2022 Acura MDX review: More style, more tech, more luxury

The Acura MDX has been close to for extra than two a long time, earning it a single of the brand’s top-providing motor vehicles. These days, Acura’s most significant SUV faces some critically stiff opposition, but many thanks to a new system, improved know-how and sleeker design, this fourth-generation 2022 MDX is extra persuasive than at any time before.

The new MDX is larger than its predecessor in practically each dimension. The wheelbase is 2.8 inches extended, general length has been increased by 2.2 inches and the MDX is .six inch taller. However, the SUV’s proportions are fantastic, with a long hood ending in Acura’s modern Jewel Eye LED headlights. Compact foglights also use LED bulbs and the grille has a diamond-burst sample that appears like you might be accelerating to warp speed on the Millennium Falcon. You can find a tasteful quantity of chrome trim, and the only things I really don’t like are the pretend vents up entrance. All in, the MDX is a handsome and tidy package.

Beneath its pores and skin, the 2022 MDX has a new double-wishbone entrance suspension set up with a multilink rear design — just like what Acura debuted on the 2021 TLX. The MDX rides on a new gentle truck system which is stiffer and lighter than before, and my loaded Advance tester has the latest variation of Acura’s Tremendous Handling All-Wheel Drive tech with a torque-vectoring rear differential. SH-AWD can send as considerably as 70% of the engine’s torque to the rear axle and then shift one hundred% to the left or suitable as desired. All of this can make the MDX sharper and extra composed when driving on winding roads.

The preset dampers really don’t quite match the rest of the refined suspension, nonetheless. Driving in Sport method on my favored canyon street, the MDX is like two cars at when. On the a single hand, I have an SUV which is joyful to dive into corners, the three.5-liter V6 engine’s 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque supplying enough thrust for exiting turns. On the other hand, the dampers make for a floaty experience, tossing my head close to more than undulations and resulting in me to slide close to on the leather-based seats.

In contrast to the fully loaded TLX Advance, the MDX Advance will not have adaptive dampers. Switching involving the Snow, Comfort and ease, Normal and Sport driving modes only varies the SH-AWD torque distribution. It’s a pity — the 10-speed automatic transmission is nicely tuned for sporty driving and the AWD tech is a single of the best in the business. I suppose the truly enthusiastic drivers will have to hold out for the forthcoming MDX Variety S.

That mentioned, for everyday driving, the MDX is comfortable and quiet, and there are a total bunch of common driving aids. Adaptive cruise manage, lane-trying to keep assist, ahead-collision warning and automatic unexpected emergency braking are fitted to each MDX, and my Advance tester has extras like targeted visitors sign recognition, pedestrian detection and Acura’s Targeted visitors Jam Aid, which combines adaptive cruise manage and lane-trying to keep tech.

Stepping inside, the MDX’s offered cabin tech features a 12.three-inch digital gauge cluster, 12.three-inch central monitor, a head-up screen, common wireless charging and a great deal of USB-A, USB-C, 12-volt and AC outlets to continue to keep all your equipment entire of juice. The 2022 MDX also has a variation of Honda’s Cabin Converse voice amplification technique, so you really don’t have to yell to tell minor kinds in the 3rd row to knock it off.

Acura’s tech recreation is powerful, but the infotainment interface continues to be a little bit of a bugaboo. The MDX has the similar Correct Touch Interface as the RDX and TLX, with a single-to-a single mapping involving the touchpad and monitor. If you want to obtain satellite radio in the top suitable-hand corner of the monitor, you tap the top suitable-hand corner of the touchpad. This is imperative know-how to have before you start out, lest you believe it can be a frequent touch pad and then yell in stress when basically almost nothing operates. (Question me how I know.)

The infotainment icons are pretty substantial so you are going to have a superior chance of having your touchpad placement suitable, but it can be nevertheless tricky to select anything put in the vicinity of the center of the monitor. The trickiest little bit is studying how to swipe to a second or 3rd website page it can be extra of a flick than a swipe. Be organized to expend some time with the owner’s manual and get ready on your own for some preliminary irritation, but as I have uncovered with our long-time period TLX sedan, this tech gets less difficult to use more than time.

Both Android Automobile and Apple CarPlay are common, but when you start out making use of these smartphone-mirroring technologies, the touchpad’s absolute positioning will not work. Here, it operates like a common swipe pad, so if you prepare to change involving Acura’s indigenous technique and Apple/Android tech, be organized for a couple hiccups. The reality that the touchpad will not work the similar way for each software is rather discouraging.

The cabin’s design is fantastic, with some interesting aluminum accents and offered open-pore wood. The seats are extremely snug and the ambient lights appears interesting. There are 27 various lights strategies encouraged by all types of destinations, like the Vegas Strip, Suzuka race track, Pacific Coast Freeway and extra.

You can find a great deal of legroom in the second row, and the 29 inches of 3rd-row legroom is sufficient for kids, but might be tough for grown ups. The center element of the second row can be flipped down for cup holders and storage, or you can clear away the total factor, but the consequence isn’t really the similar as having independent captain’s chairs, as there isn’t really an armrest in sight. Nevertheless, in my top Advance trim, people outboard second-row seats are heated. The total inside feels extra open and ethereal many thanks to a common panoramic moonroof.

Cargo area gets a increase this 12 months with 18.one cubic feet behind the 3rd row, forty eight.4 cubes behind the second and 95 cubes when both rows are folded. That is extra than the Genesis GV80 has and way extra than the BMW X5.

A single interesting new offered characteristic on the MDX is a Wander Absent Shut tailgate. There is almost nothing worse than having your palms entire and having to negotiate pressing a button to shut the liftgate. The MDX solves this with an inside button you can press before you obtain up all your groceries. Then just wander absent and the door mechanically closes and all doorways lock after thirty seconds.

If you prepare on hauling cargo by using a trailer, the all-wheel-drive MDX can tow up to 5,000 lbs. Entrance-wheel-drive designs can only cope with three,500 lbs.

The 2022 MDX starts off at $forty eight,245 which include $one,045 for location. A $4,seven-hundred Technologies Bundle adds a total bunch of niceties, like perforated leather-based seats, ambient lights, rain-sensing wipers, an ELS premium audio technique, navigation and parking sensors. Both the A-Spec ($three,500) and Advance ($seven,050) packages call for the addition of the Technologies up grade, and when the former goes for a sportier overall look, the latter is a little bit extra concentrated on luxurious. A fully loaded MDX Advance will come in just shy of $sixty two,000.

As for rivals, the Genesis GV80 is arguably the hardest competitor, with its fantastic design, great inside and interesting technologies like a 3D-outcome digital gauge cluster. The Lincoln Aviator is an additional great alternative, and of course, there is usually the standard trio of German options: the Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Course.

The MDX is considerably less highly-priced than these rivals, but it can be in no way cheaper. Just as it can be been for the previous two a long time, Acura’s three-row SUV stays a persuasive alternative to the segment stalwarts.