Used 2023 Acura MDX

There are many superb luxury 3-row SUVs, but the Acura MDX deserves its place in the constellation. From Acura build quality to materials to engines to suspensions to technology to space to practicality and even — gasp — a smattering of fun, the MDX gets it all right. And the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick+.

The appeal is broad, the talent is deep, and the cabin is wide. On top of all that, the 2023 MDX is one of the more reasonably priced contenders.

Previous generations of MDX didn’t really get the respect for their ride quality that they truly deserved. They were always composed, yet always comfortable.

From a fun-behind-the-wheel standpoint, if it was a choice between an MDX and a Lexus RX, we’d choose the Acura every time. That’s especially true with the Type S, but we’ll get to that in a moment.

First, let’s set the driving position. As well as 12-way (at the very least) power-adjustable front seats, the 2023 MDX comes with a power-adjustable steering column as standard. There’s plenty of scope for a relaxed yet alert posture.

Variable-ratio steering is also included, so drivers are spared some effort in tight maneuvers. Turbocharged 4-cylinder engines like those found in rivals are okay, but it’s good to see, hear and feel a 3.5-liter V6 that comes standard in MDX. It’s strong yet relaxed. It’s just a shame that fuel economy is unimpressive.

Every version of the MDX has Agile Handling Assist. This entails the subtle application of brakes to one or more wheels so that the MDX tracks around quick corners with a tidiness once undreamed-of for a 3-row midsize SUV. It reduces both understeer, where the nose washes wide, and oversteer, when the tail gets loose.

The MDX doesn’t offer plain old all-wheel drive. No, this is Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), and the reason it’s super is that it does with engine power what the Agile Handling system does with braking. Torque flows (within milliseconds) from front to rear and from side to side, to whichever wheels have the most traction and grip.

Yes, there’s a safety aspect to this which provides reassurance and confidence when driving the family around in bad weather. But solo trips on dry and twisting roads can actually be entertaining.

Entertainment levels go up several notches with the Type S, which has SH-AWD as standard. It deploys a turbocharged V6 for an energetic 355 horsepower, complemented by a standard adaptive air suspension and Brembo brakes.

Just one little thing that Acura could improve — the tires of the non-Type S versions can sometimes be noticeably noisy on rough stretches of freeway.

There’s seating for up to seven in the 2023 MDX 3-row luxury SUV. Individual seats in the second row can slide forward and back. And the center seat can fold down to become a wide armrest or be removed completely — creating easier access to the third row.

Rear legroom in the second row is an ample 38.5 inches, and there’s 29.1 inches in the third row — which means it’s better suited to the smaller and more agile members of the family.

Up front, the seats are wonderfully comfortable and supportive. They come standard with heating as well. The dashboard doesn’t really go for the sparse approach that so many other vehicles are adopting, but it does provide a 12.3-inch infotainment display. And a digital driver information display of the same size is also standard, so the cabin feels nicely techy.

Only the base version has simulated leather seating surfaces. The rest of the range comes with the real stuff, and it’s perforated. Other standard features include 3-zone automatic climate control and driver’s-side memory settings. The range-topping Type S with the Advance package also brings massaging front seats, the first time they’ve ever been available in a new MDX luxury SUV.

Although some aspects of the infotainment system are easy to navigate, the touchpad (like a laptop’s trackpad) that operates it is an ergonomic misstep by Acura. It takes some getting used to, as well as some repetition of sequences, because it tends to be glitchy on occasion. We’ve found that a forceful touch provides the best results.

Cargo space goes from 16.3 to 95 cubic feet, making the Acura MDX one of the class best in this respect.

LED headlights/daytime running lights/taillights and a panoramic moonroof are part of the package with every 2023 MDX midsize luxury SUV. Even the smallest wheels are 19-inch alloys, while the Type S comes with 21-inch rims. Roof rails are optional or standard, depending on which version you choose.

The A-Spec and Type S variants each have their own appearance packages. The A-Spec goes big with black exterior elements, plus 20-inch alloys finished in Stark Gray. Apex Blue Pearl is an exclusive color for the A-Spec. The Type S has larger front air intakes, plus red-painted brake calipers and an active quad exhaust system.

Whatever one may think of the new MDX’s styling, the important parts include high-strength steel in the frame and floor, plus weight-saving aluminum parts such as the hood and front fenders.

1. Wireless Apple Carplay/Android Auto
Cable-free smartphone integration is standard in every new MDX luxury SUV. It’s part of an infotainment system that also includes wireless charging, Wi-Fi, and Amazon Alexa compatibility.

2. AcuraLink
Now free for three years, AcuraLink brings features such as maintenance scheduling, automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle location, and remote lock/unlock — to name just a few.

3. Powered Tailgate with Walk-Away Close
Every 2023 MDX has a powered tailgate, as a luxury SUV should. But the Advance package for the regular and Type S models adds hands-free access and a self-closing function when the driver (or whoever has the key on them) steps away.

4. ELS Audio Systems
Acura developed these excellent systems with input from Elliott Scheiner, a Grammy award-winning studio engineer who manned the controls for some of the biggest names in the business — like Beyonce, Sting, and Foo Fighters. A 12-speaker setup becomes available with the Technology package (the first upgrade from the base model). Other versions have 16 or 25 speakers.

5. CabinTalk
This allows folks sitting up front to send their voices through the sound system, muting the regular audio automatically, so rear passengers can hear them. This becomes available in the 2023 MDX SUV with the A-Spec package.

6. Head-Up Display
This is the first time Acura offered a head-up display in the MDX luxury SUV. It’s part of the Advance package for both the regular and Type S versions. This is a relatively large 10.5-inch display, projecting useful information onto the windshield directly in front of the driver.

Most versions of the 2023 MDX SUV are propelled by a 3.5-liter V6 making 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. This connects to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the standard setup with the first two trim levels, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available as an option. Once we get to the MDX with the A-Spec package, all-wheel drive becomes standard.

The MDX Type S has a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 developing 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, along with the 10-speed automatic transmission.

Acura recommends premium gasoline for both engines.

3.5-liter V6
290 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
267 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/26 mpg (FWD), 19/25 mpg (AWD)

3.0-liter turbocharged V6 (Type S)
355 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
354 lb-ft of torque @ 1,400-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/21 mpg