The MDX made a comeback for 2022, in the form of an entirely new fourth-generation Acura model. Subsequently, the Japanese automaker chose to introduce a new Type-S iteration of the MDX and it now sits at the top of the Acura range. This is in fact the very first time that an Acura SUV wears the Type S badge. It is a three-row SUV that targets the enthusiast crowd who also demand luxury and comfort in addition to performance.

Compared to a standard MDX, Acura’s new torque-vectoring with Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and adaptive air suspension on the MDX Type-S will give you the confidence you need to take sharp turns with ease. Beyond how it drives though, the MDX Type S has other qualities like a cosseting interior with all the top-level equipment and the build quality, that you would come to expect from a premium three-row SUV. Here’s how Acura’s first-ever performance SUV fares.

2022 Acura MDX Type S Performance and Capability

The new performance-focused Type S variant ups the ante over the standard MDX on both luxury and power. It comes in two variants:

- Acura MDX Type S

- Acura MDX Type S Advance

Under the hood of the new Type S lies the same engine that you'll find in the TLX Type S sedan, a 3.0-liter V-6 engine, with a single turbo that produces 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. The MDX Type S can sprint to 60 MPH in 5.6 seconds and has a top speed restricted to 130 MPH. }

The engine has improved intake manifolds to increase cooling effectiveness. It also packs cylinder deactivation technology so that it can only use three cylinders when the engine load is low. Despite this, the Type S's mileage numbers are not particularly spectacular. The EPA rated the MDX Type S with 17/21/19 for city/highway/combined.

The V-6 powers all four wheels through a sport-tuned 10-speed automatic transmission, but Acura has modified the gearbox on the Type S for better responsiveness and it now goes through the cogs more quickly. Using the paddles shifts gears up to 40% faster than the normal MDX.

Additionally, Acura's torque-vectoring Super Handling All-wheel-drive system (SH-AWD) and the adaptive air suspension (first time in an Acura) will give you confidence in the bends. The torque-vectoring enables you to go beyond your comfort zone as it can send up to 70% of the power to the rear wheels and even 100% of the power to the outside wheels to prevent understeer.

The air suspension not only raises and lowers the entire vehicle in an instant to make getting in and out of the vehicle easier, but it should also provide a sublime ride quality. With all the extra hardware, the MDX Type S weighs 4,741 pounds at the curb, which is around 200 pounds more than the MDX and it can tow up to 5,000 pounds.





Exterior Design

As the Type S model line stands for sportiness, Acura has worked hard to shed the family hauler image of the standard MDX. The body's creases are more obvious and contribute to the athleticism Acura is trying to emphasize. This latest MDX is longer, wider, and has an extended wheelbase as opposed to its predecessor, all of which translates to better on-road presence.

Staring up with the face, the Diamond Pentagon grille, is now wider and bears the Type S badge. But this bigger grille isn’t just for show and according to Acura, the MDX's air intake capacity has increased by up to 14-percent. The prominent Acura badge on the grill hides the radar sensor behind it.

The Jewel Eyed LED headlights with Chicane LED daytime running lights and LED fog lights are the same as those seen on the regular MDX. The Type S comes with snazzy 21-inch wheels, which expose its red Brembo calipers. At the rear, you get the same LED taillights found on the regular MDX now with some black embellishments. A diffuser and quad exhaust tips round off the back nicely. Stepping it up to the Type S Advance also gets you black roof rails.

Another easy way to know that you're looking at the Type S is with all the gloss black finishes instead of the chrome. You’ll find it on various trim pieces on the bumpers, the doors, the mirror caps, the rear spoiler, and the diffuser. If you want your MDX to stand out, there are two Type S-specific color options: Tiger Eye Pearl and Apex Blue Pearl.





Interior Quality and Technology

If you’ve seen the cabin of the standard MDX, then you’ve also seen the one on the Type S. However because this is a fully equipped MDX, the performance-oriented Type S feels extremely opulent inside. The base Type S features 16-way power front seats with lumbar support. With the Type S advance, you also get a nine-way massage function in the front seats, a first for Acura.

There are many different color possibilities for the seats. Ebony or Orchid/Black and Red seats with contrasting dashboard colors are available on the Standard Type S. On the other hand, the Type S Advance has seats made of fine leather in Azurite Blue. Also, the Type S retains the power moonroof that comes as standard equipment with the MDX.

