2025 Acura MDX Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Acura makes minor styling modifications to the MDX for the 2025 model year. They include a new grille, revised front bumper, and darkened headlights and taillights. Also, most versions of the SUV get new wheel designs and finishes. The updates are subtle, but they tidy up the front end while giving the sporty and performance versions more visual presence.

Interior changes are more impactful. Since a new touchscreen infotainment system debuts in the 2025 MDX, Acura rids the centre console of the previous touchpad interface to add more storage. Also, the seats from last year’s MDX Type S model trickle down into the newly upgraded MDX Platinum Elite A-Spec, while the Type S gets a new seat design for 2025. Acura also quiets the SUV’s cabin with added sound insulation and acoustic laminated window glass.

Quality remains an Acura MDX hallmark, though we’d prefer the company eliminate the gloss black plastic trim from the dashboard. It rapidly collects lint, dust, and smudges, and after you wipe it down it remains clean for about five minutes.

Thankfully, the MDX provides logically located controls that are easy to find and use. There is a volume knob with a tuning rocker switch on the centre console, and Acura places quick-access head-up display and safety feature buttons on the lower left side of the dashboard. That means you need not hunt through the digital instrumentation or infotainment screen searching for them. The updated 2025 Acura MDX lineup adds a new Platinum Elite A-Spec trim level, an upgrade to the previous year’s Platinum Elite that blends maximum luxury with a sportier look. Our test vehicle had this new trim, and with the extra-cost Apex Blue Pearl paint and $3,725 in destination charges, levies, and dealer fees, the Canadian manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) lands at $78,005.

If that sounds high for an MDX, you’re correct. But you can spend less on one. The MDX Tech base trim starts at $69,105 including those same fees, and that model is nicely equipped. The A-Spec trim rings up at $72,105, and the MDX Type S Ultra tops the lineup, offering maximum acceleration and handling in exchange for $91,655, including fees.

Acura positions itself as the performance-oriented Asian luxury brand, and backs that up through A-Spec design and Type S engineering — the latter including a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine producing 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. However, every Acura is tuned for enjoyable if not outright thrilling driving dynamics, and that’s true of the MDX.

Since most MDX buyers choose one with the standard 3.5-litre V6 engine, that’s what we requested for this review. It makes 290 hp at 6,200 rpm and 267 lb-ft of torque at 4,700 rpm running on the recommended premium fuel, delivered to the wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission equipped with paddle shifters. Acura’s torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system is standard on every MDX sold in Canada.

The tried-and-true engine supplies good power in this midsize three-row SUV, which weighs north of 2,000 kilograms (4,500 pounds). The MDX isn’t slow, but neither is it fast. Comfort, Normal, Sport, Snow, and Individual driving modes are available, and the transmission offers Normal and Sport settings. For the best powertrain response, you’ll want to choose Sport mode and the Sport transmission setting.

However, if you employ those on a regular basis, fuel economy will tumble. Most MDX trims are rated by Natural Resources Canada at 11.2 L/100 km in combined driving (the Type S burns 12.4 L/100 km combined), but our test vehicle averaged 15.3 L/100 km on our testing loop. We used the Sport/Sport setup only when driving in the mountains. Otherwise, the SUV was in Normal/Normal. You can also tackle twisty mountain roads with confidence. On undulating surfaces, the MDX feels a little soft, and it does allow some roll in corners. But the SUV’s body motions are smooth and consistent instead of sudden and unpredictable, making its behaviour easy to trust. We noticed some brake fade while driving the MDX with enthusiasm during a mountain descent on a warm summer day, but otherwise, it proved capable and relatively fun to drive.

In typical driving situations, the MDX feels firm and communicative in the city while soaking up speed humps and bumps. Step hard on the accelerator, and swift acceleration gets you into the flow of traffic. Merging onto highways is not a problem, and the SUV offers a smooth, quiet, and comfortable highway ride. As a commuter or a road tripper, the 2025 Acura MDX is satisfying. Though the MDX is a crossover SUV, it is not made for off-roading. It provides only 18.5 centimetres of ground clearance unless you choose the MDX Type S Ultra, which has an air suspension that increases clearance to 23.8 cm. But with its fancy 21-inch wheels and expensive performance tires, the Type S is not a good choice for off-roading.

Acura could build an overlander around that air suspension, but is resisting that trend for now. That’s probably wise, since a lift, all-terrain tires, glue-on body kit, and robust roof rack don’t align with the automaker’s performance-oriented identity.

This year, the MDX Platinum Elite A-Spec trim gets 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and eight different massage programs. They’re wrapped in perforated, piped, and quilted leather, and are exceptionally comfortable and supportive. Previously, these seats were reserved for the MDX Type S Ultra.

You can configure the second row as a three-person bench seat or individual bucket seats. When it isn’t in use, the middle section of the backrest folds down to offer cupholders and a storage tray, or to allow long items to fit into the SUV. Alternatively, you can remove and store the centre section to create individual second-row seats and create a large pass-through to the third row.

The MDX’s outboard second-row seating positions are comfortable with plenty of leg room and thigh support, and side window shades cover nearly all of the window glass in all but the base MDX Tech. A triple-zone automatic climate control system is standard on every version of the SUV.

The third-row seat is hard for adults to enter and exit, and is uncomfortable for grown-ups. The seat is low and lacks leg support, and there isn’t much room for feet under the second-row seats. Reserve this area for younger children.

