2023 Acura MDX Type S Ultra Video, Review, And Pricing

By: Joshua Lee
April 25, 2023

Last year, we reviewed the Acura MDX A-Spec, and we liked how this fourth-generation midsize SUV looked. For current MDX owners or families who are looking for a luxury three-row SUV, the all-new MDX is a well-rounded vehicle money can buy. Acura wasn’t finished yet, as they released a high-performance variant, making the MDX the first Acura SUV to wear the Type S badge.

2023 Acura MDX Type S Ultra - Driveman.ca

When the opportunity came from Honda Canada to let us take the 2023 MDX Type S Ultra for a week, why would we refuse? The MDX Type S has the same 3.0L twin-scroll turbo V6 found in the TLX Type S, making 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque at 1,400–5,000 RPM. The 10-speed automatic transmission is also enhanced with a new “torque converter, stronger gears, and improved clutches” that upshift 30% faster in Sport+ and downshift 40% faster using the paddle shifters.

Compared to the A-Spec, the power enhancement works well with quicker acceleration that pushes us back into our seats, making us forget that this is 242.5 pounds (110 kilograms) heavier. The weight gain is due to performance components such as two additional sub-radiators for cooling, stiffer stabilizer bars, adaptive dampers, Brembo front four-piston calipers with 14.3-inch rotors, and air suspension. Full-time all-wheel drive (SH-AWD) is standard, with a rear-bias setup for sportier driving.

If you put the A-Spec and the Type S together, there isn’t much to differentiate between the two, especially when we have them both in Performance Red Pearl. The obvious giveaway would be the Type S badge, a more aggressive front and rear fascia, red brake calipers, and quad exhaust outlets. Look closer, and you’ll find that the Type S has a body-coloured grille surround, an “open-surface” Diamond Pentagon grille, dark-finish tail lights, and these gorgeous 21-inch Berlina Black, machine finished alloy wheels wrapped in 275/40R21 Continental WinterContact TS 860 S winter tires.

A flagship SUV must make you feel spoiled, and this is where the Ultra package comes into play. Another Acura first: massaging front seats with nine different modes that are heated and ventilated, which we don’t want to get out of. The 16-way, quilted leather seats are very comfortable with nice bolstering, and the 1000-watt, 25-speaker ELS Studio 3D Signature Edition audio system immerses you in studio quality music. Acura’s touchpad interface is still finicky on its 12.3-inch screen, but you’ll get used to it after a while. This SUV still seats seven with 461.6 litre behind the third row and expands to 2021.8 litre behind the front seats.

The MDX Type S gets two extra driving modes. Sport+ with quicker transmission shifts, increased engine sound pumped into the cabin, 1,000RPM engine idle speed for better launch performance, lower ride height by 0.5-inches, tighter damper settings, and steering response. Lift mode raises the SUV by two inches, which would be useful in less-than-optimal road conditions. We do feel slight differences in each driving mode, but even in Sport and Sport+, the Type S still feels luxurious on the road. Handling is sharper and more responsive than the regular MDX, but we feel too composed even in Sport and Sport+ and wish this SUV could be livelier.

Fuel economy ratings for the Type S are 13.8L/100KM city, 11.2L/100KM highway, for a combined 12.4L/100KM. Driving mostly in Sport+, we’ve achieved 13.4L/100KM.

The Base MDX starts at $61,806, Tech at $65,806, A-Spec at $68,806, Platinum Elite at $72,806, Type-S at $82,906, and Type S Ultra at 86,906. Our model comes to $87,406 with the optional paintjob and after delivery and taxes.

While the Acura MDX is a popular SUV to pick, the Type S does offer something special. Here’s the unpopular opinion: yes, the SUV looks cool and performs well, but our first impressions were that “355 horsepower fits better in the A-Spec and Platinum Elite”. We believe there should be more distinction between the trim levels, as an additional 65 horsepower isn’t enough to separate it from its regular variant. Another problem is that most people look at the Type S badge as high-performance, and Acura has priced this vehicle to compete with base luxury SUVs like the Audi Q7 55 and BMW X5 40i, in which case, the Type S is worth getting. When you try to compete with the SQ7 and the X5 M50i, the MDX becomes obsolete.

Not that the Type S needs 500 horsepower, it certainly doesn’t, but we can’t help but think that this SUV is holding back from what it can really do. It has all the right parts for a dynamic, riveting vehicle, but it still leans toward being a luxury cruiser. The MDX Type S has an active exhaust that opens up a valve so the V6 can be heard; there is virtually no aggressive noise when you listen outside. Even using the remote engine start, looking at those quad exhausts with no noise was surprising.

Somewhere close to the 400 mark would do the MDX Type S some good, and you could save a bit of weight by opting out of the Ultra package. If you’re just comparing the MDX by itself, we would still get the A-Spec, as it’s hard to spend close to twenty grand extra for something that still feels familiar. However, the Type S is tempting to get when you want a bit of everything for the best value. We just want a little more.