We have always liked the Acura MDX — with one glaring downside. It is a sporty and well-equipped three-row luxury crossover that is a little more exciting and fun-to-drive compared to the rest, but its clunky touchpad-based infotainment has always been a letdown. With Acura finally ditching that setup this year in favour of a touchscreen, we were looking forward to getting back behind the wheel. Our expectations were high; with this one major downside finally fixed, the 2025 Acura MDX Type S Ultra is now among the top options in one of the hottest segments in the industry.
Along with the new infotainment, the MDX receives a minor facelift for the 2025 model year. It is fitted with a redesigned front bumper and grille as well as darkened headlights and tail lights. These changes might be subtle for most buyers unless you park the new MDX beside the old one, but the MDX’s overall sportiness still works. The elongated silhouette and new 21-inch wheel design pair well with the bold new colour options for 2025, including Apex Blue Pearl, a shade exclusive to the Type S Ultra.
Inside, the most noteworthy update is obviously the new infotainment. By going to a straightforward command system, the 12.3-inch touchscreen interface truly elevates the user experience using simplicity — and the Google-based software, not to mention wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, makes it even easier to live with.
Maybe it is the crisp display resolution, the overall snappiness of the system, or the massive improvement in usability over the outgoing system, but we find the new infotainment to be a joy to use despite the screen being small by modern standards. Acura also added a 31-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system to the Type S Ultra; it’s a fantastic unit in terms of sound quality.
Every occupant in the first two rows will find the MDX comfortable, with ample headroom, legroom, and great ergonomics. The Elite A-Spec and Type S Ultra models offer massaging seats for front passengers; you can actually feel it working its magic. The seats themselves strike a good balance between excellent bolstering for sporty driving without feeling too restrictive for comfortable commuting. Unless you are coming from an Integra Type R with racing buckets, the MDX’s seats are perfect for almost everyone.
Acura’s turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 remains under the hood of the MDX Type S Ultra, shared with the TLX Type S. Generating 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, this powerplant is far livelier than the standard, normally aspirated 3.5L V6, propelling the MDX effortlessly at any given moment. While power is absolutely plentiful, it is worth noting the Type S delivers it far less forcefully than its German competitors. We found this added smoothness refreshing, but one aspect we wish the MDX could channel more from its counterparts is a sense of theatre. We would not be opposed to a more pronounced soundtrack, and maybe some pops and bangs from the exhaust.
We have always found the MDX handles well, and unsurprisingly, the Type S is no exception. We like the size and weight of the sporty steering wheel, and there is actually a good sense of feedback for a typical, electrically boosted steering rack. Acura’s well-known Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) system plays a big part in contributing to the fun; it can send up to 70 per cent of power to the rear axle, and 100 per cent of that to the outside rear wheel. Translation? During several snowy test runs, we found the MDX Type S offers a fun and confidence-inspiring sense of rotation around corners that you don’t get with traditional all-wheel-drive systems.
Fuel economy is rated at 13.8 L/100 km in the city, 11.2 on the highway, and 12.4 combined. Our city-heavy commute returned an average of 14.2 L/100 km which is on the high side, but justifiable given our test took place in the dead of winter. While the MDX Type S Ultra can accept regular-grade gas for its 70-litre tank, you will need to pump in premium to get the most performance.
The 2025 MDX starts at a palatable $66,880 for the base Tech trim, but that jumps rather abruptly. Our Type S Ultra tester, with its optional quilted red leather interior, worked out to $88,530 as-tested. Compared to its two arch-rivals, the Infiniti QX60 and Lexus TX, the MDX is noticeably pricier but makes up for that with a sense of athleticism its Japanese rivals cannot match.
By listening to feedback and making one simple change, the 2025 Acura MDX Type S Ultra has significantly expanded its charm and appeal. It has a long list of standard equipment, it is comfortable, and it drives incredibly well. Though pricier than its key Japanese rivals, it bridges the gap between vanilla, run-of-the-mill three-row crossovers and dedicated fire-breathers from BMW’s M and Mercedes’ AMG divisions. Who knew such a little change could go a very long way?
