Acura completely refreshed the MDX, its luxury midsize three-row SUV, for the 2022 model year. The latest ground-up redesign featured a longer, wider platform offering more interior space, deleted the hybrid option, kept the same 290 horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 with 267 lb-ft of torque, added a 10-speed automatic transmission, and increased the base price by about $2,400. With the 2023 Acura MDX arriving on dealer lots, let’s look at what is in store for its new SUV.

When will Acura release the 2023 MDX SUV?

According to a news release from Acura, the 2023 MDX began arriving on select dealer lots on June 23, 2022. Don’t expect many changes for the new Acura SUV, as it underwent a complete redesign last year. But that doesn’t mean that Acura hasn’t upgraded the MDX’s value in other ways, along with raising the price.

How much does a new Acura MDX cost?

The 2023 Acura MDX base model comes in front-wheel drive (FWD) or “super handling all-wheel drive” (SH-AWD) versions, each with an optional technology package option:

• Base MDX with FWD starting at $49,050
• Base MDX with SH-AWD starting at $51,250
• Base FWD MDX with technology package starts at $53,750
• Base SH-AWD MDX with technology package starts at $55,950

Sportier MDX trims include SH-AWD without an FWD option:

• MDX A-Spec starts at $59,450
• MDX Advance Package starts at $63,000
• MDX Type S starts at $67,350
• MDX Type S Advance Package starts at $72,700

A closer look at the Acura MDX and what’s new for 2023

Acura enhanced the MDX’s value for 2023 by adding complimentary maintenance for the first two years or 24,000 miles and AcuraLink services for three years. The transferable maintenance plan includes “standard oil and filter changes, tire rotation, and multi-point inspections.” In addition, AcuraLink lets you stay connected to your Acura SUV through your smartphone. AcuraLink includes features such as vehicle health reports, sending a location from your phone app to your MDX navigation system, enhanced roadside assistance, and remote start. 

According to Kelley Blue Book, all 2023 MDX trims below the Type S feature the same 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 with 267 lb-ft of torque offered in previous versions. The MDX Type S features a more potent 355 horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 354 lb-ft of torque. Acura backs both engines with a 10-speed automatic transmission and recommends using premium gasoline in both.

The new SUV seats up to seven adults with its three-row seating configuration. Opting for the A-Spec package allows front-seat occupants to talk to those in the back seats through the vehicle’s audio system while automatically muting other audio sources. The Advance package includes a Heads-Up Display (HUD) that projects “useful information onto the windshield directly in front of the driver.”

Is the 2023 Acura MDX worth buying?

If you found the 2022 Acura MDX tempting, the roughly $1,000 price increase for the 2023 may be worth it, given the included maintenance package and AcuraLink. In addition, the new Acura includes the same upgrades found in the 2022 redesign, making it one of the safest, most luxurious, midsize SUVs in its class.