2026 Acura MDX: A Trim for Every Week, Plus the 355-HP Type S
Saturday, 7:10 AM, Brentwood. Soccer bags in the back, a cooler wedged in beside them, and a boat ramp on Old Hickory Lake waiting after the 9:00 game. The 2026 Acura MDX is built for mornings like that, and 2026 is also the last model year for its fastest version.
The 2026 MDX seats up to seven. Most trims use a 290-horsepower V6, and the Type S Advance adds a 355-horsepower twin-turbo V6. Acura confirmed this fall that it will pause Type S production after 2026, citing uncertainty around upcoming EPA emissions rules rather than weak demand. Dealers are expected to have supply into early 2027, and Acura hasn’t announced a return date.
The rest of the lineup carries on, nearly unchanged from the refreshed 2025 model. Below, we match each trim to a different kind of week: the long commute, the full carpool, the lake weekend and the drive that’s just for fun. Then we cover the tech and whether waiting for the 2027 makes sense.
The 2026 Acura MDX at a Glance
The 2026 Acura MDX is a seven-passenger, three-row luxury SUV that carries over nearly unchanged from the refreshed 2025 model. A 3.5-liter V6 makes 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic, and the Type S swaps in a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. Remote start is now standard on the Technology Package and A-Spec, where it was optional last year.
There are six trims. Front-wheel drive and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) are both offered on the base and Technology trims. Everything from A-Spec up comes with SH-AWD.
| Trim | Drivetrain | Engine | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDX | FWD or SH-AWD | 3.5L V6, 290 hp | Panoramic moonroof, power liftgate, tri-zone climate control, 19-inch wheels |
| Technology Package | FWD or SH-AWD | 3.5L V6, 290 hp | 20-inch wheels, remote start, 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio, hands-free tailgate, parking sensors |
| A-Spec Package | SH-AWD | 3.5L V6, 290 hp | Sport exterior and interior styling, sport steering wheel, LED fog lights |
| Advance Package | SH-AWD | 3.5L V6, 290 hp | Massaging 16-way front seats, ventilated front seats, head-up display, surround-view camera |
| A-Spec Advance Package | SH-AWD | 3.5L V6, 290 hp | A-Spec styling plus the Advance comfort and tech content |
| Type S Advance | SH-AWD | 3.0L twin-turbo V6, 355 hp | Adaptive air suspension, Brembo brakes, 21-inch wheels, 31-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio |
Each one fits a different kind of week. Start with the one most of us live.
The Weekday Commute: Advance Package
The Advance Package is the MDX to look at if your weekdays happen behind the wheel. It adds 16-way power front seats with massage, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 10.5-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera.
Picture the drive home on I-65 after a long day. The seat is cooling you down, the massage is running, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and Traffic Jam Assist are there for the stop-and-go. Blind Spot Information and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, standard on every trim, cover the lane changes and the backup out of the parking space at the end.
The tradeoff is simple. If you don’t need the massage and the ventilation, the Technology Package already includes the 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio, remote start and parking sensors. The Advance is a comfort step up, not a different vehicle. A-Spec Advance puts the sport styling on top of it.
The Weekend Crew: Third Row and Cargo
The 2026 MDX seats up to seven and holds 16.3 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row by Acura’s standard measurement. Fold the third row and that becomes 39.1 cubic feet behind the second row. Fold both and you have 71.4 cubic feet behind the front seats, with a 95.0 cubic-foot maximum listed.
On a weekend with a full carpool, the third row is where those numbers get tested. Reviewers describe it as tight for taller adults, so it’s best judged with the people who will actually sit there. Bring the kids and the car seats and see how the rows work for your family before you decide.
The Lake Weekend: Towing With SH-AWD
Acura rates front-wheel-drive MDX models to tow 3,500 pounds and SH-AWD models to tow 5,000 pounds, properly equipped. If your weekends involve a boat and Old Hickory Lake out of Hendersonville, SH-AWD is the drivetrain to look at.
Then do the math before you hitch. The boat, trailer, fuel and gear all count against the rating, and the trailer and hitch carry ratings of their own. We’d rather you weigh it once at home than find out at the ramp. If you plan to tow with the Type S Advance, ask us to confirm its rating first, because we won’t guess at it.
The Drive That’s Just for Fun: A-Spec and Type S
If you still like driving, the A-Spec and the Type S are the two trims to compare, and they answer the question differently. A-Spec is about looks and steering feel: sport styling inside and out, a sport steering wheel and LED fog lights. It isn’t more power. The V6 is the same 290 horsepower as every trim except the Type S.
