When Acura revealed the MDX in 2001, the vehicle was the automaker's entry into the budding crossover segment. The first MDX offered consumers premium features and a spacious interior, which is something the 2018 continues to do.
What's New for 2018
Only minor changes have been made for the new MDX. The crossover gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility as standard, and the automaker's suite of safety and driver assist features, which it calls AcuraWatch, as standard, as well. On the inside, there's a new 7.0-inch capacitive touchscreen that the automaker claims is 30 percent quicker to respond than the old unit. Lastly, the exterior gets two new colors: Basque Red and San Marino Red. Pricing for the MDX has increased by $140 to $150 over the outgoing model, depending on what trim level you go for.
Choosing Your Acura MDX
Just like last year, the MDX is only available with one powertrain: a 3.5-liter V6 engine that’s paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque and sends power down to the front wheels as standard. Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system costs an additional $2,000. When all of the right boxes are ticked, the MDX is capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds.
The MDX is a mid-size SUV with three available rows of seating. With the second and third rows folded, the MDX offers a whopping 91 cubic feet of cargo space. With the third row in place, it offers roughly 16 cubic feet of space, which is similar to its competitors.
The MDX's fuel economy figures are also comparable to competitors. The front-wheel-drive variant is rated by the EPA at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway (23 mpg combined). All-wheel-drive models brings that down slightly to 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway (22 mpg combined).
AcuraWatch, which is now standard, adds various features, including: forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and road departure mitigation.
The 2018 MDX is available in one trim, which starts at $45,175 (all prices include the $975 destination fee) that drivers can build off of. Standard exterior features on the MDX include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and taillights, a power moonroof, heated side mirrors, and a power-operated tailgate. As far as interior features go, the SUV comes with a 10-way power driver's seat, an eight-way power passenger's seat, heated front seats, memory settings for the driver's seat, tri-zone automatic climate control, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen as standard.
There are three available packages on the 2018 MDX:
Technology
The Technology Package costs $4,400, bringing the price of the MDX up to $49,575. The package adds perforated leather seats and GPS-linked climate control to the SUV. As far as exterior features go, the package includes 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and power-folding side mirrors with LED puddle lights. Other features include: remote start, a Color Multi-Information Display (MID) with turn-by-turn guidance, a rear door smart key entry system, a Blind Spot Information System, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, Acura Navigation System with 3D view, and a 10-speaker audio system.
Entertainment
Buyers need to purchase the Technology Package to unlock the $2,000 Entertainment Package, which adds bench seats for the second row, a 9.0-inch full display screen, an 11-speaker audio system, heated second row seats with three positions, rear door sunshades, two wireless headphones, a removable ceiling-mounted remote control, and a 110-volt power outlet. If paired with the Advance Package, the Entertainment Package upgrades to feature a 12-speaker audio system and an ultra-wide 16.2-inch display screen.
Advance
The Advance Package is the most expensive one of the bunch and costs $6,050. Getting the Advance Package requires the Technology Package, as well. The Advance Package adds perforated leather seats with contrast stitching and piping, heated and ventilated front seats, second-row heated captain's chairs, a second-row center console, natural wood accents, a heated steering wheel, second-row sun shades, two USB ports in the third row, LED fog lights, auto dimming side mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround view camera.
With AcuraWatch part of the MDX's list of standard features, consumers can turn their direction on getting one of the available packages. All-wheel drive is worth the additional $2,000 for vehicles that will see inclement weather, while the Technology Package is the only major package we'd consider getting, as it adds navigation. Keeping optional features to a minimum is important with the MDX, as prices soar up near $60,000 for a fully-loaded model.