2022 Acura MDX Review

Editor’s note: For US readers, think of this test vehicle as closest to a 2022 Acura MDX Advance Package: a fully loaded, non-Type S model with the 290-hp V6, 10-speed automatic, and SH-AWD. In Canada, this version was called Platinum Elite (tested here).

With both insurance and gasoline prices climbing exponentially, many families are looking to reduce their fleet size and find a single vehicle that offers the perfect combination of comfort, safety, and utility. As a result, the luxury three-row SUV has become very popular with consumers, and Acura has created one of the best.

The Acura MDX is unique because it has been designed and engineered in the United States specifically for the North American market, yet built to the exceptionally high standards of Japan. This specific focus has allowed Acura to produce a vehicle that is perfectly suited for the needs and wants of the North American consumer, and the pay-off is that the MDX has become the best-selling three-row SUV in the marketplace.

This segment is large and very profitable, so Acura realized that the MDX needed to evolve to stave off the long list of competitors that are hoping to steal away some customers and wrestle away the MDX’s crown. For 2022, the MDX has been almost completely redesigned and repackaged. In fact, all that remains of the outgoing model is the engine.

Related – 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid Review

The 2022 MDX Looks Larger, Sharper, and More Like an Acura

The 2022 MDX is substantially larger than its predecessor and less boxy, but it still manages to look like an Acura. The oversized grille and elongated lights reflect the brand’s current design language as used on its stablemates, the TLX sedan and the smaller RDX SUV, and distinct body lines, creases, and curves help the MDX look both sporty and refined.  Often, larger passenger vehicles begin to morph into the dreaded van shape, but Acura avoided this by preserving the long hood and giving the front fascia a more sculpted and aggressive design.  

“The MDX does not offer power-folding third-row seats, but this saves weight and allows for more cargo room.”

When viewed from the side a combination of chrome trim pieces and gloss black elements help accentuate the vehicle’s aerodynamically efficient shape and design elements.  At the rear, designers have managed to hide the MDX’s larger size by incorporating a larger rear window glass, narrow tail lamps, and a distinct shape that tapers to a prominent center point. Again, the use of subtle chrome and gloss-black elements adds interest and flair to the design. 

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2022 MDX Interior: Properly Premium, Slightly Overcomplicated

The MDX is a premium offering, and the look, feel, and layout of the passenger cabin reflect this. As Acura’s flagship, the MDX needs to impress, and it offers a nice mix of textures and materials that evoke a sense of quality and luxury. The leather seating and door panels feature distinctive stitching and piping, while real wood inlays compete with black piano and alloy pieces to attract the eye.  The overall look is visually appealing and upmarket.

Perched in the driver’s seat, you come face-to-face with Acura’s first completely digital gauge cluster, which features several different configurations – based on drive modes – and proved easy to read and navigate. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is adorned with a variety of controls that allow the driver to scroll through the cluster’s many functions and operate many of the vehicle’s other equipment settings.  Paddle shifters proved useful when passing or climbing steep grades, and a heads-up display allows the driver to maintain his or her focus on the road ahead.  

Atop the dash sits a 12.3-inch high-definition LCD infotainment screen, which is controlled using a console-mounted touchpad. While I did appreciate the addition of a clever wrist rest to facilitate the use of this input technology, I still found it cumbersome and would much rather have touch-screen capability added to the display itself. 

“Torque is also delivered much faster front to rear, and Acura claims that rear torque capacity has increased by a substantial 40-percent.”

A push-button transmission resides prominently on the center console and takes some getting used to, but the aforementioned paddles are handy for when a quick gear change is in order. Glove-friendly buttons and dials populate the lower stack to control HVAC and audio functions, and there is a quick-to-access volume dial on the console as well as a selector toggle.

