When it comes to cars, the 2024 Acura MDX Type S is a three-row SUV. It has great chassis tuning, accurate steering, and a smart drivetrain that gives it performance like a sports sedan in a much bigger package. That makes it one of the class’s most fun vehicles to drive. But none of that is useful because using the infotainment system is so difficult.
The vast majority of the industry has switched to touchscreens, but Acura, being infinitely wise, has chosen to keep the 2024 MDX’s infotainment controls as a touchpad. The huge 12.3-inch central screen isn’t touch-sensitive, so you have to click on a square pad in the center console, which works like a laptop’s touchpad, to change things like the audio source or the navigation location. It also makes the experience bad.
A lot of people need help to use touchscreen entertainment systems while driving. The Acura touchpad system is even worse. Anyone can learn how to use it, but it could be better, especially when you’re driving. We’re sure that people will get used to the tablet, but it’s not a good idea to make a client “get used” to something so easy.
The MDX cabin is a great place to relax, even without the mind-blowing electronics. Although the layout isn’t as fancy as in a Mercedes-Benz GLS or BMW X7, having many real buttons for things like volume and temperature control is still nice. If you choose the Advance option, you’ll get a lot of useful tech, like a head-up display, a 25-speaker sound system, and front sports seats that can be massaged in 16 different ways.
More features are now standard on the Type S. These include remote start, wireless phone charging, air conditioning for the front seats, navigation, and a few extra active safety measures. Some changes to the Type S’s chassis and engine make it feel much faster than it is, but those aren’t the most important ones.
Air suspension comes standard on the MDX Type S. This makes the ride smoother without having the “never settles” feel that some other air-riding systems have. This fast SUV has a 3.0-liter V-6 twin-scroll turbocharged engine that makes 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. It also has all-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
This type of Acura’s “Super Handling” AWD is also not your typical setup. Real torque vectoring is used in the fourth-generation Type S. Like the systems in the TLX Type S and the Volkswagen Golf R; it can send up to 70% of the power from the engine to the back wheels or all of it to the left or right wheels.
If you take the MDX Type S on a winding road, you’ll quickly see how the technology helps. When you speed up while turning, you can feel the computer sending all of your weight to the outside rear wheel. This makes the back of the car spin as you go around a corner. Even though it’s not natural, it improves the ride and makes the car feel a lot more alive.
In general, the car is fun to use. When you set the drive mode knob in the middle to Sport, the speed pedal gets stiffer, and the steering and suspension get stiffer too. This SUV isn’t a sports car, but the well-thought-out changes to its chassis make it look smaller than it is. The 10-speed manual transmission, quick shifters, and standard Brembo brakes make it easy to drive at a normal speed on your favorite back road without feeling like the car is going to flip over. That’s good for a 4,788-pound car. Since the V-6 is fuel-efficient, you can’t say that it’s not the most beautiful engine out there. You can go really fast if you keep your right foot hidden.
When you have a car this big, fun isn’t the main goal. As long as you’re not rushing down your favorite canyon trail, the Type S can fit in and look like any other three-row SUV. The suspension is more than able to smooth out bumps when it is in normal mode, but it is a bit firmer than the average big SUV. Even though the third seat was a little awkward, no one else complained during my four-day trip. If you travel with more than four adults often, you should get something bigger. But it’s not as fun to drive anything bigger than the MDX Type S.
The MDX’s mouse interface is the only thing that keeps me from giving it my full recommendation. But if you want it, you will only be able to get it for a short time. It was announced earlier this year that Acura will no longer make the touchscreen device after 2024. What should happen? It should be a year. By then, the Type S will be a lot more appealing.
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