AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING8.0/10
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Safety9.0/10
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PRACTICALITY8.0/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS8.0/10
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FEATURES8.0/10
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POWER9.0/10
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COMFORT8.0/10
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DRIVING FEEL9.0/10
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FUEL ECONOMY7.0/10
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VALUE7.0/10
The 2025 Acura MDX has been updated with a styling refresh, a touchscreen instead of a controller, improved driver-assistance technologies, and an available 31-speaker stereo.
This three-row MDX starts out with a non-turbocharged V6 and is priced between $69,475 and $77,475, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $2,595. My tester was the Type S Ultra with its turbocharged V6 and a starting price of $90,525.
Styling: 8/10
The MDX is a good-looking vehicle that’s well-proportioned with a sleek profile. Each trim offers one price-included shade of paint — Lunar Silver Metallic, in my tester’s case — with all others adding $800. This vehicle really shines inside, especially with my tester’s spiffy black-and-red upholstery, and a centre stack and console that look high-tech but have simple controls. That redesigned console has a close-at-hand phone charger and USB ports that cleverly pop up as needed.
Safety: 9/10
At the time of writing, the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had only fully rated the MDX with front-wheel drive — all Canadian models have standard all-wheel drive (AWD) — but gave it the top five-star rating, and tests already completed on the AWD look like it will follow. The not-for-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the 2024 MDX a Top Safety Pick+ winner.
Standard driver-assist technologies include adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow assistance, front and rear emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and a multi-angle rearview camera. Upper trims can be had with a panoramic camera, head-up display, blind-spot assist, and forward cross-traffic alert.
Features: 8/10
All trims include 12-way power-adjustable front seats, heated front and rear seats, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, power panoramic sunroof, tri-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming mirror, second-row sunshades, a 12.3-inch centre touchscreen with Google Built-In, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, rain-sensing wipers, and a hands-free power tailgate.
Moving up the trim levels adds ventilated seats, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, massaging front seats, a head-up display, and roof rails. At my tester’s Type S Ultra level — the sole trim for the higher-performance Type S — you also get quilted leather seats and a new 31-speaker system.
User-Friendliness: 8/10
The MDX relies on buttons and switches for many of its functions, along with intuitive switches and thumb wheels on its steering wheel. The touchscreen is easy to use, and Google Built-In has an excellent voice control system, but you’ll have to pay to keep it going once the three-year trial period is up.
There’s a relatively low liftover for putting cargo in the back, too. It’s easy to get in and out of the first- and second rows, but as with most midsize three-row SUVs, it’s more of a struggle for adults to access the rearmost seats.
Practicality: 8/10
At a maximum of 512 L when the third row is in place, the MDX doesn’t have quite as much space as some competitors, but it’s still able to handle a decent amount of cargo. Meanwhile, both sets of rear seats fold flat. The MDX can also tow as much as 2,268 kg (5,000 lb), on par with many rivals, although the Infiniti Q60 can tackle as much as 2,722 kg (6,000 lb).
Comfort: 8/10
The MDX Type S Ultra’s seats were redesigned for 2025, and they’re very supportive and a nice place to be, especially with their massaging functionality and power-adjustable bolsters. The second-row chairs also have a fair bit of sculpting, at least on the outer ones. That hard middle seat is mainly for short trips or for folding out the cupholders in it; and if you prefer, it can be removed. The third row is hard and flat and with tight legroom. The ride is smooth and the cabin is quiet.
Power: 9/10
The Tech, A-Spec, and Platinum Elite A-Spec trims use a naturally-aspirated 3.5L V6 that makes 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. My Type S Ultra tester was powered by a turbocharged 3.0L V6 making 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. Both have a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The Type S’s power numbers are about mid-range in the segment, where the Lincoln Aviator’s turbo V6 makes 400 hp and 415 lb-ft torque; but this engine is a great fit to this Acura. Acceleration is swift but linear, and while it’ll get you past just about anything on the highway, the MDX feels luxurious rather than needlessly over-muscled.
Driving Feel: 9/10
The Type S exclusively has an auto-levelling adaptive air suspension, Brembo four-piston front brake calipers, and a sport+ selectable drive mode. The steering is quick and accurate, and for all its heft, the MDX feels like a smaller vehicle going around curves. As much as 70 per cent of the engine’s torque can go to the rear axle, and from there, all of that can go out the outside rear wheel on a turn. This torque vectoring, as it’s known, helps tuck the vehicle in tighter when cornering. And when you take it down a notch, the MDX moves lightly through traffic as an everyday commuter. It’s simply a pleasure to drive.
Fuel Economy: 7/10
The MDX Type S is rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at 13.8 L/100 km in the city, 11.2 on the highway, and 12.4 combined — a step up from the 11.2 L/100 km combined for the non-turbocharged MDX. In my week with it I got 12.8 L/100 km overall. Premium fuel is recommended.
The MDX’s figures are higher than some in its segment, where the more powerful Lincoln Aviator rates at 11. 9, and the Infiniti QX60 and Lexus TX are 10.0 and 10.3, respectively. Some competitors also offer hybrid powertrains, which the MDX does not.
Value: 7/10
The MDX’s lineup starting price of $69,475 is about average, where the Infiniti QX60 starts at $62,840, but the Lexus TX is $70,955, and the Lincoln Aviator is $78,395. But at the highest trims, the Type S Ultra tops them at $90,525 — some $10,000 more than the Aviator’s top trim and its more-powerful engine. You get a lot with the Type S, but you’re paying for it, too.
The Verdict
The 2025 Acura MDX Type S Ultra isn’t cheap, but if you’re looking at this level, it’s comfortable, great to drive, and with a top-notch interior. It’s definitely worth a look.
| Engine Displacement | 3.0L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | Turbocharged V6 |
| Peak Horsepower | 355 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 354 lb-ft @1,400 rpm |
| Fuel Economy | 13.8 / 11.2 /12.4 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 461 / 1,107 / 2,021 L behind 3rd/snd/1st |
| Model Tested | 2025 Acura MDX Type S Ultra |
| Base Price | $87,930 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,595 |
| Price as Tested | $91,380 |
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Optional Equipment
$755 — Protection package, $755
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