2022 Acura MDX

The Acura MDX has a strong reputation for athletic handling throughout its illustrious history. With a new Light Truck Platform boasting a 32% increase in structural rigidity, improved multi-link rear suspension, double wishbone front suspension, and excellent SH-AWD, the latest MDX is a prodigious handler. It may seem like a knock on a luxury vehicle of this caliber, but one of the kindest comparisons we can make is to the Mazda CX-9, which is known as one of the most thrilling three-row crossovers in the mainstream segment. This is not a boulevard bruiser like a BMW X5 M, but the handling makes the MDX feel much nimbler than its mid-size proportions would suggest.

That being said, we don't love every element of the MDX experience. The steering is a variable-ratio setup and feels extremely over-assisted in all drive modes. Ditto for the brakes, which reminds us of the pedal on a racing video game. It's difficult to tell how much pressure to apply because the pedal is highly over-assisted and delivers nearly no feedback to the driver. As for ride comfort, the MDX never feels too stiff and the cabin is nicely isolated, even at the top legal speed. Acura's Traffic Jam Assist adds steering assistance at low speeds, but it's not the most confidence-inspiring system we've tested. A large, NSX-inspired knob on the dash allows drivers to change the drive modes, which include Snow, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Custom. We love how each mode change is accompanied by a video game-themed beep and a new gauge cluster color.

The 2022 Acura MDX feels like a significant improvement over the outgoing model, making it a mid-size SUV we'd happily recommend. Our biggest gripes with the outgoing model, the infotainment and transmission, have both been replaced by better options. The last MDX wasn't an ugly car but this new model dials up the attraction even more while improving the handling and interior space. We wished the naturally-aspirated V6 engine possessed a little more oomph, but that's what the Type S performance model is for.

Buyers in this category have no shortage of options. Rival SUVs in the USA like the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Genesis GV80, and Volvo XC90 feel more premium than the MDX inside, but most will cost more for similar features and not all offer more power in their base configurations. Acura's updates for the 2022 model year have not instantly vaulted the MDX to the top of the midsize segment but unlike last year's long-in-the-tooth model, we think this new one is a compelling option.

It's interesting to note that in terms of pricing, there isn't a huge difference between the top-spec RDX and the entry-level MDX. In previous years, the MDX's only advantages were the seating and cargo capacity, but now there's more to consider. The MDX's V6 is more powerful than the turbocharged four-pot in the RDX, though the latter is more fuel-efficient. While we like everything you get in the top-spec RDX, we can't help but be impressed by everything Acura decided to include as standard on the new MDX. You get 90% of the comfort and safety features, which makes the base model a bargain.

For the same price, we'd take the base MDX over the top-spec RDX. We don't feel as if we're giving up anything important, plus you get the added advantage of a V6 engine, more space, and a lot more cargo capacity.

As Honda's luxury arm, surely every Acura is automatically better than the equivalent Honda, right? Surprisingly, reviews of some Acuras have shown that this hasn't always been the case although the 2022 MDX is comfortably more accomplished than the 2021 Honda Pilot. The top-spec Pilot Black Edition costs $50,220, making it less expensive than the mid-range MDX with the Technology Package. However, the MDX justifies its higher price with a more luxurious cabin, a more refined ten-speed automatic transmission, and the availability of more high-tech features. None of this means that the Pilot isn't an excellent vehicle, especially if you have a tighter budget. Given the choice, we'd choose a lower-spec MDX over a higher-spec Pilot.