For over 20 years, the MDX was a successful vehicle for Acura, as it has been among the best-selling three-row luxury SUVs in North America. Last year, the carmaker revealed the 4th generation MDX by giving it a completely new design and makeover. The changes were not just cosmetic; in fact, Acura also offered an all-new platform that was tougher and better. Moreover, the vehicle's suspension was tweaked to improve the ride quality.
For 2022, the SUV is pushed to its performance limits by introducing the Type S trim of the vehicle. This car is very important as it is the company's first high-performance SUV and features adjustable air suspension, which is again a first for Acura vehicles. Abundant changes on the inside give a premium and luxurious touch, and all the engines remain the same, but there is a difference in the vehicle's performance.
2022 Acura MDX Type S: The Best Feature
The fourth-generation of the Acura MDX has sold over 1 million units because of the phenomenal base engine pricing, a 3.5-liter V6 that starts under $50,000. With the MDX Type S launch, Acura can now play its game at higher pricing as it gets a very powerful engine, a better suspension setup, and tons of electronic aids for the driver. The MDX Type-s now gets a 3-liter V6 engine that produces nearly 355 HP and 354 lb-ft of torque, which is turbocharged and features direct fuel injection for better throttle response. The vehicle comes with Acura’s familiar torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system as standard and also sees an addition of adaptive dampers along with air suspension that can raise and lower the ride height for optimum handling and comfort. In sports and sports plus mode, the height drops by nearly 0.6 inches, and if the vehicle is switched to the lift mode, the ride height jacks up by 2.1 inches above the normal height. The engine is paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission that is lightning quick in its shifts, and that also enables the SUV to make the 0 to 60 MPH sprint in just 5.6 seconds, which is very impressive because the car weighs close to 5000 lbs. MDX Type S also boasts a top speed of nearly 130 MPH. With the vehicle performing this amazingly, the fuel economy figure takes a hit, as the car returns about 19 MPG combined.
2022 Acura MDX Type S: The Extravagant Interior
Acura has focused a lot on the interior of the MDX Type S as it now competes with a very premium segment of vehicles. The fully loaded MDX Type S and the advanced package are the first Acura to cross the $70,000 price point. Even more interesting is that the top spectrum, which causes an excess of $70,000, is mechanically identical to the base trim that costs under $50,000. The price difference is where the top-spec MDX shines, as all the resources have been spent on the interior. The Type S features are massaging front seats, a better posture for the seats all around, and a 25 speaker ELS sound system. The fit and finish of the materials are top-notch, and in some cases, they surpass its German Rivals. The open-pore wood and the quilted leather finishing, along with the blue color scheme of the interior, give the cabin an up-market feel. Another big difference in the interior of the MDX Type S is that previously it used to come with two screens as an infotainment system, but this time, it just comes with a single screen layout. Although the Touchpad interface controls this screen, it takes some time to get used to it.
2022 Acura MDX Type S: Cosmetically Enhanced Exterior
Since this SUV holds the Type S badge, Acura has also changed the styling to differentiate it from the standard MDX. The Apex blue color stands out in particular, as it goes well with the contrasting black elements throughout the car. The front grille is now larger than before and has a sporty design to it. The vehicle also has functional intakes up front, along with all-LED headlights and fog lights that are placed on the lower half of the bumper. Towards the sides, the tires come standard with 21-inch wheels. There is Type S badging on the front fenders and the boot lid. The vehicle has also been given lots of gloss black treatment that can be seen on the vehicle's mirrors, wheels, and roof. The rear of the SUV has a clean and subtle look, and the Acura logo sits in the center with pride.
Overall the Acura MDX Type S is a very sporty SUV with lots of performance and practicality, and it is certain to be a hit in the market. The vehicle can give some serious competition to its German Rival and might as well win when it comes to luxury and performance at an affordable price.
Sources- Acura, Edmunds, Car and Driver