Displaying items by tag: Acura MDX Type S

Wednesday, 09 March 2022 05:18

2022 Acura MDX Type S Aims for Higher Echelons

The new Type S version of the Acura MDX appears to be a high-performance model in the same vein as the myriad luxury SUVs wearing Mercedes-AMG, BMW M, and Audi S and RS badges. But now that we've experienced this turbocharged, 355-hp version of Acura's three-row SUV for ourselves, we think the company's real play here is simpler than that. Acura wants to move the MDX away from the pseudo-luxury space where slightly upscale family crossovers such as the Infiniti QX60 and Cadillac XT6 reside and toward the upper echelons of the luxury-SUV segment where more prestigious models such as the Audi Q7, BMW X5, and Genesis GV80 compete.

2022 acura mdx type s

For $67,745, you get the same turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 as the TLX Type S sports sedan, which makes 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. That's more grunt than the Q7 55 and the X5 40i—both have 335 horsepower—but a bit behind the 375-hp GV80 3.5T. Acura's familiar torque-vectoring SH-AWD system is standard. Acura also saw fit to add adaptive dampers and an air suspension that can raise and lower the MDX: In Sport and Sport+ modes it drops down 0.6 inch, while selecting Lift mode hikes the body a full 2.1 inches above its nominal height.

The loaded MDX Type S with the Advance package is the first Acura (other than the NSX) to crest the $70,000 barrier, starting at $73,095. It's mechanically identical to the base Type S but comes with goodies such as massaging front seats, nicer upholstery, and a bumpin' 25-speaker ELS audio system. This is the kind of stuff that Audi and BMW customers expect to find in a luxury SUV. Open-pore wood, quilted leather, and an available blue color scheme help cultivate a convincingly upscale cabin vibe. The only sore spot inside is Acura's touchpad-controlled infotainment system, which we still haven't warmed up to.

2022 acura mdx type s
 

On the other hand, enthusiasts like us might have expected a bit more of a performance focus from something with a Type S badge. The turbo V-6 is strong enough to move the MDX confidently but is neither as characterful nor as responsive as we'd like. Acura expects it to be around a second quicker to 60 mph than the standard model, which did the deed in 6.4 seconds in our testing. The MDX has long been one of the nimblest three-row SUVs on the market, and the Type S's adaptive dampers further tighten body control—especially in Sport mode. But the all-season tires limit grip, and the steering feels overboosted and artificial for something that claims to share DNA with cars we remember as fondly as the RSX Type S.

Maybe we're placing too much importance on the name. Because the MDX is one of the few Acura models that has remained sporty relative to its competition over the years, it has less ground to make up than the TLX Type S does within the sports-sedan segment. The MDX Type S has an appropriate mix of refinement and driving verve when measured against the BMW, Audi, and Genesis SUVs it's aiming for. And if luxury-SUV customers can be persuaded to shell out more than $70,000 for an Acura, they'll find that the MDX Type S has the features, the power, and the luxury quotient to live up to that price.

Specifications

2022 Acura MDX Type S
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base: $67,745; Advance package, $73,095

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 183 in3, 2997 cm3
Power: 355 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 354 lb-ft @ 1400 rpm

TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 113.8 in
Length: 198.4 in
Width: 78.7 in
Height: 67.1 in
Passenger Volume: 139 ft3
Cargo Volume: 16 ft3
Curb Weight (C/D est): 4750 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 5.6 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.3 sec
Top Speed: 130 mph

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 19/17/21 m

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a39361208/2022-acura-mdx-type-s-drive/

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