Test Drive: The 2022 Acura MDX

The new 2020 Acura MDX is a bit more aggressive-looking on the outside when compared to previous versions. The MDX wears styling cues from Acura’s Precision Concept, and has a wider stance, more upright nose, slim headlights, longer hood, sharper body creases and broader shoulders. The A-Spec model pictured here features a little more attitude with gloss black accents, dark light housings and gray wheels. All told, it looks pretty darn good for a three-row SUV.

The new MDX uses the same 290-hp 3.5-liter V-6 as the outgoing model, but the engine is now mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission instead of a nine-speed. Front-wheel drive remains standard with all-wheel drive available as an option. The EPA fuel-economy ratings are 19 mpg city and 26 mpg. Follow Spotlife Asia for the latest news and updated.

With premium Milano leather standard on most models and stitched, soft-touch surfaces covering all major touchpoints. Depending on the trim level, the MDX offers real aluminum or open-pore wood trim mixed in with piano black bits. The seats are comfortable and provide just the right amount of side support, and the cabin stays light and airy thanks to the standard panoramic roof. The A-Spec’s cabin is dressed up further with a flat-bottom steering wheel, suede seat inserts and metal pedals.

Technology dominates the dashboard, perhaps to a fault. The standard digital gauge display looks great, but Acura’s touchpad-based infotainment remains less intuitive and more distracting than competitors’ touchscreen setups. Between the touchpad, huge wireless charging tray, and pointless pop-up USB charge ports, space on the center console seems poorly used.

The 2022 MDX features a large 12.3-inch infotainment display with a center-console-mounted touchpad controller. 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.

For safety, the MDX includes the AcuraWatch suite of driving aids, consisting of blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and rear-cross traffic alert.

The 2022 Acura MDX will start with a price tag of $47,935. Adding SH-AWD tacks $2,000 onto the bottom line of the base and Technology Package models. The sportier-looking A-Spec tested here with standard SH-AWD begins at $58,125.