Acura updates MDX crossover for 2022, adds ‘Type S’ variant
On the Road,
The fourth generation of Acura’s MDX seven-passenger crossover has arrived for 2022, featuring improvements across the board – from a new, more-rigid chassis to a more premium interior, along with plenty of new technology.
Because there was no 2021 model, Acura began producing the restyled 2022 MDX at its East Liberty, Ohio, plant in January 2021, and it went on sale in early February.
But in late December, Acura rolled out the promised new MDX Type S model with a turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 gasoline engine, cranking out 355 horsepower and 354 foot-pounds of torque.
Those are arriving at dealerships now, with a starting price of $66,700 (plus $1,045 freight) for the base Type S model, and $72,050 for the Type S Advance model.
Regular MDX models are powered by the same 3.5-liter direct-injected V-6 engine from the previous model, with some enhancements, producing 290 horsepower and 267 foot-pounds of torque.
Also new for 2022 is a 10-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous nine-speed. All models come with steeringwheel-mounted
This is the redesigned 2022 Acura MDX in the A-spec trim level, which starts at $58,400. All-wheel drive is included.
paddle shifters to allow the driver to manually choose the gears.
The regular models start with the base MDX frontwheel-drive at $48,000. The others are the base frontdrive MDX with Technology Package ($52,700); base model with Acura’s Super Handling All-wheel Drive ($50,200); and three more all-wheel-drive versions: the MDX with Technology Package ($54,900); MDX A-spec ($58,400); and MDX with Advance Package ($61,950).
Overall, the new MDX
comes with a wider and longer body that provides more passenger space in all three rows, with significantly more headroom for front and third-row passengers. Acura says the new chassis was made more rigid to improve handling, ride comfort, and crash safety.
This newest version is nearly five inches longer than the previous MDX generation, which also adds some space to the cargo area. The third row has an additional 0.4 inches of headroom, 2.4 inches of legroom and a seating position that’s two
inches higher from the floor compared to the previous model.
Included is a new ultrawide panoramic moon roof designed to open the cabin up to provide natural light to all three rows, and it’s included on all models.
Among new technology is the Precision Cockpit alldigital instrument display. The 2022 MDX also comes with built-in Amazon Alexa integration, along with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto connections
Added to the cabin is a “multi-function” three
DEAR CAR TALK:
My husband has a 2012 Ford Focus with a manual transmission. I have tried to drive this car, but not only am I not very good at it, he has no patience for me driving it (or learning to get better at it).
Every time I stall or screech or hit the engine too hard, a part of him dies. I’ve offered to buy a new automatic car, but he doesn’t want to get rid of this car until it breaks down.
Can you tell me a safe way I can make it “break down” so that we can get on with our life and marriage? I would appreciate it very much. Thank you!
– Mary
Well, if you want to go undetected, you could just buy a $10 oil filter wrench, and then loosen the filter by about half a turn. That’ll create a slow oil leak and seize the engine in a few weeks. Or if you’re less concerned about subtlety, there’s always a fire.
Actually, it’s wasteful to ruin a perfectly good car, and I can’t, in good conscience, recommend that. The real problem here is your husband’s impatience.
I remember when I was teaching my teenage son to drive a stick shift in a big, empty parking lot. He’d be lurching and stalling, and I’d be sighing and saying “do this, do that, no, don’t do that.”
Finally, he stopped the car and said “Get out.”
So, I got out, and he proceeded to buck and stall for about half an hour, and by the time I walked home, he’d figured it out.
I think what you need is a different teacher. It’s hard to find driving schools with stick-shift cars these days, but there is Craigslist.
So post an ad that reads “Married woman seeks wise, skilled, patient individual to teach me to drive stick on his or her car, long walks on the beach optional.”
Somewhere, there’s someone who would love to share their skillset with you, whose family has abandoned them and embraced automatic transmissions, who’s been waiting years to see an ad like this.
And since your teacher won’t be related to you, you’ll feel much more relaxed, and be able to make normal newbie mistakes while you learn, without the withering scorn of your husband’s sighs.