First Drive: 2022 Acura MDX Luxury SUV Adds Refinement and Tech

We welcome the comfortable ride, but the infotainment system is a drawback

Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports Autos Editor.

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

Updated January 28, 2021

The Acura MDX nameplate turns 20 years old this year, and to celebrate, the automaker has redesigned the three-row SUV. But unlike in 2001, when the MDX first arrived, the new model faces tough competition from luxury and nonluxury brands alike.

The MDX has always been a functional, family-friendly luxury midsized three-row SUV that focused on passenger comfort and amenities and was competitively priced. Even with more competitors than ever, it still is popular, and only the Lexus RX and BMW X5 outsold it in 2020. The MDX’s price positions it in between high-end versions of nonluxury brands and luxury ones.

But in order to differentiate the 2022 Acura MDX in a crowded and ever-growing field, the automaker is reinforcing the SUV’s sporty driving dynamics in addition to its luxury trappings. Helping to achieve those performance gains is the MDX’s new, more rigid platform, which features a double-wishbone front suspension that the automaker says endows it with improved handling without sacrificing ride comfort.

What we rented: 2022 Acura MDX SH-AWD Advance
Powertrain: 290-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine; 10-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
MSRP: $60,650
Options: Liquid Carbon Metallic paint, $500
Destination: $1,025
Total cost: $62,175
On sale: February 2021

Become a member to read the full article and get access to digital ratings.

We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.