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10 speed, Automatic w/OD
Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded V-6, Premium Unleaded V-6
All Wheel Drive, Front Wheel Drive
What is the rarest trait in an automaker’s largest SUV? It could be fuel efficiency, due to its size. However, another scarcity related to size is agility. Yes, Acura’s three-row luxury MDX can technically seat seven occupants, but it also handles twisty roads with the heart of a sports car. If you love driving fun but need a three-row SUV, the MDX Type S is an excellent choice.
Photo: Jim Resnick
Acura offers the 2026 MDX SUV in six trim levels: Base, Technology, A-Spec, Advance, A-Spec Advance, and Type S Advance. Base prices range from the low $50,000s to the mid $70,000s, including destination fees.
For this 2026 MDX review, Acura provided a test vehicle in Type S Advance trim with Performance Red Pearl paint available at an extra cost. The test vehicle’s manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $77,800, including the $1,350 destination charge to ship the SUV from the East Liberty, Ohio, assembly plant to a local dealership. The price does not reflect any current rebates, incentives, or price adjustments since Acura manufactured the test vehicle.
Photo: Jim Resnick
Last completely redesigned in 2022, the MDX still looks good and is mostly up to date, though in this era, a six-year model cycle is stretching things a bit.
The symmetrical dashboard dominates the front passenger area, featuring a center stack of ventilation buttons that point rearward. Some automakers might angle this control set for better driver visibility. As it is, some buttons are hard to see from the driver's seat. Leather seats complement the piano black soft-touch trim, although some of the piano black parts can glare at the driver if the sun hits at the right angle.
Inside, the MDX looks and feels slightly below the standard for a luxury SUV. Numerous climate control buttons with small typeface make adjusting them more time consuming than necessary.
Acura's transmission controls feel awkward and somewhat confusing. You press buttons downward for Park, Neutral, and Drive, but Reverse requires a finger tug to the rear. Since I do not especially like it, I had my wife try it. She could not quite figure out how to engage Reverse without my guidance, so I would say it is a flawed design.
In addition, while the steering wheel is a pleasure to grip due to its thick, comfortable rim, it is decorated with a confusing array consisting of 13 buttons, several of which serve multiple functions. It is too cluttered for a small space.
There is no debate about the front seats, though. They are fantastic. They achieve the almost impossible by combining the supportive feel of sports car seats with the comfort needed for long drives in an SUV. Even if they did not have lumbar adjustability or massaging features, they would still stand out. Acura also upholsters the seats in a very attractive perforated Milano leather with UltraSuede inserts.
Above your head, the sunroof shade features a tight mesh that blocks out sun and heat more effectively than other mesh screens, making it especially useful in very sunny climates, such as the Southwest or Florida. However, the MDX offers limited front storage space, with a small area in the console and door pockets for water bottles, and not much else.
The MDX provides ample second-row legroom, adjustable seats, and a convenient one-touch slide feature for third-row access. The middle seat can be removed entirely, creating a center pathway to the third row. However, that third row is only suitable for very small passengers. The good news? When the third row is folded down, it offers 39.1 cubic feet of cargo space.
Photo: Jim Resnick
Acura introduced a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Built-in for the 2025 model year, replacing an awkward touchpad setup. It is much better. We mentioned it before, but its more intuitive, cleaner, and more comprehensive features are worth repeating.
The top three MDX trim levels, including the Type S, also come with a head-up display on the windshield. Standard features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, along with Google Built-in connected services for three years after purchase.
Since smartphones are essential today, phone integration is a top priority. Technology is useless if it does not make life easier. Using my own standard, I was able to connect my phone to the Acura’s system quickly, set it as the primary device, and it automatically reconnected on subsequent drives without any manual effort.
Switching from the native Google environment to my iPhone was very easy. Managing phone calls through CarPlay was completely seamless. The Google digital voice assistant responded quickly and accurately to commands, essentially like Siri on Apple phones.
Unique to the MDX Type S, Acura equips it with a top-tier Bang & Olufsen Ultra Sound system. Other MDX SUVs feature 19-speaker B&O systems, but the Type S boasts 1,760 watts and 31 speakers, 12 of which are located in the roof. The result is crystal clear, loud audio that remains smooth and never harsh, even at high volumes.
The system’s "Beosonic" digital graph features a circle with a center toggle that adjusts bass and treble gain, using descriptive labels for tone. "Relaxed" reduces bass and high treble. "Warm" increases bass and cuts high midrange. "Energetic" boosts both bass and high treble, while "Bright" enhances high midrange and low treble for clearer spoken-word audio. The 3D surround effect produces a brief reverb and slightly widens the soundstage. Apart from testing it, I did not use it.
Photo: Jim Resnick
Acura equips the MDX Type S with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine. It delivers 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, paired with the same 10-speed automatic transmission as the non-Type S versions. Acura does not offer any hybrid option for the MDX. Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) can adjust power distribution to each wheel based on the cornering angle, available traction, and driver input.
The MDX suspension features air springs with adaptive dampers. They adjust to different drive modes, including Snow, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+. Ride height varies by mode, with Snow being the highest and Sport+ being the lowest. Compared to other MDX variants, the Type S also has stiffer, solid front and rear anti-roll bars.
The result of all these ingredients is an SUV with the heart of a sports car. The 3.0-liter turbo V6 delivers impressive power at any rpm and provides a throaty, enjoyable sound. Likewise, the transmission finds the right gear for any situation. You can skip the manual shift paddles; there is no frustrating delay for the gearbox to catch up to your sporty mood.
Regarding the suspension components, the Type S skillfully balances the opposing qualities of comfort and handling agility. When carrying family or friends, a smooth ride takes precedence. Driving solo in Sport mode, the Type S feels like it was trained by the legendary sport-focused Acuras and Hondas from 20-30 years ago.
Acura has not overlooked the brakes on the Type S either. Large 14.3-inch rotors are housed within sizable Brembo calipers, both bigger than those on other MDX SUVs. They perform excellently under heavy use while remaining smooth and offering precise modulation during in-law chauffeuring duties. The Type S also features 275/40R21 tires mounted on 9.5-inch-wide wheels, which are wider than those on other MDX versions.
This performance has a downside, though. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Type S at just 19 mpg in combined driving. The mixed highway and suburban route I tested yielded an average of 20.5 mpg. That is better than the EPA's figure, but still not impressive. Acura also does not offer a hybrid option for any of the MDX variants, which could improve fuel economy.
Photo: Jim Resnick
All 2026 MDX SUVs come standard with the AcuraWatch suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). It is a complete set of active safety features that includes:
Beyond the standard ADAS, the MDX Type S builds on that with AcuraWatch 360. This extra set of features includes the following:
The MDX's ACC, lane centering, and lane keeping systems all performed well on interstates. The ACC detected merging cars ahead of the MDX and quickly and smoothly adjusted the speed. Lane centering maintained a good heading on the highway. However, it shows some lane centering fuzziness or indecision on anything less than a state highway. Meandering road patches (also known as “tar snakes”) can cause it to lose its footing.
According to the JD Power 2025 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Cadillac XT5 ranks highest in the Midsize Premium SUV segment. The Land Rover Defender and the Lexus RX rank second (in a tie).
According to the JD Power 2025 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, the Lincoln Nautilus ranks highest in the Midsize Premium SUV segment. The Land Rover Defender and the Land Rover Range Rover Velar are the next highest-ranked models.
Other 2026 MDX competitors include the Infiniti QX60 and Lexus GX.
