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The Acura MDX is often reserved for the family-friendly luxurious crossover crowd. However Acura has stepped up its sport. The brand new 2022 MDX Sort S is probably the most highly effective and best-performing MDX Acura has ever created. However I nonetheless assume it wants somewhat extra, particularly if Acura needs individuals to take the Sort S badge critically once more.
Full Disclosure: Acura’s fantastically good product individuals gladly lent me the MDX Sort S for per week. It was delivered spotless with a full tank of gasoline. The child and I had been fairly comfy with it after over 700 miles of driving.
Table of Contents
What Is It?
The Acura MDX has been round for a very long time now. The primary mannequin debuted again in 2000 and thru 4 generations it’s been Acura’s premier household hauler. It sells fairly properly, too: Since 2002, the MDX has persistently hit gross sales numbers between the low-40,000 to the high-50,000 vary, each single yr. In 2014, Acura bought almost 66,000 MDXes. Not dangerous for one thing that started off on the identical platform as the Honda Odyssey.
The present, fourth-generation MDX is all-new for the 2022 model year. There was no 2021 MDX — Acura skipped a yr, presumably, to get the brand new technology prepared. It was previewed by a close to production-ready prototype in late 2020. The MDX went on sale in February of 2021 and the Type S later that yr. With the elimination of the Acura RLX, the luxurious sedan that everybody forgot, the MDX takes the throne because the model’s flagship.
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Specs That Matter
Under the hood of the MDX Sort S resides the identical 3.0-liter single-turbo V6 discovered within the TLX Type S. Energy numbers are precisely the identical as within the TLX Sort S as properly: 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, the only engine alternative out there within the Sort S. The acquainted 10-speed automated is paired with Acura’s signature SH-AWD, and Brembo brakes gradual all the things down. These sit behind 21-inch wheels on low-profile high-performance tires.
All the luxurious goodies make for a heavy beast: The MDX Sort S Advance I’ve right here suggestions the scales at 4,788 kilos.
It’s a properly sized automobile. This new MDX has grown barely over the earlier technology, now inside inches of opponents just like the Audi SQ7. Cargo capability behind the third row is eighteen.1 cubic toes; that grows to 48.4 cubic toes with the third-row seats folded. With each rows of rear seats stowed, you get a cavernous 95 cubic toes of cargo quantity for these Costco or Residence Depot runs.
With the MDX Sort S now serving because the flagship of the model, it comes with a flagship worth. The MDX Sort S is now the second costliest Acura the model has ever made. Together with a $1,195 vacation spot cost, the MDX Sort S begins at $67,895. Acura gave me a Sort S Superior, whole worth $73,745. That’s some severe cash.
How Does it Drive
I’m certain you all need to know if this factor lives as much as the Sort S badge. It does, kind of. The 355 hp is at all times on faucet. Turbo lag is minimal, regardless of a most of 15.1 kilos of increase. Flip the massive steel drive-mode knob and the Sort S turns into a special animal. There are six modes to select from: Regular, Consolation, Snow, Raise (solely out there beneath 37 mph, this raises the automobile’s air suspension by 50 mm), Sport and Sport+.
Consolation mode is definitely fairly comfortable. The Sort S’s air suspension soaks up each bump. However you didn’t go for the Sort S badge to wallow round in a pillow.
The performance-oriented drive modes are the place issues get attention-grabbing. Whereas Sport is ok, you’ll need to be in Sport+. The air suspension lowers by half an inch, the engine idles at the next pace for faster throttle response, an energetic exhaust valve opens, extra synthetic engine noise is piped into the cabin. The instrument panel turns pink, and also you get a g-meter, a bigger tachometer, and a turbo increase gauge. Time to tear.
Slam the throttle and 60 mph arrives in about 5.5 seconds. Throw this factor right into a nook and also you’ll have a second of readability as you understand that the SH-AWD system isn’t a gimmick. It really works. Acura has been creating and bettering this technique since 2005; it’s now in its fourth technology. With the power to ship 70 p.c of engine energy to the rear axle, and distribute one hundred pc of an axle’s torque to a single wheel, it’s wild how this technique works. Between the torque vectoring and the adaptive dampers, the Sort S offers you a assured really feel in spirited driving. I often really feel a bit uneasy in efficiency SUVs and crossovers — one thing a few high-center-of-gravity automobile cornering like a sport sedan is barely unsettling to me. However the way in which the Acura powers out of a nook is mighty spectacular.
What’s Nice
The outside design is admittedly sharp. It’s good-looking; Acura describes the MDX as having “athletic proportions,” and I believe that matches. From the lengthy hood with the droplet grille and big Acura badge to the chicane taillights and vivid quad exhaust suggestions, all of it comes collectively as a sporty, evolutionary look that’s each acquainted and new. It’s actually a terrific change from the slightly bubble-like previous generations of MDX.
