2020 Acura MDX and MDX Sport Hybrid Arrive at Dealerships

•The best-selling 3-row luxury SUV of all-time outpacing key competition in 2019

•MDX offers a powerful-yet-refined driving experience and a broad range of class-leading interior, technology and safety features, including standard AcuraWatch™

•Available A-Spec variant includes Acura Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ technology

•MDX Sport Hybrid offers the ultimate in driving refinement, technological sophistication and prestige, plus comes packed with standard high tech and advanced safety features

The 2020 Acura MDX and MDX Sport Hybrid go on sale at Acura dealerships across the U.S. today with a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP1) of $44,400 and $52,900 (excluding $995 destination and handling), respectively. As the best-selling three-row luxury SUV of all time, the MDX in 2018 posted a seventh straight year of sales exceeding 50,000 units, something no other 3-row model in segment can match, and continues to outsell key competitors in 2019.

The 2020 MDX offers a dynamic driving experience with both a standard and Sport Hybrid version, an available A-Spec sport appearance variant and an extensive list of standard premium features and high-tech appointments on all grades, including AcuraWatch™ safety and driver-assistive technologies.

2020 MDX

The 2020 MDX includes base, Tech and Advance package options, with optional Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) technology, which is one of the most capable and sophisticated torque-vectoring AWD systems in the marketplace. The popular MDX A-Spec, includes a comprehensive list of appearance upgrades, including unique exterior styling, high-contrast seat and door panel stitching and contrasting front seat side garnishes. Also featured on the 2020 MDX are front passenger seats with standard 4-way power lumbar adjustments, a 'walk through' second-row seat configuration on Technology and Entertainment packages, and a trim-exclusive matching wood center console available on the MDX Advance Package.

The 2020 MDX is powered by a responsive 3.5-liter direct-injected i-VTEC® 24-valve V6 engine with 290 peak horsepower (SAE net) and 267 lb.-ft. peak torque (SAE net), mated to a quick-shifting and highly refined 9-speed automatic transmission.

The 2020 MDX with front-wheel drive has an EPA fuel economy rating of 20/27/23 mpg (city/highway/combined)2, A-Spec is rated at 19/25/21, and all other models with SH-AWD® have an EPA rating of 19/26/22 mpg (city/highway/combined).

2020 MDX Key Features Include:

•3.5-liter direct-injected i-VTEC® 24-valve V6 engine

•Available in standard front wheel drive or with Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) technology

•9-speed automatic transmission

•Idle stop for more refined, seamless driving experience

•Available A-Spec sport appearance package

•Standard AcuraWatch™ suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies

•Driver and front passenger 4-way power lumbar seats

•Premium interior refinements including wood trim, high-contrast seat and door panel stitching, and contrasting front seat side garnishes

•9 exterior color options: Premium colors include: Majestic Black Pearl, Performance Red Pearl, Canyon Bronze Metallic and the A-Spec-exclusive Apex Blue Pearl. Additional exterior colors include: White Diamond Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, Gun Metal Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic and Fathom Blue Pearl

2020 MDX Sport Hybrid

The 2020 MDX Sport Hybrid is engineered for customers who desire the ultimate in driving refinement, technological sophistication and prestige. Featuring Acura's signature three-motor Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) system, the MDX Sport Hybrid is the brand's most powerful and efficient production vehicle.

The MDX Sport Hybrid's 3.0-liter, i-VTEC™ V6 engine and three-motor Sport Hybrid Super Handling-All Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) system delivers decisive power and control as well as instant torque. While turning out 321 total system horsepower and 289 lb.-ft. of combined system torque, all MDX Sport Hybrids earn an impressive EPA combined fuel economy rating of 27 mpg2. An advanced 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (7DCT) – a feature closely related to the NSX supercar's 9-speed DCT – is offered as standard equipment. The MDX Sport Hybrid's electric SH-AWD® system operates independently of the gasoline engine, with the two rear-mounted electric motors dynamically apportioning torque directly to the left and right rear wheels.

Offered in a Technology and Advanced package, the Tech Package models include seating for seven, while the range-topping Advance Package incorporates a 6-passenger interior configuration with second-row captain's chairs and a large second-row center console in place of a three-occupant bench seat.