The Type S Advance is the one with the extra power. Its 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 makes 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, available from 1,400 to 5,000 rpm. It also adds adaptive air suspension, Brembo brakes, 21-inch wheels and a 31-speaker Bang & Olufsen system. The tradeoff is fuel: the EPA rates it at 17 city, 21 highway and 19 combined, and Acura recommends 91-octane premium.
Acura says some Type S features and styling will carry over to other models, though it hasn’t said which. If the extra power is what you want, this is the model year to get it.
Music, Maps and Voice: The Cabin Tech
Every 2026 MDX has a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and Google built-in, which puts Google Maps and voice control in the dashboard without needing your phone. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Acura has added Google Gemini to every MDX from the 2025 model year on, so the 2026 has it once you’re signed in to a Google account.
A Friday night drive into Nashville is better with the 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen system that comes with the Technology Package. The Type S Advance steps up to 31 speakers.
AcuraWatch and Safety Ratings
AcuraWatch is Acura’s standard suite of driver-assistance and collision-avoidance features, and every 2026 MDX has it. It includes:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System with forward collision warning
- Road Departure Mitigation and Lane Keeping Assist
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, plus Traffic Jam Assist
- Blind Spot Information and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor
- Traffic Sign Recognition
NHTSA gives the 2026 MDX five stars overall, based on testing of the front-wheel-drive configuration. IIHS lists the 2025-26 MDX as a 2025 Top Safety Pick, with Good ratings in the small overlap and updated side tests.
Should You Wait for the 2027 Acura MDX?
Probably not, unless you’re waiting on a feature Acura hasn’t announced. Acura has promised enhancements for the 2027 MDX but hasn’t published a full list. It has not announced a redesign, the current generation dates to 2022, and Edmunds reports a hybrid is unlikely for 2027. Gemini, the one headline software upgrade so far, is already on the 2026.
The one confirmed change is a subtraction. The Type S doesn’t return. So waiting costs one kind of buyer a great deal and everyone else very little. If a specific 2027 feature matters to you, ask us, and we’ll tell you what Acura has published as of today.
Bring Your Real Week to the Test Drive
Don’t test drive an MDX in a vacuum. Bring the car seats, the cooler, the trailer hitch measurements, whatever your week actually includes. Stop by Gary Force Acura at 1634 Westgate Circle in Brentwood, drive a Technology Package SH-AWD south on I-65 toward Cool Springs, and ask what Type S Advance inventory we have so you can drive that one too. We serve drivers across Middle Tennessee, from Franklin and Nashville to Murfreesboro and Hendersonville. The right trim is the one that fits your week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2026 Acura MDX Type S being discontinued?
Acura is pausing Type S production after the 2026 model year, not announcing a permanent cancellation. The company cited uncertainty around upcoming EPA emissions rules and hasn’t given a return date. Acura expects dealer supply to last into early 2027, so the 2026 is the last Type S for now.
Which MDX trim is best for a family?
The Technology Package with SH-AWD is a strong place to start. It adds remote start, 20-inch wheels and 19-speaker audio over the base trim, and SH-AWD is available on it. Bring your car seats and test both the second and third rows with them installed.
How much can the 2026 Acura MDX tow?
SH-AWD models are rated to tow 5,000 pounds, properly equipped. Front-wheel-drive models are rated at 3,500 pounds. Those numbers cover everything you hitch, so add up the trailer, the boat or cargo, and the gear before you head to Old Hickory Lake or anywhere else.
Can adults sit comfortably in the MDX third row?
Kids fit easily, and adults can manage shorter trips. The 2026 MDX seats up to seven, but reviewers describe the third row as tight for taller adults. If three adults will ride in the back row often, test it with the people who will actually sit there.
What’s different about the 2026 MDX compared with 2025?
Not much. The engines, 10-speed automatic, chassis and safety systems carry over. The main equipment change is that remote start is now standard on the Technology Package and A-Spec. If you’re cross-shopping a 2025 and a 2026, compare the actual window stickers rather than assuming they match.
Does the Acura MDX require premium gas?
Acura recommends 91-octane premium unleaded for the MDX. The EPA rates front-wheel-drive models at 22 mpg combined and SH-AWD models at 21. The Type S Advance is rated at 19 mpg combined.
What safety ratings has the 2026 Acura MDX earned?
NHTSA rates the 2026 MDX five stars overall, based on the front-wheel-drive configuration. IIHS lists the 2025-26 MDX as a 2025 Top Safety Pick. Ratings are specific to the configuration and test year, so check IIHS and NHTSA for the exact trim you’re considering.