Related – 2015 Acura MDX Review

The Second Row Is the MDX’s Family-SUV Sweet Spot

The MDX offers true seven-passenger seating in a conveniently sized package. What I mean here is that the vehicle’s design allows for seven people to travel in relative comfort in a vehicle that is not cumbersome to drive in tight urban environments. Seating is configured in a 2-3-2 layout, but the cleverly designed second row can be quickly converted to a 2-seat configuration by removing the seat should the user decide that access to the rearmost seating area is important on occasion. 

The vehicle’s increased size gives the whole cabin a roomier feel, especially in the second row, where I found plenty of leg- and headroom for my 6-foot 2-inch frame.  The third row seats now sit higher and offer a little more legroom, but remain cramped for adults. All MDX models feature an enormous glass moon roof as standard. 

The heated and cooled front seats are, of course, power-adjustable and also feature four-way lumbar support, three-position memory, and thigh extension capabilities. The rear seats are heated, and the two outboard second-row seats can slide fore and aft for comfort. There is a push-button power rear seat slide for quick operation when loading passengers at the very back. Parents with small children will appreciate that there are three sets of child-seat anchors in the second row. 

Cargo Space Is Practical, Even Without Power-Folding Seats

For situations where cargo capacity trumps passenger needs, both sets of rear seats fold to create an almost flat floor. The MDX does not offer power-folding third-row seats, but this saves weight and allows for more cargo room. The rear cargo floor features a panel that is removable to reveal a handy hideaway storage area, but this panel is two-sided and can be flipped to offer a plastic cover for when you need to transport wet or sloppy items. There is a traditional button to initiate the hatch to close once you are ready to get underway, but a second switch on the side wall allows for a delay in the process should you have your hands full. 

2022 Acura MDX Engine Specs: Same V6, Better Execution

• Engine: 3.5 -L V6 with direct injection and variable valve timing
• Horsepower: 290 @ 6,200 rpm
• Torque (lb-ft): 267 @ 4,700 rpm
• Transmission: 10-speed automatic 

Under the hood is a 3.5-liter V6 engine, a holdover from the outgoing model, but it is a proven performer that delivers 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. Power is sufficient to hustle the now heavier MDX (up 114 kg) from 0-100 km/h in about 7 seconds, and it never feels sluggish, as the new 10-speed automatic transmission features a lower first gear and shifts both quickly and efficiently. Torque is also delivered much faster front to rear, and Acura claims that rear torque capacity has increased by a substantial 40-percent. 

The MDX features Acura’s full-time Super Handling all-wheel-drive system, which can send as much as 70 percent of available power to the rear axle, and 100 percent of that can be sent to either rear wheel as needed. This torque-vectoring ability allows the MDX to effectively rear steer, which enhances the driving experience for the driver during cornering.

SH-AWD and the New Chassis Make the MDX Feel Sharper

Handling remains confident and precise as the chassis has been upgraded and there is a new double-wishbone suspension up front.  The steering column offers both tilt and telescoping adjustment but the steering feels a little numb unless operating in Sport mode.  I found the vehicle to remain balanced during turning manoeuvres in all four drive modes, but when operating in Sport it felt nice and snappy for a vehicle of this size. 

Ride quality is preserved well by the adaptive dampers, and road noise is subdued. The melody created by the exhaust note and engine noise is unobtrusive but hints at Acura’s motorsport heritage. 

Standard functions include forward collision braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. The A-Spec version gets front and rear parking sensors and a multi-angle rear-view camera, while the top trim gets a larger suite of parking assistance features.

Takeaway: The 2022 MDX Feels Like a Proper Luxury SUV

Our test unit was a top-trim 2022 MDX, so it featured many of the luxury, tech, and safety features Acura offered at the time. Many key safety items were standard across the lineup, including forward collision braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.

Passengers appreciate the three-zone climate control, heated rear seats, Acura’s premium ELS Studio 3D sound system with 16 speakers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, plenty of wired and wireless charging options, and a much-improved navigation system. There were also front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and built-in access to Alexa.

The redesigned MDX was built to compete. It’s packaged well, priced more reasonably than many German rivals, and still delivers the comfort, space, build quality, and road manners shoppers expect from a three-row luxury SUV.