2023 Acura MDX

Overview

With a handsome façade and three rows of seats, the 2023 Acura MDX offers family-friendly transportation in a premium wrapper. To bolster its appeal, Acura has also imbued its flagship SUV with sharp handling—especially on the performance-oriented Type S. Acceleration is brisk for an SUV this size, even with the base 290-hp V-6 under the hood. Upgrade to the Type S, though, and Acura swaps in a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that makes 355 horsepower and standard all-wheel drive. The MDX's cabin is undeniably premium but stops short of the lavish interiors found in rivals such as the Genesis GV80, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-class, and the Volvo XC90. But if you can accept that, you'll find the MDX is both cheaper than any of those and more rewarding to drive.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

1

Genesis GV80

STARTING AT: $56,925

2

Porsche Cayenne

STARTING AT: $73,650

3

BMW X5

STARTING AT: $66,195

4

Volvo XC90

STARTING AT: $57,095

5

BMW X6

STARTING AT: $74,895

11

Acura MDX

STARTING AT: $50,745

What's New for 2023?

The MDX sees no physical changes this year, but Acura has added a two-year/24,000-mile complimentary scheduled maintenance plan and free access to the AcuraLink connectivity plan for three years to every 2023 model.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

As driving enthusiasts, we're most intrigued by the Type S for its performance aspirations. But for buyers looking for a nicely equipped luxury crossover without the sporty flair, we'd recommend the Technology trim, which has niceties such as leather upholstery with contrast stitching, adjustable interior ambient lighting, an ELS Studio stereo system with 12 speakers, and low-speed front and rear automated emergency braking.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The regular MDX is powered by a 290-hp 3.5-liter V-6 that is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The sporty Type S model is powered by a 355-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and comes standard with all-wheel drive. Our test drive of an all-wheel-drive Advance model with the standard powertrain revealed surprisingly nimble handling and perky acceleration. When we sampled the Type S, we praised it for the same agile feeling on the road and appreciated the extra power, but wondered if that model is worthy of its Type S badging. The Type S is measurably quicker than the standard model, however, and at our test track, it needed only 5.5 seconds to reach 60 mph while the less powerful variant required 6.4 seconds.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The base MDX boasts EPA fuel-economy ratings of 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway; the Type S is rated for 17 mpg city and 21 mpg highway. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, our all-wheel-drive A-Spec test vehicle delivered a disappointing 22 mpg. The Type S model did slightly better and returned a 23-mpg result. For more information about the MDX's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The MDX's cabin has a premium look and feel, especially on high-end trims, which come with French-stitched leather on the dashboard and open-pore wood intermingled with metal and piano-black accents. Acura has also outfitted the MDX with plenty of creature comforts, such as dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and leather upholstery. The front seats are supportive and comfortable and can be equipped with niceties such as 16-way power adjustability as well as massage. The first and second rows offer plentiful passenger space, but the MDX's third row is still a kids-only affair. Although the interior is nicely designed and offers plenty of convenience options, it doesn't feel quite as posh as the cabins of rivals such as the Genesis GV80 or the Volvo XC90.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

The 2023 MDX features a large 12.3-inch infotainment display with a center-console-mounted touchpad controller, which we're sorry to report is somewhat frustrating to use. A 12.3-inch digital reconfigurable gauge display is also standard, as are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, in-dash navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. An ELS Studio stereo system is included on the Technology trim while the A-Spec and Advanced models get a 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D setup.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Acura has been adding more and more standard driver-assistance tech to its cars, and the MDX provides several desirable features. For more information about the MDX's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The MDX's warranty package matches those of rivals such as the Buick Enclave and the Lexus GX, and both of those brands only cover the first maintenance visit while Acura covers everything for the first two years or 24,000 miles.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers six years or 70,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 24,000 miles.

More Features and Specs