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With the 2022 Acura MDX the brand's 3-row midsize premium SUV enters its 4th-generation. Built atop a stiffer chassis the latest MDX is longer, lower, and wider. The hood is lengthier, the bodywork chiseled, and the LED head and taillights feature this graceful chicane element.

The cabin has grown in all meaningful dimensions. Ok, 2nd-row headroom has dropped by .2 inches. But otherwise, head, leg, and shoulder space are as good or better than MDX generation 3.

As long as I’m on a dimensional trip, lemme note that cargo space is up as well. There’s a healthy 16.3 cu-ft behind the 3rd row plus an extra 1.8 cu-ft beneath this reversible cargo floor. Drop the 2nd and 3rd rows to unleash 71.4 cu-ft of hauling capacity.

One more neat functional detail, the middle 2nd-row seat is removable…like in a minivan. So, you can still access the 3rd row even if you have child seats in the outboard spots.

Like its TLX sedan kin, the MDX’s interior plushness has elevated in its latest form. Tantalizing leather, fancy-pants stitching, open-pore wood on the priciest version. The MDX is pushing the upper limit of what I’d call premium. I’m also a huge fan of the Advance Package’s 16-way seats.

Moving to infotainment, there’s a single 12.3-inch screen positioned near the driver’s natural gaze and controlled by Acura’s True Touchpad Interface.
OC Interior: In simplest terms, where you touch on the pad correlates with what is highlighted on the screen. Upper right, upper right.

It’ll take some adaptation if you’ve used competitive cursor-style touchpads. Especially since that True Touchpad philosophy doesn’t apply to Apple CarPlay, which you navigate like a traditional cursor. On the plus side, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.

Ok, what happens when you apply the latest MDX to open tarmac? As I noted in the Acura TLX, the MDX uses a steering ratio that’s slow on-center but speeds up the further you turn the wheel. The result is an SUV that feels stable in a straight line and frisky when turning.

Supporting that friskiness is a sportier double-wishbone front suspension arrangement. The 2022 MDX is not the zenith of sportiness but there’s definitely fun potential.

Enhancing the MDX’s dynamic spirit is the optional SH-AWD system which can send up to 70% of the engine’s output to the rear wheels and 100% of that power to either wheel. By overdriving the outside rear wheel, the AWD system helps the MDX turn with elevated agility. As a bonus, adding all-wheel drive has a negligible impact on fuel economy. (19city/26hwy FWD, 19city/25hwy AWD)

Matching the MDX’s lateral charms is a compliant ride and a capable 3.5-liter V6 (290 hp, 267 lb-ft) paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

At maximum urgency, acceleration is more ‘peppy’ than blistering but you shouldn’t have any issues merging on the freeway. During normal commutes, the transmission delivers inconspicuous shifts, though floor the accelerator when cruising and there is an occasional lull while waiting for a lower gear engage. If you’d like a more active role in the transmission’s affairs, there are paddles for manual control. And, if you’re wondering, the MDX can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

For right about $47,000 ($46,900) a base Acura MDX includes blind-spot warning, 3-zone climate control, smart key access, heated 12-way front seats, a power liftgate, a range of drive modes, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and the Acurawatch suite of safety and convenience tech including full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking.

Higher trims add niceties like front-seat ventilation, an ELS 16-speaker audio system, and, like you’d find in a Honda Odyssey minivan, CabinTalk, which amplifies the driver’s voice for rear-seat passengers. If you want a 360 camera, heated steering wheel, open-pore wood trim, and a hands-free liftgate, choose the nearly $61,000 Advance package.

And if you demand all-wheel drive, it’s $2,000 on the lower trims but comes standard with the A-Spec and Advance packages.

I should also mention there is a racy MDX Type S variant featuring standard all-wheel drive and the same 3-liter Turbocharged V6 found in the Acura TLX Type S sedan (355hp, 354 lb-ft).

On the other hand, if want a sportier-looking MDX, minus any real performance enhancements, the roughly $57,000 A-Spec package is waiting.

Among the competitive set are the Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, Lexus RX-L, BMW X5, and ooh let’s not forget the lovely Genesis GV80. Among that set, you can find more luxurious and more powerful choices but the Acura MDX offers an interesting blend of value, minivan-like functionality, and yeah, even a little excitement.

00:00 2022 Acura MDX
0:21 Exterior
0:50 Interior
3:29 TrueTouch Infotainment
4:17 Driving Impressions
6:15 Pricing and Features
7:59 Competitors