measured sound levels that were higher than those of most other cars in the same class, particularly when cruising on the highway at full throttle.

How does the inside look? Even though we like new ideas in the car business, they only sometimes work out. The new True Touchpad Interface for Acura’s infotainment system is a colossal failure that will turn off many potential buyers. From what we’ve seen, the user interface is hard to understand and has a history of bugs. Unfortunately, the system’s design is quite ergonomic and stylish.

There are some beautiful things inside the MDX. The space between seats in the first and second rows is quite generous. The third row is a little tight for adults, but children should be fine. The car is easy to get in and out of, and Acura’s push-button second-row seat release system is straightforward. You can take out the middle seat in the second row to make a captain’s chair layout and a center pass-through, making it even easier to get to the third row.

Large windows help you see all around, and a surround-view camera system gives you even better bumper-level visibility from every angle. Curbing the wheels and scraping the fenders should no longer be done.

How good is the tech? Even though the MDX’s infotainment system is hard to use, it still has a lot of helpful technology. The built-in navigation system works well, and the big screen in the middle looks nice and is easy to read. The optional 16-speaker ELS sound system is impressive and can fill the cabin with many sounds without making it muddy.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be activated without a USB cord in every MDX. You also get some excellent high-tech driving aids. Adaptive cruise control makes rush-hour driving easier.

What about putting things away? Cargo space and storage capacity are essential features. The MDX has 18.1 cubic feet of storage space behind the third row, which is more than what many other three-row midsize luxury crossovers have. There is also more storage space under the load floor in the back, and the second and third rows of seats can be folded flat. Behind the second row, there is space of at least 39.1 cubic feet and as much as 71.4 cubic feet.

Even though the old MDX didn’t have a customizable compartment any more, it did have large door bins and a large bin in the middle of the front armrest. There are three sets of anchors in the middle seats for child safety seats.

When properly equipped, the MDX’s all-wheel-drive system can haul up to 5,000 pounds. It is sufficient for towing a modest trailer, while similar European SUVs, such as the Audi Q7, can tow considerably more weight.

How well does it use gasoline? The EPA says that the all-wheel-drive MDX gets a combined 21 mpg on the highway and in the city. This number is about the same as what other high-end SUVs get, but we needed help getting it consistently while driving. We drove a 2022 MDX Advance for 5,000 miles and only got 17.8 mpg.

Should you buy the MDX? Value remains an important motivator for MDX. The MDX is more luxurious with soft leather and accents like open-pore wood. At a starting price of about $47,000, it comes with a V6 engine, a complete set of high-tech driving aids, and many other features that are often extras on competitors.

The warranty covers the usual things. European competitors offer better roadside assistance, and primary and powertrain warranties are better.

We love how the new MDX looks. Even though the engine is not a rocket, it is bold and robust, firing with purpose. This latest redesign shows that a lot of thought went into it. The MDX is also fun to drive because it is easy to control.

You should go with the A-Spec. The sporty body kit and ventilated front seats are almost a must-have for a luxury SUV. They also give the MDX the style it needs. It is also the most cost-effective option to upgrade to the superior sound system that comes standard in the MDX. Even though the Type S is appealing in general, it may not be worth as much as the standard MDX.

Acura MDX models

The 2023 Acura MDX is a midsize SUV with seven seats. It comes in six trim levels, or packages, called MDX, Technology, A-Spec, Advance, Type S, and Type S Advance. All-wheel drive is optional on the base and Technology models. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard on all other MDX models.