Words by: Adam Allen
So here’s the question: Does the knocking get answered or what?
The answer is…mostly. But there are some flies in the ointment.
Lest you think this will be a smear campaign against Acura’s resident flagship, you’d be sorely mistaken. So put down the pitchforks and torches, dear village people, because your angst is misguided. There are many, many redeeming qualities about this luxury 3-row SUV, and we’ll start with the price, a metric so many are concerned with and rightly so. You can scour the MSRP’s of the models that the Type S competes with as much as you like- you will not find anything out there that offers the same level of features or fit and finish that the top dog Acura does. Case in point: The MDX Type S asks $90,656.50 of your dollars but comes with every conceivable bell and whistle on the menu. The BMW X5, you may ask? It commands a $1,000 premium over the Acura and that is for the base model. And good luck finding one on dealer lots that hasn’t been optioned up to way beyond that threshold. Go ahead and look at Audi Q7, Mercedes Benz GLE or anything else that plays in this sandbox of the marketplace- the MDX Type S has ‘em all soundly licked from a value standpoint.
We’re not done lavishing praise just yet.
The last time we welcomed an Acura MDX Type S into the Carpages Garage, we had a tough time modulating our outright contempt towards one maddening feature: the touch pad-based infotainment system. In case you require a refresher, we’ll summarize our vexation thusly: “it’s insipidly designed UI baffled all who encountered it and it serves as a stark reminder of how not to do infotainment. How did this abomination get the green light anyhow?”
So yeah, we didn’t much care for the touch pad a couple of years ago to say the least. The collective sighs of relief when we clambered aboard this 2025 version could have inflated a fleet of hot air ballons. The new touchpad system is light years better than before and response times are snappier too. To put it into perspective of how much better life is with the new system, it would be like giving Max Verstappen an extra 100 horsepower over his competitors- not that he’d need it, but we digress. Suffice it to say that this is a MUCH better way of going about infotainment and takes away our deal breaker proviso on the interface of yore.
Despite some skeletons in the MDX Type S closet, we maintain that it is still an excellent if overlooked option in the segment. The hottest MDX still packs a 3.0 turbocharged V6 courtesy of the TLX Type S sedan that just so happens to fit nicely under the bonnet of an SUV. It makes a hearty 355 horsepower and 354-foot pounds of torque which is certainly enough suds to wake things up a bit from an acceleration standpoint over the naturally aspirated bent sixes of non-Type S MDXs. Reining in the urge are the familiar oversized brakes with candy apple red Brembo calipers, and the new braking hardware is proudly showcased behind huge 21” wheels shod on performance (but set up for winter) rubber. The brake feel and stopping prowess are nearly on the doorstep of sports car metrics and are a delight to deploy. It also boasts air suspension as well as a Sport Plus driving mode that is exclusive to the Type S.
Introduce the throttle to the firewall and the MDX shows you why you sprang for the Type S, which provides appreciably fleet acceleration. The 3.0-litre turbo six-cylinder’s might has been blunted by the higher curb weight of the SUV versus its TLX sedan donor, but it will be more than enough juice for all but the most hopeless power fiends. There are paddle shifters on hand to let you take a further degree of control if you wish, but we didn’t love their somewhat lackadaisical responses, so we just let 10-speed transmission do its thing. However you choose to drive the hottest MDX is your call, but no matter the situation it will bring a smile to your face.
If you like to crank your favorite tunes- in startling clarity and detail up to irresponsible decibel levels we might add- then you’ll love the new Bang and Olufsen stereo that replaces the old ELS unit which was no slouch, we assure you. With 31 speakers and a seemingly endless amount of power it’ll make all your Hans Zimmer wannabes fall to their knees in equal parts awe and gratification. Acura does not command a ridiculous $5,000-plus dollar premium for such an option unlike some of its competitors, which will make the listening experience all that much more rewarding knowing you can still send the little scamps to college after blasting your playlists.
If that isn’t enough to spoil occupants, perhaps the massaging seats will. Normally we try them once and then them turn off because it causes more weird discomfort than bliss. Not so with the Type S- we almost felt guilty for not leaving a nice gratuity on the console after the various programs available would conclude. Each program will leave you in a heighted state of internal harmony- and what better state to enjoy the other flourishes of the MDX’s cockpit, like incredibly comfortable yet supportive quilted leather seats and fine red stitching across the dash- not to mention the superbly executed ambient lighting, if that’s your thing. You’ll arrive at your destination wearing a smile of contentment, that’s for sure.
And yet, we began to wonder if that smile could be bigger. You see, anything wearing a Type S badge promises an elevated driving experience of the highest order in the Acura universe, and while our MDX is without a doubt the zestiest version of the model line ever we admit to feeling somewhat underwhelmed. We’re not saying that Acura should have plucked the old NSX’s hybrid drivetrain and shoehorned it into the MDX chassis and called it a day (make believe aside, we wouldn’t complain) but we do wish they would have moved the needle a little more towards Sport than where the MDX Type S ended up. Perhaps they could dial up the boost or slap a couple of bigger turbos onto the V6 to at least get the horsepower figure to begin with the number 4, like the Ford Explorer ST? Maybe this first ever MDX Type S is simply a launching point for hotter versions in the future, although how long the runway is for that to happen is anyone’s guess. Best to just crank up that lovely B&O sound system, drop the windows (which are the fastest and quietest version of power windows we’ve encountered lately because minutiae!) and just enjoy the ride.
2025 Acura MDX Type S Ultra - Specifications
- Price as tested: $90,656.50
- Powertrain Layout: Front engine/all-wheel drive
- Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6, DOHC, 24 valves
- Horsepower: 355 @ 5,500 rpm
- Torque (lb-ft.): 354 @ 1,400 rpm
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic
- Curb weight: 2,169 kg (4,782 lbs)
- Observed Fuel Consumption: 13.8L/100 km (17 mpg)