The 2026 Acura MDX is a bargain among 3-row luxury SUVs. Legendary Honda reliability means you can depend on it beyond the end of its warranty, and luxury touches like available Milano leather upholstery and Bang & Olufsen audio with up to 31 speakers make it more luxurious than any Honda.
Acura builds it with two engines – a 3.5-liter V6 making 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque or, in the high-performance Type S model, a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.
You can get the former in front- or all-wheel drive (FWD or AWD). The latter comes only in AWD. Acura’s “Super Handling All-Wheel Drive” (“SH-AWD” in Acura-speak) system doesn’t just add grip. It uses torque vectoring – braking the inner wheel in turns – to point the vehicle into corners more precisely.
That amounts to three powertrains. Here’s how to know which is right for you.
What’s the Price Difference?
In model year 2026, you can pay as little as $53,850 (all prices listed here include the mandatory $1,550 destination fee) for an MDX. That price gets you the base setup – the 290-hp engine and FWD layout. This setup is the right answer for many buyers, with enough power for daily tasks, and many drivers don’t need the added grip of AWD where they live.
If you want more luxuries than the base model offers, Acura makes some available through a Technology package, so you can upgrade the MDX’s cabin without opting for a more expensive powertrain.
A medium step pairs that engine with Acura’s SH-AWD setup. That starts at just $1,700 more than the base model, a low price by the standards of luxury automakers, and well worth it if you live where snow and ice impact your driving.
It also unlocks several more option packages, giving you more choices in audio, upholstery, and other creature comforts.
The more powerful engine comes only on the MDX Type S, which starts at $77,400. A jump of more than $23,000 over the base model should tell you this is not just an engine upgrade. “Type S” is Acura’s term for a specialist high-performance model. Beyond the more powerful engine, it gets everything from a special adaptive air suspension that responds to road conditions to a unique 31-speaker audio system and sport seats.
Which Is More Efficient?
The base FWD model is the most efficient, but these three powertrains don’t differ much in fuel costs.
According to the EPA, the FWD version will get 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving. An AWD model with the base engine will get 21 mpg. The high-performance Type S gets a 19-mpg rating, which could result in a $600 increase in annual fuel costs over the base model.
Which Is Faster?
Acura doesn’t provide its own acceleration times for the MDX, but publications that do track testing tend to find that the base model gets from zero to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds, while the Type S does it about a second faster.
The Type S is also more agile on the track thanks to its adaptive air suspension. If performance is important to you, it’s the primary reason to buy a Type S.
Which MDX Powertrain Is Better?
For most buyers, the sweet spot in the MDX lineup is the midpoint – the base engine, but with AWD.
The FWD base model is more than enough for most buyers’ needs, but buying it limits the available option packages. Stepping up to the AWD model adds just $1,700 – a reasonable price for AWD – and unlocks most packages and options.
The Type S is a highly specialized vehicle that will appeal to few. It’s a lot of fun, but there’s limited demand for a high-performance 3-row SUV, and the price premium to get into it is extreme.
We’re fans of Acura’s Type S lineup, particularly in smaller vehicles like the Integra. In a big family vehicle like the MDX, it makes sense for only a unique subset of buyers.
