2025 Acura MDX Up Close: Smartly Subtle
Big SUVs are still big business in 2024, and while the refreshed 2025 Acura MDX is closer to a mid-sizer than a mammoth, the three-row SUV has been the brand’s bestseller for the past few years. That’s likely why Acura chose to leave much alone with the mid-cycle update, mostly limiting changes to a few stylistic tweaks and repackaged tech. Here’s what we liked after an hour or so in the 2025 MDX’s (stationary) hot seat.
Related: 2025 Acura MDX Gets a Refresh and Ditches Its Touchpad (Finally!)
A More Aggressive Appearance
Without the outgoing generation present for comparison or a cheat sheet, it’s tough cataloging the exterior changes. The front end is the biggest tell, with much of the lower bumper redesigned with new true pass-through outer air curtains and the upper grille insert now presenting a more aggressive mesh design. These tweaks also ring true for the meatier, range-topping 2025 MDX Type S, though the latter’s updated grille insert is exclusive.
The popular A-Spec appearance package returns for 2025, too, adding the Type S’ front end to the standard MDX without the Type S’ grille insert. It’s a smidge confusing, but less so are the addition of darkened headlight surrounds and redesigned 20- and 21-inch wheels.
No More Touchpad Inside
It’s the interior tech upgrades and trim shuffle that will garner the biggest sales bump, particularly the addition of the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment interface that thankfully does away with the prior touchpad. That old system was clunky and sometimes frustrating to use, and the new touchscreen setup is, well, like any other modern touch infotainment system.
Our time with the 2025 MDX was quite limited, but we did briefly fiddle around with the new touchscreen and redesigned center console. The removal of the touchpad area and repositioned USB-C ports and wireless charge pad are net positives, and the updates clean up an otherwise cluttered space.
We didn’t get to experience the new sound systems, however, which is a shame. The Type S’ 31-speaker Bang & Olufsen thumper features 12 speakers in the headliner alone, which is enough acoustic firepower to elevate even the recordings of your kiddo’s middle-school recital. Other changes weren’t really usable in a studio setting, including a reworked safety suite with active lane change assist and front cross-traffic mitigation, as well as sound-insulation improvements, at least on upper trim levels.
Overall, it’s a nice, tidy touch-up to a three-row SUV that’s already selling like hotcakes. We’re looking forward to our first cruise in the 2025 Acura MDX later this year, but hungry customers get the jump on us with an on-sale start May 2024.
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