The dashboard, door panels, seats, and even the hand rests are all made of leather as well. A flat-bottomed, leather-wrapped steering wheel with power adjustments and built-in memory features is present. Piano-black elements make it onto the lower portion of the dashboard with open wood trim in the middle.

On to passenger accommodations now and the MDX Type S can seat up to seven passengers. The first two rows of the MDX range are spacious enough for full-size adults, but the third row is best reserved for young children or teenagers because the MDX line as a whole is a mid-size SUV.

Like the regular MDX, the center console is a good mix of knobs and buttons, but it also includes the dreaded touchpad for operating the 12.3-inch infotainment display. Sadly, it lacks touch functionality and you have to use the True Touchpad Interface. A speedier CPU is to thank for the quick and fluid interface. A speedier CPU is to thank for the quick and fluid interface.

The 12.3-inch all-digital driver information display is highly configurable but still can’t get a full view of the map is there for navigation. The Type S Advance will get you a 10.5-inch heads-up display. Like every other MDX, the Type S gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Bluetooth connectivity, WiFi Hotspot, SiriusXM, a navigation system, wireless phone charging, and loads of USB outlets throughout the cabin, along with Alexa for hands-free voice control.

As for the audio system, there is an outstanding 16-speaker ELS premium audio system. The Type S Advance model comes with an even more powerful 25-speaker setup. You'll also appreciate the fact that the speakers on the doors are backlit and work with the ambient lighting. If you compare it to a Burmester or a Bang & Olufsen sound system offered on several German cars as a pricey optional extra, this high-end HiFi system comes as standard on the Acura Type S.

Finally on to the cargo space, with all the seats in place, the MDX Type S offers 18.1 cubic feet of space. Folding the third row, which you'll have to do manually, will get you 48.4 cubic feet and folding the second-row seats gives you an incredible 95 cubic feet.



2022 Acura MDX Type S Price and Availibility



The 2022 Acura MDX Type S starts at $66,700. It excludes the $1,195 destination and handling charge. Even the base model MDX Type S is pretty loaded in terms of features and you have some inexpensive accessories on offer on top of that.

Configure your Acura MDX Type S here.

Safety

The Acura MDX has a five-star NHTSA rating, including a four-star rating for front crash prevention and a five-star rating overall for side crashes, making it one of the safest seven-seater SUVs in its class.

Additionally, [the IIHS has given the

Acura MDX, the highest rating of "Top Safety Pick+" for 2022.->https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/acura/mdx-4-door-suv/2022] In every crashworthiness category, the agency gave the MDX a "Good" rating. Additionally, the SUV received "Superior" ratings for frontal crash avoidance in both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian collisions.

The default safety offering is the AcuraWatch, a collection of cutting-edge driver assistance technologies. As a result, you'll find features like:

- Adaptive cruise control

- Forward collision mitigation

- Lane-keeping assist

- Blindspot monitoring

- Rear cross-traffic alert system.

There are a total of eight airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, dusk-sensing headlights, stability control, tire pressure monitoring, and numerous other crucial safety features. The Type S is also equipped with front and rear parking sensors, as well as a 360-degree surround video system.

Main Competition

In terms of size, the MDX lies somewhere between a mid-size and full-size SUV. It goes up against three-row high-performance models like the Audi SQ7, the BMW X5 M50i, the Mercedes Benz GLE AMG 53,, and the Genesis GV80. Unlike the competition, the MDX Type S is hardly a track monster. Here's how these SUVs stack up in terms of their performance numbers.

Now the Acura isn't the most powerful SUV in this company and nor does it offer the most space when compared to the bigger X5, GLE, or the GV80. However, the MDX Type S does pack a lot of standard equipment like the excellent premium audio system, air suspension, and torque-vectoring, the sort of hardware that are possibly pricey options on rivals. There is a reason why the MDX is so popular and Acura shifts so many of them, the value proposition.

So, if you’re in the market for a seven-seater, luxury SUV, the MDX Type S is unquestionably a model that you should definitely consider. In terms of price alone, the Acura MDX Type S maxes out where most rival performance SUVs start. It is an excellent package and it's not just because it has superior handling and performance than the regular model, but rather because it has a much more comprehensive feature-set when compared to its rivals.