The inside is a pleasant place to spend time. The middle display measures 12.3 inches, with a panorama format that’s sharp and clear and handles Apple CarPlay fantastically. The white leather-based upholstery is elegant, and there’s a top quality really feel to the entire switches and buttons. Acura likes to spotlight the genuine supplies on this inside — the open-pore wooden on the doorways and sprint, the actual steel accents. The entrance seats have 16-way adjustment and 9 completely different therapeutic massage settings, plus heating and cooling. Excellent for a protracted journey.
The centerpiece of the inside is the big panoramic roof. It’s one of many greatest I’ve ever encountered in any automobile. On a scorching sunny day, it nearly permits an excessive amount of mild. Fortunately, with the facility blackout shade closed, the inside stays a lot cooler.
With all of the ambient lighting choices, you’ll be able to create a complete visible expertise contained in the cabin. Acura presents a handful of preset lighting modes, dubbed Iconic Driver, all themed on driving locales world wide. From the red-hued Suzuka to the desert-orange Route 66, to the Vegas Strip (with purple, gold and turquoise), they’re all nice. It’s a gimmick, certain, however one I loved enjoying with. Pair that with the most effective sound programs ever put right into a automobile and also you’re really cruising in luxurious. The ELS Studio 3D sound system has 25 audio system, 22 channels and over 1000 watts of energy. Acura must promote this technique for properties. It’s that good.
What’s Weak
When you’ll respect the firmer suspension in Sport and Sport+, the big-inch wheels and low-profile tires could make the MDX Sort S really feel harsh over tough roads. On a protracted drive in Sport+, my girlfriend really began to get somewhat queasy within the passenger seat. (That’s largely my fault although.)
And whereas it is a seven-seat household automobile, don’t count on to place anybody on the tall aspect within the third row. Second-row legroom is okay (Acura claims 29.1 inches), however a tall particular person within the entrance row will eat into that.
And whereas Acura did a terrific job with that HD infotainment display, it’s wasted on an interface system most of us detest: a rattling touchpad. It’s actually the one solution to function the display and navigate its menus — the display shouldn’t be touch-sensitive. I by no means totally obtained used to it, and attempting to work it shortly, to reply a telephone name or enter an adress into nav, might be actually annoying.
Including to the frustration is the truth that the display is break up into two menus, the smaller of which by no means leaves the display. That menu will get its personal small scroll pad operating alongside the right-hand fringe of the touchpad. I’m certain if this was my day by day driver, I’d finally get used to it, however the system is a bit unwieldy to navigate, significantly whereas driving.
Lastly, for a efficiency automobile with an energetic exhaust, a sporty engine notice is nonexistent. Simply to verify I wasn’t lacking something, I sat in a parking zone and revved the engine with my son standing behind the automotive to see what it seemed like from outdoors. He got here again shrugging. “It doesn’t actually sound like something,” he mentioned. That’s barely disappointing, as these quad polished exhaust suggestions look fairly severe.
Verdict
The largest draw back to the MDX Sort S is that it doesn’t fairly reside as much as the Sort S badge. You’re left wanting extra. Whereas the fundamental specs — turbocharged V6 energy, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive — are spectacular on paper, the Acura lands in the midst of the pack when in comparison with its opponents. The Sort S badge, and the worth hike that comes with it, places the top-tier MDX up towards some stiff competitors. The BMW X5 M50i prices $9,000 extra, however presents 170 additional horsepower from a twin-turbo V8. Even the Genesis GV80 offers more horsepower, whereas undercutting the Sort S in worth.
The worth is one other knock towards the MDX Sort S. Whereas it is a very good effort from Acura, in my thoughts, this isn’t a $74,000 automobile. To me, this may be a really good automobile in a mid-60s worth vary.
Finally, what Acura has carried out right here is much less an MDX Sort S and extra an MDX A-Spec with a efficiency bundle. Acura must work somewhat bit tougher if it needs individuals to take the Sort S badge critically, particularly on this worth vary. A turbo V6 is an efficient begin; the performance-oriented all wheel drive system is spectacular, and the drive modes supply a definite vary of experiences, one thing that’s not at all times true in this sort of automobile.
However a 355-hp V6 and good-looking however barely nondescript styling gained’t lower it on this phase. The Sort S wants at the least 100 additional horses and extra distinctive styling to be taken critically amongst high-end efficiency crossovers. The Sort S moniker has a wealthy historical past at Acura, however the MDX wants to determine the right way to reside as much as that heritage.
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