I’m driving the Acura MDX Type S. And I can tell you it’s not just a sporty trim package.
The usual metric of measuring success is a happy family,
a fulfilling career and enough money to own a house and car. For driving enthusiasts, it gets
a little more complicated since hauling the brood around usually means a ponderous family truckster.
Acura to the rescue. The three-row MDX has always been competent in the corners.
The new Type S ups the fun. It’s the first Acura SUV to wear this badge.
The A Spec package is essentially a trim package. The Type S actually adds performance.
There’s more horsepower, the suspension is more sophisticated, If you’re a driver and
you’re looking to make as many people carsick as quickly as possible, this might be for you
When this 4th generation MDX was being developed, engineers had a high performance version in mind.
John Ikeda understands this kind of validation is important.
We’re so proud to be able to finally do a Type S for MDX because we were performance brand.
You know we stamp ourselves a performance premium brand, performance branded. Acura
is precision crafted performance. That’s why we do it. Not only that, we do things like
SH-AWD, a turbo V6, double wishbone suspension on a three row family SUV. That’s just
who we are and that’s our DNA. If you drive this car I’m sure
you’ll be able to enjoy the back roads as much as hauling family things around if you want.
So you know, pricing starts at 67 thousand dollars. The top trim Advance version I’m
driving retails for 72 grand. A comparable Audi Q7, Mercedes GLE
or BMW X5 would be some five thousand bucks more. I attended an Acura event in Yountville,
CA (that’s the Napa Valley wine country for those not familiar) where we were pointed to some fun
twisty roads that would be a riot in a Porsche 718 Cayman, I know because I’ve done just that.
Here’s what gives the MDX Type-S promise. For starters the normal 3.5-liter V6 is replaced with
a 3-liter turbocharged V6 with direct-injection and a single twin-scroll turbocharger.
There’s 355-horsepower and 354 lb.-ft. of torque for your right foot to play with.
That’s an additional 65 horses and 87 lb-ft, all available lower in the powerband.
To handle the extra go, the 10-speed is beefed up, shifts are 40% quicker. No manual gear box,
these will have to do. Drive modes? You bet. In fact, there are two more of them on the Type-S,
Sport + being exclusive to this model, holding lower gears longer.
Type-S is the first Acura with air suspension. It also gets adaptive dampers,
a first for MDX. Standard SH-AWD offers up true active torque vectoring, not a brake-based system.
It can push up to 70 percent of the engine’s torque to the rear axle,
and 100 percent of that to either the left or right tires in back. Peek though the 21-inch
wheels, to view upgraded brakes. 4 piston Brembos up front, and larger discs in back.
The standard MDX does the 0 to 60 Dash in 6.5 seconds, the Type S shaves a second off that time.
It does scoot, lots of power low in the power band and you’ll hear the engine….
and a little bit of turbo whine, which I kind of like
At 4,770 pounds, Type S is heavier by 205 lbs. The active dampers and air suspension
work together to keep body movements well under control. It can lower by six tenths-of-an-inch
or raise nearly 2 inches for a maximum ground clearance of nearly nine and a half inches. That’s
more for snowy conditions. This isn’t meant to be a Grand Cherokee L kind of off-roader
Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive must be working overtime on this road, the
cornering is really something. And you gotta remember, this is a three row crossover,
it’s really composed. Push it REALLY hard into a corner
and there’s gonna be some understeer, but that’s good because then it’s kind of saving your bacon
There’s honest-to-goodness road feel coming up through the heated leather wheel.
The effort is a little more beefy. Type-S is not a hard-core track-oriented performance vehicle,
this is a sold real world set up that’ll help you live the good life.
In addition to loads of standard active electronic safety tech like AEB and adaptive cruise, there’s
the old fashion notion of really good brakes. Just as important as acceleration when having fun
The improved binders have excellent pedal modulation.
Not sure how much quicker they scrub off speed but they do stop the MDX right now.
The updated transmission is still smooth operator and the shifts are noticeably quicker.
Type-S is an olive branch to responsible parents that enjoy driving. Though don’t be setting a
bad example to the kids. Despite the sport tuned suspension, the ride quality never gets flinty.
The adaptive suspension can be more comfy than the standard MDXs. Even your mother-in-law should
enjoy the ride. It’s reasonably quiet at speed. I’d actually like a little more engine growl.
Fuel economy? That’s not so great. The ETA rated average is 19 miles per gallon.
That’s two MPG less than the standard MDX and it wants premium fuel.
Yeah, people that can buy this can afford the gas,
but I’m obliged to point that out. It isn’t getting any cheaper.
I’m not spending tons of time on the interior because of my limited time with the Type S. I
suggest checking out the other MDX video that I produced since most if not all of
the functionality remains the same. Type-S does get some special visual treatments,
including a beautiful dark blue interior that other journalists hogged.
I’m very happy to see Acura upping its game with high quality materials. Normally
trimmed with Ultrasuede, the heated and vented leather seats in the upgraded Advance have an
excellent massage setting. Shiatsu is recommended. The interface with True Touch Pad controller?
I still find that a mixed bag. It takes time to master and using standard Android Auto
and Apple CarPlay is awkward because the screen is not touch sensitive.
I’m a huge fan of Acura’s ELS Studio 3D audio system. The Type S ups that to the Signature level
IF you spring for the Advance model. It packs 25 speakers, 22 channels and 1,000 watts of power.
