Acura’s redesigned MDX SUV returns to the brand’s roots

Now must be an interesting time – in the Pratchettian sense – to become a car manufacturer. All you want to do is sell vehicles, but there are economic downturns and the occasional pandemic to consider. All over the world, climate change policies strongly favor electric machines, at least in Europe and China, and a Californian upstart has embarrassed all the usual players in the process. And on top of that, all of your customers are bored with the cars they used to buy – everything has to be a crossover or an SUV, preferably with Wi-Fi.

In Acura’s case, the company had to deal with all of the above while going through something like a midlife crisis. After decades of competition for sales with Lexus and Infiniti, the North American spin-off from Honda has decided to embark on some soul-searching to see if this is really where its efforts should be directed. And Acura decided that instead of focusing on luxury, it needed to go back to its roots as a performance brand.

In the past, Japanese luxury brands were considered a rung below their German rivals, especially in terms of driving dynamics, mainly due to the preponderance of front-wheel-drive platforms. But if Acura’s plan was to oust BMW as the driver’s choice, the MDX is the SUV to do it. In particular, the version he sent us for 48 hours – a 2022 MDX A-Spec for $ 57,100. A-Spec, besides being something to do with Grand tourism, it’s also the Acura code for “it’s the one that handles really well”, a bit like those BMWs you see with the M Sport badges.

This redesign makes the 2022 the fourth generation SUV to wear the MDX badge, and our test sample looked resplendent in its Performance Red Pearl paintwork. (It’s a similar shade to Mazda’s Soul Red, but maybe a bit deeper.) From the front, the new MDX has a less challenging shape than the model it replaces, with the front dominated by a larger Acura grille and a badge that hides part of the Future-oriented sensors of the SUV. However, those black sockets on either side of the grille are actually masked, even on this variant – apparently tests have shown that it is best if these vents are closed at all times. (The main grille also has active flaps that close to reduce drag when needed.)

A staff car for a promising Imperial officer?

A return to performance for Acura doesn’t mean swapping a luxurious interior for something spartan. Darth Vader would likely be a fan of the MDX A-Spec’s interior, with its ultra-suede and black-on-black leather, red stitching, and glossy black panels. Acura says 30% of the polyester made into ultrasuede comes from molasses produced as a byproduct of sugar refining, which is the kind of cheesy fact that could one day come in handy.

Behind Acura’s latest multifunction steering wheel, a 12.3-inch digital display replaces the physical dials you might find in a TLX sedan. It changes its appearance depending on the riding mode, and in the middle of the screen is an informative graphical representation of what the sensors see around the MDX.

The infotainment system is the latest iteration of Acura’s True Touchpad interface, first seen on the RDX crossover. It uses a touchpad on the center console that has a 1: 1 relationship with the screen: if (for example) an icon or UI element is at the top right of the screen, you press the upper right corner of the touchpad to touch it. There’s a bit more of a learning curve than using a normal touchscreen or trackpad based user interface, but with a few hours of familiarity, you’ll quickly appreciate how easy it is to operate without leaving the road. eyes.

There are plenty of USB ports (five or seven if you go for the MDX Advance instead, which also boasts a 10.2-inch color head-up display) and a wireless charger, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. both work. wireless (although, as always, you can find the use of a cable for a more bug-free experience).

The center row of seats slides out 5.9 inches (150mm) front and rear, and it comes with a party trick: you can remove the center seat. By removing the seat, you can only carry six on board and you’ll want to leave the middle seat at home. But it makes entering the third row much more convenient.

Stay on target

The new MDX has acquired great chassis rigidity in search of better handling, mainly through the use of high strength steels in strategic locations. The double wishbone front suspension is new and suggests this SUV is all about business; there is also a new multi-link rear suspension design at the rear. And I have to say the engineers got it right – it’s a fine-handling SUV, which bodes well for the more powerful MDX Type-S that’s in the works.

Its 4,534 lb (2,056 kg) curb weight is standard for the class, but the MDX’s balance and body control marks it as one of the smart kids sitting up front. There’s no lag between input and reaction that plagues many SUVs (or even the Acura TLX sedan I tested recently), and the SH-AWD system efficiently transfers torque from front to rear. rear and, on the rear axle, side to side, it all helps you change direction faster.

Unfortunately, there’s only one powertrain choice for the new MDX, a 290 hp (217 kW), 267 lb-ft (362 Nm) variant of the company’s 60-degree 3.5L V6. , mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. . It’s rated at 21 mpg (11.2 l / 100km) combined, which it slightly exceeded (I got 21.8), but it’s disappointing nonetheless to report that there’s no Hybrid MDX for this generation. When I rechecked this omission with Acura, the company said they still love electrification, which is not only good for the planet but also for performance, and referred me to the very competent NSX supercar. as proof of this.

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