Arriving in showrooms here next month, the 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid will be sit atop of the automaker’s midsize luxo SUV lineup. While the refreshed 2017 MDX was unveiled last year at the New York Auto Show, Acura had not provided final details on the powertrain specs, packaging and pricing of the new Sport Hybrid variant until now.
Motivation for the MDX Sport Hybrid comes from Acura’s 3-motor Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, variations of which also are also found in the 2017 Acura NSX supercar and the RLX sedan.
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The package features a 3.0-liter V6 engine that drives the front wheels via a paddle-shift 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with an integrated motor and a Twin Motor Unit that energizes the rear wheels. Collectively the system churns out 321 horsepower–31 more than a base MDX and the most ever for any Acura SUV–and a total of 289 lb-ft of torque, a bump of 22 units.
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In addition to being quicker and more responsive than its conventional sibling, the MDX Sport Hybrid is more fuel efficient. The Sport Hybrid clocks EPA ratings of 26/27/27 city/highway/combined mpg compared to the 19/26/21 mpg of an AWD MDX. T
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With its SH-AWD system with 4-Mode (Comfort/Normal/Sport/Sport+) Integrated Dynamics System, active dampers and rear-wheel torque vectoring, the MDX Sport Hybrid boast a multifaceted personality that can be tailored to a wide range of driving tastes. Like the regular MDX, the Sport Hybrid features the AcuraWatch suite of standard safety features that include collision mitigation braking, lane departure and forward collision warnings, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise with low-speed follow and road departure mitigation.
Pricing for the 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid with Technology Package starts at $52,935, which is a modest $1,500 premium over the comparably equipped MDX SH-AWD model while the MDX SH-AWD with Advance Package opens at $58,975.
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Check out our Midsize Luxury SUV Buyer’s Guide for a look at what’s new and what’s next.
