2026 Acura MDX vs 2025 and Previous Years
Shopping the 2026 Acura MDX means running into a lot of listings for 2025, 2024, and even 2022 models on the same lot. That is not a mistake. The MDX you see today traces back to a full redesign for the 2022 model year, and since then Acura has made only two meaningful updates. Findlay Acura in Henderson stocks new 2026 MDX models alongside pre-owned and Certified Pre-Owned MDX SUVs from earlier years.
This page walks through what changed, when it changed, and which model year actually fits your budget.
Shop Acura MDXQuick Comparison Notes
- The 2026 MDX and the 2025 MDX are the same vehicle. Acura made no changes for 2026. If you find a 2025 model priced lower, you are not giving anything up.
- 2025 was the year that mattered. Acura swapped the old touchpad-controlled infotainment for a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, redesigned the center console, and refreshed the front fascia.
- Every MDX since the 2022 redesign runs the same 3.5-liter V6 or, on Type S trims, the same turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. Engine choice has not changed.
- AcuraWatch driver assistance is standard on every model year since 2022. The expanded AcuraWatch 360 suite only arrived on Type S Advance trims starting in 2025.
- A 2022 to 2024 MDX can be a smart Certified Pre-Owned buy, especially for a shopper who does not mind the older touchpad interface in exchange for a lower price.
What Changed in 2025?
The 2026 Acura MDX carries no updates over the 2025 model. Acura's own pricing materials confirm it, and independent reviewers list the current MDX as unchanged for the year. The generation itself dates to a full redesign in 2022, and 2023 and 2024 passed with no major revisions either.
The real dividing line sits at 2025. That year, Acura replaced the widely criticized touchpad controller with a 12.3-inch touchscreen running Google built-in. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard, and the center console was reworked for more usable storage. The front end picked up a bolder open-frame Diamond Pentagon grille. Two Bang and Olufsen audio systems arrived too: a 19-speaker, 1,475-watt system on most trims and a 31-speaker, 1,760-watt system on the Type S Advance. None of that changed again for 2026.
Spec Comparison
2025-2026 MDX vs 2022-2024 MDX
| Specification | 2025-2026 MDX (Current) | 2022-2024 MDX (Original 4th-Gen Design) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (FWD, excl. destination) | $50,900-$51,800 | Lower, varies by model year and mileage |
| Infotainment | 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in | Touchpad-controlled system, no touchscreen |
| Max Horsepower | 355 hp (Type S, turbo V6) | 355 hp (Type S, turbo V6) |
| Fuel Economy (combined, est., FWD) | 22 mpg | 22 mpg |
| Cargo Space (behind 3rd row) | 16.3-18.1 cu ft | 16.3-18.1 cu ft |
| Overall Length / Wheelbase | 198.4 in / 113.8 in | 198.4 in / 113.8 in |
| Towing Capacity | 3,500 lbs (FWD) / 5,000 lbs (SH-AWD) | 3,500 lbs (FWD) / 5,000 lbs (SH-AWD) |
| Standard Safety Suite | AcuraWatch, plus AcuraWatch 360 on Type S Advance | AcuraWatch (no AcuraWatch 360 available) |
| Basic / Powertrain Warranty | 4-yr/50,000-mi / 6-yr/70,000-mi | 4-yr/50,000-mi / 6-yr/70,000-mi (new); CPO adds coverage |
Starting MSRP figures are manufacturer reference points before options, taxes, title, and dealer fees, and can change without notice. Fuel economy is EPA-estimated and will vary with driving conditions and equipment. Contact Findlay Acura to confirm current new and pre-owned MDX pricing.
Interior & Tech
A 2022 to 2024 MDX drives a shopper straight into the feature that generated the most complaints about this generation. A touchpad mounted on the console controls the infotainment screen, instead of letting you tap the screen directly. It works, but it takes practice, and many buyers never fully warmed to it.
The 2025 and 2026 MDX fix that with a touchscreen you operate the way you would expect. Milano leather seating, available massage functions, and the redesigned console carried forward unchanged into 2026. If touchscreen convenience matters more to you than saving money, that alone points to a 2025 or 2026 model.
Performance & Efficiency
Every MDX from 2022 through 2026 shares the same standard powertrain: a 3.5-liter V6 making 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. Step up to a Type S trim in any of those years and you get a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 rated at 355 horsepower. None of that has changed since the redesign, so a 2023 MDX will not feel underpowered compared to a 2026 model.
Towing capacity holds steady too, at 3,500 pounds for FWD models and 5,000 pounds for SH-AWD models across every year in this generation. EPA-estimated fuel economy for the 2026 MDX runs 22 mpg combined in FWD form and 19 mpg combined on the Type S. Those figures are consistent with prior model years, since the engines have not changed.
Safety and Warranty Coverage
AcuraWatch has been standard on the MDX since the 2022 redesign. It bundles collision mitigation braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and a blind spot information system. That baseline has not been reduced or watered down on any model year.
What did change is the Type S Advance trim, which added AcuraWatch 360 starting with the 2025 model year. That expanded suite closes a real gap in accident-avoidance coverage, adding active lane change assist, lane change collision mitigation, and front cross traffic warning. A 2022 to 2024 MDX simply does not offer those features. Basic and powertrain warranty coverage has stayed consistent across every year of this generation.
Which MDX Model Is Right For You?
Choose the 2026 (or 2025) MDX if you:
- Want the touchscreen infotainment system and Google built-in without waiting or compromising
- Plan to keep the SUV for years and want the newest warranty start date
- Are cross-shopping a Type S Advance and want AcuraWatch 360's added coverage
Choose a Certified Pre-Owned 2022-2024 MDX if you:
- Want the same V6 power and towing capacity for a noticeably lower price
- Do not mind the touchpad-controlled infotainment system in exchange for savings
- Value Acura's CPO powertrain warranty as much as buying new
Either way, you are getting the same fourth-generation MDX underneath. The decision comes down to how much the 2025 refresh is worth to you in dollars. Findlay Acura's inventory can settle that faster than any spec sheet.
FAQ
Henderson Shoppers MDX FAQ
Choosing between a new 2026 MDX and an earlier model year is a real decision, not a formality. These are the questions Henderson and Las Vegas shoppers bring up most often before they pick a model year.
What is the actual difference between the 2026 Acura MDX and the 2025 MDX?
Does every Acura MDX since 2022 have the same infotainment system?
Do all MDX model years come with the same warranty?
Is an older MDX or the new 2026 model the better fit for a Henderson family?
Can I test drive both a new and a certified pre-owned MDX at Findlay Acura?
Is a Certified Pre-Owned MDX a smarter buy than a new one?
How do I decide which Acura MDX model year to buy?
Shop at Findlay Acura
New and Certified Pre-Owned MDX Models
Findlay Acura is located at 315 Auto Mall Drive in Henderson, NV, serving shoppers across Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Mesquite. Ready to compare a 2026 MDX against a Certified Pre-Owned model from an earlier year? The team can walk you through current inventory and pricing in person.
