Acura MDX 2023
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FIND THE BEST PRICE Cargo (Std/Max): 18/95 cu.ft. MT ScoreBased on performance, value, MPG, interior space, and more, this score reflects MotorTrend’s exhaustive evaluation process. Scores can only be compared to other cars in the same class. A 7.0 rating represents average performance. 7.7/10 Redesigned for 2022, the MDX advances in design and tech. But it’s not luxurious or feature-filled enough to rival the segment’s best. Impressive quickness comes at the expense of efficiency. 6.8/10 PerformancePerformance of Intended Function: How does a car drive? Does it have enough space for passengers and their stuff? 8.1/10 Efficiency/RangeWe track efficiency and driving range. 6.3/10 Tech/InnovationDoes the car offer impressive tech for its segment? How well does it work? Are there any innovative design details? 8/10 ValueHow well will this car hold its value over time? Will it be expensive to maintain, insure, or repair? IntelliChoice data and research inform this score. Comparisons are limited to 3 vehicles You will need to remove one of the selected vehicles in order to add another one. The 2023 Acura MDX is a luxury midsize 3-row SUV in just the second year of a new generation. The tech is fresh, the styling is sharp, and the cabin is roomy. Those who really like driving will also find the Type S version intriguing. Prices start at $49,050. 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. 2023 Acura MDX PricingA manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $49,050, plus a destination charge, applies to the base 2023 Acura MDX midsize SUV with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is $2,200. Higher trims have all-wheel drive as standard. The priciest version before the Type S is $63K. With its more powerful engine, the Type S starts at $67,350. And the Advance package takes that to $72.7K. The main option across the range is premium paint at $500. For 2023, Acura has added a 3-year subscription for AcuraLink connected services. Plus free scheduled maintenance for 2 years/24,000 miles, whichever happens first. Comparing prices with the competition, the Lexus RX 350 begins at about $50K, the Genesis GV80 (with all-wheel drive as standard) is closer to $55.5K, and the Lincoln Aviator is more like $52K. European rivals might be too pricey. Audi Q7 prices start at $57.5K, with the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class in a similar ballpark. The BMW X5 comes in at $61.6K, and the Volvo XC90 starts at around $56K. Before buying a new MDX luxury midsize SUV, check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area paid for theirs. This generation of MDX only launched last year, so we can’t pin down resale values yet. Using the previous model as a guide, there shouldn’t be any worries. Driving the 2023 Acura MDXPrevious 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. Interior ComfortThere’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. Exterior StylingLED 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. Six Cool Features1. Wireless Apple Carplay/Android Auto 2. AcuraLink 3. Powered Tailgate with Walk-Away Close 4. ELS Audio Systems 5. CabinTalk 6. Head-Up Display Engine & TransmissionMost 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 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 (Type S) KBB Vehicle Review and Rating MethodologyOur Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability. More About How We Rate Vehicles |
