Great Aspirations

The Acura MDX Type S's turbocharged 355-hp V-6 makes it a contender in the luxury crossover segment.

- JOEY CAPPARELLA

2022 ACURA MDX TYPES

The Type S version of the Acura MDX appears to be a high-performance model in the vein of the SUVs that wear Mercedes-AMG, BMW M, and Audi RS badges. But we think the real play here is simpler than that: Acura wants to move the MDX out of the near-luxury realm and onto a more prestigious plane alongside the Germans and Genesis.

The regular MDX, with its 290-hp 3.5-liter V-6, will continue to constitute the bulk of the models sales, thanks to its attractive base price of $49,045. But now the introduction of the 355-hp Type S version allows Acura to play at the higher price points where the fatter profit margins and more discerning customers are. The MDX Type S thus comes armed with a more powerful engine, a sophisticated suspension setup, and lots of features.