Should be adequate. The spatial sound stage is dramatic yet never gimmicky. Tuned by Grammy
winning producer Elliot Scheiner, I got to geek out with him and the designer of the system. It’s
important to use the right files for the best sound and staging. The ELS Signature system
not only sounds incredible, it gets lighted carbon fiber drivers, so it looks awesome too.
Unfortunelty I can’t play you the music because it’s copywrited, but it sounds great.
Nice job man. Thanks. Thank you.
Again, I’ll defer you to my first MDX video for the usefulness of the back seat area. It should
serve the family well, with plenty of storage cubbies and power ports to charge electronics. The
third row is good for kids, even okay for smaller adults. Roomier than Genesis GV80 that’s for sure.
Nope. Not going to Costco. I’m in the middle
of the Napa Valley. But I can show you stuff in the cargo area.
There’s not loads of space with all seats in use, these rigs are normally bought for those
“just in case” moments. And the adjustable floor is reversable, you can put the kid’s muddy soccer
cleats on the smooth side for easier cleaning. All seats up there’s 17 cubic feet. That climbs
to a solid 48 dropping the back row which is easy to do. It still seats five this way.
The kid’s hovercraft science fair project can probably be hauled with this Acura.
In max cargo configuration you’re looking at a cavernous 95 cubic feet.
The changes are subtle, Type S doesn’t look like a Lamborghini Urus. Good for keeping
a low profile… officer. Changes include a new front fascia with body color grille surround.
The pattern is unique and increases airflow by 14%. That turbo engine needs to breath. More
of that happening down here too. Trim and side mirrors are gloss black. The last MDX I tested
had an awkward look here, this one is better, still a little uneven at some angles. The
Continental Cross Contact tires are run flats and self-sealing so they can go farther if punctured.
I guess if you can’t have a spare, that’s the next best thing.
Let wrap this up, it’s Red light Green Light time.
Green Light- MDX Type-S is one of the few family haulers that will haul
asphalt on twisty turning roads. It’s good fun.
The suspension (double wishbone up front) and ride quality is a no compromise
setup. Drivers will enjoy the precision; passenger won’t get their spines pounded. The Type-S gets
some exterior tweaks but it remains kind of stealthy. No need to draw attention to yourself.
Yellow Light- Love the upgraded ELS Studio 3D Signature audio system but only the top
trim model gets it. The Type-S’ performance is an excellent blend of comfort or sport,
don’t expect a hard-core track vehicle. I enjoy the growl from the turbo V6, maybe let a little
more of it into the cabin Acura. And not everyone will like the turbo whistle, however faint.
Red Light- Any vehicle with fuel economy like this gets a demerit from me, especially with
gas prices rising. The touch pad interface would be okay with a little practice but
adding touch to the screen would make me happy. If you need spacious seating for 7, the third
row is a bit tight. Like most 3 row crossovers. But this crowd won’t be doing the minivan thing.
And I’d say shop the competitors but the performance and refinement of the MDX Type S
is kind of in a class of its own, especially when price is considered.
No wonder Acura has sold so many of these.
There’s that old chestnut about having your cake and eating it too. That is the Acura MDX Type S.
it can be comfortable and haul the family without any issues whatsoever, and then,
find twisty roads like this and it’s loads of fun. So in many ways this is a no compromised vehicle.
Too bad the Roadmaster name is taken, it certainly fits here. Hop into a Type-S
and you’ll be living the good life. Just add a happy healthy family,
a rewarding job and a house to park the MDX. How hard can that be?
Going to events makes me run around like a caffeinated squirrel to get
enough shots. But it allows me talk to engineers and product planners.
Always a good thing. You all know Acura has a new Integra coming. And when it was announced,
the internet didn’t seem overly impressed. So I asked Jon Ikeda how he felt about that.
Well I’m telling you, Integra it’s such an emotional and passionate following. You have
to provide a vehicle that’s worthy of the name so anything that has that much passion behind
you can’t just stick a badge on it say it’s an Integra. There’s too much emotional love with that
vehicle. So I would have to say, I appreciate the passion behind the name, I really do. And
it’s been 20 years since DC2. You know, the cars have evolved substantially,
the brand has eveloved substantially. But at the heart of it all, anything that we do at
Honda and Acura is fun to drive. It’s what we’re after and in everything even, the MDX Type S.
Fun to drive is at the base of everything that we create. So
trust me the Integra is coming back and that fun to drive soul is in the vehicle.
Well, there you go. And coming soon,
I drive another Type S. The NSX. And on the track. Good work if you can get it.
Hope you got something out of my look at the Acura MDX Type S. Loads of fun to drive. I’ll
leave you with a Fun Fact. This is obviously a Japanese brand, the luxury performance division
of Honda. But, a lot of people don’t understand that all Acuras are manufactured in North America.
Yeah, this was designed in California, largely developed and engineered and manufactured in Ohio,
I believe the transmission is made in Georgia. The automotive world, it’s a global thing. Thanks for
watching, remember, subscribe to this channel I’m assuming that you enjoyed it because you’re here
at the very end. You can follow me on Twitter, I’m pretty active there. And if you have a question
leave it in the comments I’m pretty good about answering stuff. That’s Driven I’m Tom Voelk