Performance

The 2022 Acura MDX is rocking the same power plant as the 2020 version – a 3.5-liter V6 that offers up to 19 city/26 highway MPG. The 2022 utilizes a ten-speed automatic, an upgrade from the nine-speed in the 2020. This equates to slightly better acceleration in the 2022 model, while retaining the same level of acceleration and pure power for your driving enjoyment. If you’re planning on using the new MDX to tow some toys to the lake or vacation home, you’ve got the power there – like its predecessor, it can tow up to 5,000 pounds properly equipped!

Front wheel drive is standard, with Acura’s excellent SH-AWD available for rough roads and poor weather regions. New double-wishbone front suspension combines with larger, wider wheels to give the 2022 MDX even sharper cornering than before. Add an electric power steering booster to the mix – with improved tuning in 2022 – and the new MDX is one of the sharpest-handling mid-size SUVs in the market! The previous 2020 model was already touted for its driver-friendly handling, the 2022 edition just kicks it up another notch.

Design & Comfort

The redesign of the MDX for 2022 has improved the already-cavernous interior. The vehicle is bulked up as well, longer and wider for the 2022 model year, adding 2.8 inches to the wheelbase over the 2020 model. This allows third-row passengers to have an extra inch of legroom, while also providing for an extra 2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row – up to 18 cubic feet from 16 cubic feet in the 2020 Acura MDX. The convertible second row is a great party trick as well. With the center seat in, you have room for seven. Remove it, and you’ve got more room to move around the interior seat space for six, as the outside seats convert to captains’ chairs.

Design isn’t just size either – its substance. Rich, high-grade materials including available wood accents and leather wrap for the dash add an air of luxury. The standard panoramic moonroof, operated via CabinControl, allows you to create the perfect lighting and climate inside the 2022 Acura MDX.

Technology

Connectivity is the name of the game in modern vehicles. You expect even the most basic, entry level vehicles to have some semblance of integration into daily life. For a luxury SUV, you need it to go above and beyond!

The 2022 Acura MDX adds wireless Apple CarPlay to the mix, which wasn’t supported in the past. Android Auto integration is still there, as well as Amazon Alexa, all routed through the massive 12.3-inch HD center display. By adding this support onto the already-packed 2020 model, the 2022 MDX can now work with whatever operating system you have, right out of the factory.

This works both ways – AcuraLink, standard on all models, allows you to stay connected to your MDX through your smartphone. You can use this to map where you parked your vehicle with Find My Car, receive Automated Collision Notifications, and warm it up in the winter with Remote Start, all from the palm of your hand!

Safety

You’re checking out SUVs because you need to move people. So you want safety features that will protect your precious cargo! Innovative safety and driver-assistive technology is standard across the MDX model range. This includes Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, and more! The 360-degree Surround View Camera, combined with the Blind Spot Information System and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, help to make you aware of what is going on around your vehicle more than ever before.

If you can find a 2020 Acura MDX hanging around the lot, it’s still a great buy, especially at model-year-end clearance prices. But if the slightly higher price tag on the 2022 Acura MDX is doable, you’d be kicking yourself for not hopping in and checking one out! With packages like the A-Spec, Tech Package, and Advance Package, there are plenty of options to make your MDX your own. More pick-up, sharper handling, a larger interior and upgraded tech make the 2022 MDX one of the best luxury SUVs on the market today!