The Japanese Luxury SUV With Sports Car Performance
There was a time not that long ago when an SUV was made to tackle a bit of the muddy stuff, ship the family around, and carry the groceries; that was it. Today, SUVs have been infused with features and characteristics from all segments.
We can now get sedan-like cabins, hatchback-like fuel efficiency, and sports-car-like athleticism, all from one SUV. This luxury Japanese performance SUV made by Acura combines everything in one.
Japanese Luxury SUVs Are Bringing More Performance To The Family-SUV Market
Luxury SUVs used to be a European and American affair, but Japanese brands have become rather good at building SUVs that do more than just ferry people around. Models like the new Mazda CX-5 combine sharp handling and a well-sorted cabin, while Lexus has spent decades making big, comfortable SUVs feel surprisingly composed.
The shift makes sense. Now that the cat is out of the bag, we want space and the raised driving position of an SUV, but also something that doesn’t make the school run feel like you’re driving a delivery van. More powerful engines, clever chassis tuning, and sharp steering are all changing the makeup of some SUVs.
Premium Comfort Without Giving Up A Proper Driving Experience
Luxury SUVs have also become much nicer places to sit in traffic. Think supportive leather seats, quiet cabins, proper sound systems, and enough room for the family, without feeling like you’re driving a tank around.
The trick is making all that comfort work alongside a chassis with some life in it. The best performance SUVs settle down on the highway, then wake up when you want to stretch their legs on a winding bit of road, all while actually being useful for everyday duties.
The Acura MDX Has More Sports Car DNA Than Its Size Suggests
This is where the 2026 Acura MDX comes in. Acura’s flagship three-row SUV completely redefines what a family SUV should be able to do on a back road.
There are six 2026 MDX trims: the Base ($51,800), the Technology Package ($57,200), the A-Spec ($62,400), the Advance ($66,900), the A-Spec Advance ($68,900), and the Type S with Advance Package ($75,850). The MDX is no small SUV, measuring in at 198.4 inches in length by 78.7 inches in width, with a curb weight of between 4,268 and 4,776 pounds.
Super Handling All-Wheel Drive Means Cornering Confidence
The size, the three rows, and the weight may sound on the bloated size for an athletic SUV, but the MDX rides on a rigid, lightweight MDX-exclusive platform that has been tweaked to make it far sharper than its Pilot cousin.
As standard, the Base and Technology Package trims come equipped with a FWD layout, but can be fitted with SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive). All trims above the Technology Package are equipped with SH-AWD as standard.
Unlike conventional AWD rigs that mainly react when a tire loses grip, SH-AWD actively shifts power between the axles and independently controls each rear wheel. When you accelerate, it can send up to 70 percent of engine torque rearward, helping you put down power cleanly off the line.
Its cleverest trick is in the corners. The rear axle can run around 2.7 percent faster than the front, allowing the system to send more torque to the outside rear wheel and help you pull through corners at speed. This also counters understeer, making the MDX models equipped with SH-AWD much more nimble than you’d expect.
The MDX Type S Adds A 355-HP Turbocharged V6
As standard, the new MDX is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 on all trims except for the Type S. Horsepower is rated at 290 at 6,200 rpm, and torque is rated at 267 pound-feet at 4,700 rpm. Power is routed through a ten-speed auto, and 0–60 mph times are at around 6.3 seconds.
But then there is the MDX Type S. Under the hood is a 3.0-liter turbocharged Honda J Series (J30AC) V6 paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. It gets a twin-scroll turbocharger, 24 valves, a 9.8:1 compression ratio, and runs a boost pressure of 15.1 psi.
This all translates to 355 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 354 pound-feet of torque at between 1,400 and 5,000 rpm. Rest-to-60 times are far quicker, at 5.5 seconds, and put it in the same territory as the Audi Q7 55 TFSI (5.3 seconds) and the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 (5.4 seconds).
The MDX Type S Backs Up Its Performance With Real Hardware
This year’s MDX is playing by its own rules; it gets a double-wishbone front suspension setup, a multi-link rear rig, standard mechanical Amplitude Reactive Dampers, and stabilizer bars. In short, it is built for fun driving as much as comfortable driving.
NSX-Derived Brakes And Air Suspension Give The Type S Sports Car Stopping Power
The MDX Type S takes it up a notch, though, and gets adaptive air suspension with automatic leveling. In Comfort mode, it softens the ride, while Sport and Sport+ drop the body by 15 mm for firmer, more focused feedback.
Lift mode raises the body by 50 mm, while automatic leveling keeps things composed when you’re loaded up with the family or are towing a trailer. The brakes get some serious attention as well. Four-piston Brembo brake calipers grip 14.3-inch ventilated discs, with electro-servo brake-by-wire technology borrowed from the NSX Type S for some proper stopping power in a large family SUV.
Three Rows Of Seating And A Premium Cabin Keep It Practical
Yet a family SUV is still what the MDX is, despite its prowess. All models are fitted with three rows of seating as standard, and all models get seven seats; two in the front, three in the middle, and two in the third row.
There is 139.1 cubic feet of passenger space and the middle seat in the second row can be folded down to be used as an armrest, while also giving you captain’s chairs. Up front, you get 38.5 inches of headroom and 41.6 inches of legroom; in the second row, there are 38.1 inches of headroom and 38.5 inches of legroom; and the third row gets 36.2 inches of headroom, but a slightly cramped 29.1 inches of legroom.
The cabin itself gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen (as a much-needed update from the True Touchpad Interface), matching digital instrument display, Google built-in, and wireless phone connectivity. Higher trims get a touch more luxury in the shape of Milano leather, Ultrasuede, heated and ventilated 16-way massaging front seats, open-pore wood, and a 31-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.
Why The MDX Type S Is The Performance Bargain German SUV Buyers Are Missing
J.D. Power rates the 2026 MDX 77 out of 100 overall, while iSeeCars estimates that an MDX has an average lifespan of 185,077 miles with proper maintenance. You can also tow up to 5,000 pounds with it, and you get 16.3 cubic feet of storage space behind the third row, 39.1 cubic feet behind the second row, and with all the seats tucked away, 95 cubic feet.
It is more than just a flashy, fast three-row SUV, yet still a proper family model. The clinching point is the price of the most potent flavor when the 400-horsepower Ford Explorer ST is available from just over $54,300.
The MDX is for those who like a touch of everything fun without leaving usability behind, want lower prices than German SUVs, but don’t mind paying slightly more than some American performance SUVs.
Sources: Acura, J.D. Power, iSeeCars, and Kelley Blue Book.
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