In-cabin storage space is adequate. The new centre console adds a handy tray next to the cupholders, and the wireless smartphone charging pad is easy to access. Under the centre armrest is a small cube-shaped area, and the glove compartment is nearly full when the owner’s manual and other vehicle documentation is kept there. That leaves small trays in the armrests and the lower door panel pockets to accommodate loose items.

Cargo volume measures up to 512 litres behind the third-row seat (or 461 litres up to the tops of the seatbacks). That’s enough for groceries, backpacks, or a few duffel bags. Acura provides a sizable well on the left side of the cargo area, and a large compartment under the load floor offers hidden storage.

Folding and raising the 50/50-split third-row seats is a manual operation, which we prefer. Waiting for seats to power down or up is a drag, and we dislike the idea of repairing them one day. With the third row folded flat, the MDX provides up to 1,367 litres of cargo space (or 1,107 litres to the tops of the second-row seatbacks). Drop the second row, and this SUV can carry up to 2,690 litres of cargo.

Arguably, the 2025 MDX’s new infotainment system is the game changer for this SUV. It has a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Alexa Built-in, and Google Built-in, the latter with complimentary access to Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play. This system eliminates the MDX’s old True Touchpad Interface (TTI) setup. The theory behind the TTI was well intended, but it required a distracting amount of hand-eye coordination to use while driving.

The change is a good one. The new system and its digital voice assistants work like the smartphone that is ever-present in your life, bringing a natural and intuitive interface to the MDX’s dashboard. However, if you’re a SiriusXM satellite radio fan, be advised that you’ll do without it unless you have the app on your phone and stream it through the Bluetooth connection or the wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity.

In addition, the latest version of AcuraLink connected services is standard, and the infotainment system supports a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Sound comes from a Bang & Olufsen audio system with 19 speakers, or 31 speakers in the MDX Type S Ultra.

During our evaluation, we found the new infotainment and Bang & Olufsen sound systems nearly flawless. Google Assistant responded quickly and accurately to queries and commands, though it does not allow voice control of the climate system. We effortlessly paired an iPhone 15 to the Bluetooth connection, easily streamed Apple Music and Pandora, and switched between CarPlay and the native Google environment without trouble.

The new infotainment system pairs with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display. Two themes are available, each with a graphic representation of the MDX in the middle that shows exterior lighting and safety system status. The display is simple, but that makes it easy to use and reference.

Our test vehicle also had a 10.5-inch head-up display showing a comprehensive amount of data on the windshield within the driver’s line of sight. All that’s missing from the display are blind-spot monitoring alerts to show when other vehicles are nearby the SUV.

In addition, the MDX Platinum Elite A-Spec and Type S Ultra feature a surround-view camera system offering front, side, and rear views. When parking, you can quickly activate the front and side cameras using a button on the end of the windshield wiper stalk, making them quickly accessible.

The 2025 MDX benefits from hardware upgrades that make its AcuraWatch collection of driver assistance features operate with improved accuracy and refinement.

All MDX models have forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control is also standard, as well as Traffic Jam Assist, a semi-autonomous driving assistance system for use in heavy traffic, along with front and rear parking sensors and a low-speed automatic braking system.

New for 2025, the MDX Type S Ultra employs additional front corner radar units, a new front millimeter wave radar unit, and an upgraded front camera. Those components make it possible for Acura to offer front cross-traffic alert, evasive steering warning, and an active lane-change assist function that can help prevent collisions. This package also adds a cornering speed assist system, but in our experience, these are typically too aggressive when it comes to speed reduction.

During testing, the standard AcuraWatch features performed well. We noted one false lane-departure notification, and the tech could not navigate a tricky T-shaped intersection on a rural two-lane road. Otherwise, it behaved with remarkable accuracy and refinement. You’re aware of the subtle steering and braking inputs, but they don’t cause irritation.

However, we did not like driving the MDX with the adaptive cruise control off and the lane-centring function on. In that use case, the tech does feel unnatural and unwanted. Also, we’re still not fans of Acura’s lane-departure warning notification, which wobbles rather than vibrates the steering wheel.

Since the 2025 MDX is structurally identical to the 2024 model, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has carried over the SUV’s five-star overall rating. However, since versions with SH-AWD (which is every MDX in Canada) don’t have a rollover resistance rating, the NHTSA does not offer a final judgment on those models.

As of this writing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has carried its highest Top Safety Pick+ rating bestowed in 2024 over into the 2025 model.

The 2025 Acura MDX counts numerous midsize luxury SUVs as its rivals, but it occupies a sweet spot in the segment where it boasts one of the lowest prices combined with attractive design, a quality interior, and appealing technology.

The Audi Q7, BMW X5, Genesis GV80, Lexus TX, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and Volvo XC90 all cost more than the MDX. Of that sextet, only the Audi, Lexus, and Volvo include a third-row seat as standard equipment. However, mild hybrid, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains are common in these MDX alternatives, except for the Genesis. They can surpass the Acura in performance, efficiency, or both at the same time.

Cadillac and Infiniti also offer competitors to the Acura, but neither is preferable to the MDX. You might also consider the surprisingly powerful and sophisticated Lincoln Aviator, but it’s a comparatively pricey SUV. Likewise, the Land Rover Defender 110 and Land Rover Discovery cost more, but they offer the off-roading capability missing from the MDX.

If you have no need to wade across streams or clamber over rocks, the 2025 Acura MDX presents a strong case for cost-effectiveness without compromise. The only exception relates to fuel economy. This is not an efficient SUV, and Acura doesn’t offer the electrified powertrains available in many of the MDX’s rivals.

Note: Images show a US model.