MDX Sport Hybrid Key Features Include:

•Three-motor Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® powertrain

•3.0-liter, i-VTEC V6 engine

•7-speed dual-clutch transmission

•4-mode Integrated Dynamics System with SPORT+ mode

•Active Damper System (ADS)

•Electric Servo Brake System

•Body-color lower side sills and front/rear skid garnishes

•SH-AWD badge on rear and Hybrid badges on front fenders

•Standard AcuraWatch™ suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies

•Driver and front-passenger 4-way power lumbar support

•6-passenger interior configuration with second-row captain's chairs and a large second-row center console (Advance Package)

•Technology Package models include seating for seven

•Authentic Desert Olive Ash wood highlights, high-contrast seat and door panel stitching, and matching wood center console trim for Advance Package models

•Eight exterior color options include: Gunmetal Metallic, White Diamond Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic, Fathom Blue Pearl, and Premium colors including: Majestic Black Pearl, Performance Red Pearl and Canyon Bronze Metallic

by Acura

First introduced in 2001, Acura released the MDX into a market full of luxury SUV's. Sharing the same platform as the Honda Odyssey, the MDX shares much in common with the Honda Pilot. The MDX was built to compete with the BMW X5 and the Mercedes M-class. A luxurious vehicle, the Acura MDX featured leather seats and wood trim within a plush interior that had a dashboard full of cutting-edge electronics. Other features included heated power front bucket seats, a power sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, front side airbags, antilocking all-disc brakes, rear AC, heated mirrors and a CD player.

The upscale division of Honda designed and built this all-wheel-drive midsize sport-utility vehicle to compete against the very popular Lexus RX 300 and other car-based SUVs. MDX stood for ‘Multi-Dimensional Luxury' and was about 5 inches longer in length than a BMW X5 and 8.5 inches longer than a Lexus RX 300. The Acura MDX also holds up to seven passengers, while competitors only had seating for five.

The MDX featured a more powerful version of the Odyssey's 3.5-liter V6 that produced 240 horsepower and was attached to a five-speed automatic transmission rather than a four-speed. Normally the Standard Variable Torque Management (VTM-4) four-wheel drive powers the front wheels, and it's designed to sense impending wheel slippage and directs up to 52 % of power to the back wheel when necessary. Though no low-range gearing was included, a rear-wheel locking device kicks in for maximum traction below 6 mph. The Acura MDX is capable of towing a 3500-pound trailer or a 4500-pound boat.

The Touring package was optional and featured a driver's seat/mirror memory, roof rack, and a six disc in-dash CD changer. Also optional was a navigation system with a dashboard screen. Both second and third-row bench seats were standard, and much like the Odyssey, the third-row seat folds into the rear cargo floor. An SUV ‘first', the second-row seat also folds into the rear cargo floor. Since both seats were split, the sections can stow individually to suit passenger/cargo loads.

For the 2002 model year, noise-reduction measures were taken in the '02 edition of Acura's SUV. The windshield glass was produced thicker and sound dampening material was added to the roof and other areas. The door mirrors and roof rack were also repositioned. In this year the rear wiper/washer was made standard and child-seat anchors were installed.

The following year the MDX engine received an additional 20 horsepower along with an antiskid system that became standard. The MDX featured a shorter body than the Pilot, with very unique styling and a somewhat smaller cabin. Rain-sensing wipers and a new electronic ‘drive –by-wire' throttle were installed. Both the steering and suspension systems were revised for 2003 along with some structural stiffening occurring and wheels being restyled. The navigation system was now operated with voice control and 3-D graphics, and the screen served the newly optional rearview camera. Models that didn't have Acura's navigation system could install a new DVD-based rear-seat entertainment system.

For 2004 Acura featured new head-protecting curtain airbags along with a tire-pressure monitoring system on the MDX. The front and rear styling was also slightly altered.

The following year more entertainment options were added for the 2005 Acura MDX that included standard satellite radio on all models along with a larger fuel tank. Newly standard with the navigation system is OnStar assistance. For 2006 the Acura MDX received updated interior trim for the top-line model.

Celebrating its 20th year as a brand, Acura debuted a concept version of the all-new MDX luxury sport-utility vehicle on April 12th 2006 at the New York International Auto Show and released an artist's rendering of the new vehicle. Later during the 2007, the second generation of Acura's luxury SUV would be designed, developed and manufactured exclusively in North America. Nearly two-thirds of all Acura vehicles sold in America are designed, developed and manufactured in North America today.

At the same time as the release of the new Acura, the groundbreaking for a new Acura-exclusive facility – the Acura Design Center – was also scheduled to open in same summer, 2007. Located in the company's Torrance, California headquarters, the new facility will play an important role in the research and design of future Acura products.

by Jessican Donaldson