The new generation of Acura’s mid-size crossover is here but that’s not the end of novelties for this year. While the standard model has already debuted, a hi-performance version will arrive later in the year. The Japanese manufacturer brings back the famous Type S badge, which will bring a lot of upgrades with it. For example, we are about to see a more powerful engine, upgraded suspension, enhanced styling and more features in general.
So, what you’re about to see a faster and more capable version of this, already pretty amazing SUV. Of course, the key features will remain the same, which means excellent mechanics, solid interior quality, spacious interior and a decent list of standard equipment. On the other side, the infotainment system will remain the key drawback of this model, as it isn’t particularly user-friendly.
The 2022 Acura MDX Type S is expected to hit the market later in the year.
2022 Acura MDX Type S Redesign
Of course, the new 2022 Acura MDX Type S will be heavily based on the base model, which came completely redesigned a few months ago. The new model brings mostly evolutionary changes, but this particular version will represent a big comeback of the famous “Type S” badge. Naturally, we will see a lot of upgrades compared to the standard model.
One of the first things that come to mind is the suspension setup. The base model already offers pretty sporty handling, so we presume Honda engineers will go even further with this model. In other words, we expect a stiffer setup, as well as slightly lower ground clearance.
Naturally, we will also see a number of exclusive styling details, which will emphasize the model’s performance character. Some of the first things that come to mind are new wheels and exclusive color options, but we also count on more aggressive bumpers and maybe even a new grille. Also, the new model will feature a new quad exhaust system.
2022 Acura MDX Type S Engine
The biggest upgrade compared to the standard model will be a new engine. We are about to see a new, 3.0-liter V6 engine, upgraded with a turbocharger. Of course, the engine will come with a 10-speed transmission, while Honda’s well-known SH-AWD system will be standard. The max output will go around 355 horsepower, which should provide a notable upgrade in terms of acceleration. We expect this SUV will be able to hit 60 in a little bit over 5 seconds.
When it comes to fuel economy, we don’t expect to see bigger differences compared to the base model with a 3.5-liter V6 engine. The base version returns around 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, so we may expect something similar from the new 2022 Acura MDX Type S.
Interior
Naturally, we count on upgrades on the inside as well. However, those modifications probably won’t be too big. We could see new color schemes and new materials, but most of the things should remain the same or similar to the standard model. That’s not a bad thing at all. The new generation looks really nice from the inside in every aspect. The materials are nice, while the build quality is very good. Furthermore, the dashboard looks much more upscale than before.
The 2022 Acura MDX Type S won’t be just sporty, but practical as well. It comes with three rows of seats, where the first two are really spacious and comfortable. The third row isn’t that spacious but can be useful for kids. When it comes to the cargo area, you may count on about 16.3 cubic feet of room behind the third-row seats, 39.1 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down, and 71.4 cubes with the second and third rows folded down.
Features
As we are talking about the most expensive version of the SUV, we presume that the list of standard equipment will be pretty long. Some sources suggest that the 25-speaker ELS audio system will be added to the list of standard equipment. Other than that, the list of standard equipment should also include goodies like tri-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch display, a touchpad controller, a nine-speaker stereo, satellite radio, HD Radio, USB ports, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless device charging, Amazon Alexa, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
When it comes to safety, the list of standard equipment should include things like a rearview camera, driver drowsiness monitoring, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, road departure mitigation, blind spot monitoring, traffic jam assist, rear cross traffic alert, and traffic sign recognition.
2022 Acura MDX Type S Release Date and Price
We expect to see 2022 Acura MDX Type S sometime late in the year, with a starting price of around 65.000 dollars.