2022 Acura MDX: What's It Like to Live With?
After 12,000 miles, is the MDX as comfortable as we originally thought?

Miles Driven | Average MPG |
13,681 | 18.6 |
Latest Highlights (updated 05/20/22)
- So what was the issue with our noisy steering column?
- The MDX's selectable suspension settings are not what they appear to be
- Our thoughts on MDX comfort
- Life average fuel economy continues to improve, but we're still well under EPA estimates
What do you want to know about?
2022 Acura MDX: Real-World Fuel Economy
The 2022 Acura MDX retains the V6 engine of the previous generation, but it gains an extra gear in its automatic transmission to make it an even 10 speeds. Despite that extra gear, the MDX gives up 1 mpg in both its EPA highway and combined estimates. We're curious how this plays out in the real world and will keep you updated here.
Average lifetime mpg: 18.6
EPA mpg rating: 21 combined ( 19 city / 25 highway )
Best fill mpg: 23.8
Best range (miles): 388.1
Current odometer: 13,681

With a fair amount of miles and fill ups under our belts, including some highway-only tanks, we've come to realize that the MDX just isn't able to hit its EPA mpg estimates. Our best tank still stands at an underwhelming 23.8 mpg, below the MDX's highway estimate of 25 mpg. And I know that tank was achieved on the highway and without an passengers on board. We've seen accounts of other MDX owners online that have experienced the same. — Jonathan Elfalan, senior manager, vehicle testing
A couple modest road trips right of the bat got us off to a decent start. But now with more short trips around town, we're beginning to see a dip in our lifetime average and have dropped below the EPA city estimate. It's a good thing this MDX is a willing long-distance traveler. — Jonathan Elfalan, senior manager, vehicle testing
2022 Acura MDX: Comfort
If there's anything that should be a requirement of any luxury SUV, it's comfort. Our initial impression of the MDX is it is more than up to that task. But just like new love, sometimes your feelings can change over time, or in this case, distance. Here is our honest account of the MDX and the comfort it provides.
Logbook Highlights

"When I told Car Czar Mike Schmidt that I'd like some wheels to get to Vegas, he quickly offered up the Acura MDX. It's not the most exciting car in the fleet, but after a few weeks in our Mustang GT 500 — which included a drive from LA to San Luis Obispo — I was ready for something with a little more seat and suspension cushion. Man, did the MDX deliver.
First, the front seats are so comfortable that I suspect that Acura must have cut a backroom deal with Nissan and snuck their Zero Gravity seats [link to https://www.nissanusa.com/experience-nissan/news-and-events/zero-gravity-seats.html] into the MDX. The seats strike an ideal balance between being supportive and cozy, and there are a solid number of adjustments so you can dial in just the right configuration. It also helps that the upholstery is buttery smooth leather. I'm sure that the base MDX with premium vinyl feels just fine, but there really isn't a substitute for a high-quality example of the real stuff.
The ride is similarly cushy. Whether traversing over broken pavement on the highway or pothole-ridden city streets, the MDX's suspension soaks up road irregularities without issue. That said, I don't know if my experience is applicable to all MDX variants, as our Advance model has adaptive dampers.*
Over the course of my 500+ mile round trip, the MDX delivered a consistently comfortable driving experience. Next time I go on a road trip, I'm sniping the keys to this big cruiser."
*Editor's Note: The dampers are not actually adaptive. More on this later. — Cameron Rogers, Senior News Editor
I drove 600 miles in the MDX this weekend, going back and forth to Nevada. It was comfortable, quiet, and an excellent chariot for the road trip. While I wasn't a fan of the center-stack controls at first, they became second nature after just a few hours. The thing that stood out to me the most was just how quiet and isolated I felt inside. Even in heavy crosswinds, the MDX was settled and serene. It's an excellent pick for anyone that wants to take the family on long trips and be comfortable along the way. — Travis Langness, Reviews Editor