With a significant flaw now addressed, what improvements can be found inside the 2025 Acura MDX Type S? This is our assessment.
The Acura MDX received An update for the 2025 version.The outside appearance was slightly adjusted, but the interior saw even more significant modifications. We spent a full day inside the vehicle.The upcoming 2025 Acura MDX Type S.We’re diving deep into the inside of this car to determine if the new improvements address the shortcomings of the last version. We’ll be checking things like seat comfort, ease of use of the infotainment system, and the quality of the sound system. This review will cover all these aspects and more.
Bye Bye, Touchpad
1. The most significant update for the 2025 MDX is undoubtedly the removal of Acura’s True Touchpad. While it aimed to streamline UI navigation, its lack of intuitiveness often led to user frustration. 2. In place of the touchpad, a new 12.3-inch touchscreen has been installed, positioned 4 inches closer to the driver compared to the previous screen. 3. This change not only eliminates the guesswork associated with function selection but also brings everything within easier reach for the user.
Along with the new touchscreen comes the addition of Google Built-In. Whereas Android Auto requires a constant connection to your smartphone, Google Built-In is independent. You can sign into your Google account and access apps like Maps, Google Assistant, and more without ever having to connect to your phone. (Using Google Assistant during the drive totally gave us Tony Stark vibes!) Jokes aside, we can see Assistant being helpful in various situations—looking for a meal or parking spot, or even info on your destination, especially with Google Maps already baked in. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are still there, but Google Built-In could streamline things, especially if you’re used to Google’s ecosystem.
De-Cluttered Center Console
A drawback of the original True Touchpad design was Acura’s decision to include a palm rest above it, intended to improve ergonomics. However, this rest got in the way of the wireless charging pad, making it awkward to use your smartphone. Now that the touchpad is gone, so is the palm rest, resulting in a cleaner center console. Placing your phone on the charging pad is now much simpler, and the accessory pocket has been widened to accommodate items like glasses, keys, and other belongings more easily.
1. The concealed USB ports remain, and with up to eight ports available on the Type S, passengers should have no problem charging their phones and gadgets. 2. You’ll still find the hidden USB ports, and the Type S model boasts as many as eight, making it simple for passengers to power up their smartphones and other electronics. 3. The discreet USB ports are still included, and the Type S provides a maximum of eight ports, ensuring convenient charging for passengers’ smartphones and other gadgets.
So Many Speakers
To appeal to the audiophile in all of us, the 2025 Acura MDX Type S comes with a new Bang & Olufsen audio system comprised of a whopping 31 speakers. That includes dual headliner speakers over each passenger in the three-row SUV and 170mm subwoofers in each door. To make fine-tuning all those speakers easier, Acura and Bang & Olufsen created the “Beosonic wheel” interface. The circular interface allows users to drag a finger to one of four sound “moods” including Bright, Warm, Energetic, and Relaxed. The cursor can also be placed between any of the four moods for a mixture of two or left in the middle for a balance of all four.
The most bass-forward is the Energetic mood, though you can boost the low-end even further by placing the cursor between Energetic and Warm. Bright favors high tones, but we had a little trouble discerning precisely how Relaxed changed the EQ. Thanks to a dual amplifier, the system pumps out 1,757 watts, so it gets plenty loud without distortion. The system has a 3D surround function, but its effect isn’t very noticeable on tracks not recorded with such a setup in mind. On such tracks, however, it’s amazing.
We like the idea of the Beosonic wheel as a quick way to dial in the EQ for the track you’re listening to on the fly. However, we did experience a major glitch that locked up the interface, and the only way to fix the issue was to pull over and restart the car completely. It only happened one time, but we let Acura know about it.
What About the Seats?
Let’s face it, the thing you’re going to be doing the most in the 2025 Acura MDX Type S besides driving it is sitting in it, so the seats better be good, right? So, it’s good the excellent seats are carried over from the previous model—no one can say that Acura cut corners when it comes to the seating appointments in the MDX.
The seats’ “curvilinear” quilted design is attractive and adds a nice, plush feel. For 2025, Alcantara inserts were added to the inner part of the side bolsters on MDX Type S; this was likely done mostly for aesthetic reasons, but the grippy material does help reduce torso movement during spirited driving. For a bit of extra flash, the “Type S” logo is now embroidered and color-matched on the headrests, as well.
Previously, only the Type S trim had the option of front massaging seats but now any MDX with the Advance package gets the feature. Having the seats massaging the kink out of your lower back while the AcuraWatch 360 driver-assist system takes the edge off traffic just might be worth the price of the Advance upgrade alone.
Dimensionally, the 2025 Acura MDX is the same as the previous model, so you still get a very roomy middle row of seats and a third row big enough to not be exclusively for small children. The rear passengers don’t have all the bells and whistles of the two front seats, but riders in the back still get to enjoy the plush leather and the amazing Bang & Olufsen 3D surround audio system.
Room for Activities
If you have an SUV, you’re likely always hauling people, things, or both, so having adequate cargo space is key. With a total of 71.4 cubic feet of room (with the third and second rows of seats folded down) the MDX has a respectable amount of space to ferry stuff from one place to another. Folding down the second row of seats is a manual process, but it’s done easily with a pull of a strap and a light push.
There’s also a hidden bin covered by a reversible panel in the cargo area. The panel has a rubberized side for use as an easily cleaned, slip-resistant surface. There are no stands to hold the panel up, but the latch can be hooked on the back of the third-row seats, leaving both hands free when loading or unloading the space. It’s a neat and simple feature we wouldn’t mind seeing in more SUVs.
The Total Package
At a base price of $76,300, our expectations for the 2025 Acura MDX Type S interior are high. If Acura’s going to ask nearly $80K for an SUV, then we need to feel every penny in its cabin. It doesn’t offer Mercedes levels of luxury, but the technology on offer, high-quality materials, and fit and finish have it within striking distance. Indeed, it offers up almost everything we could ask for: comfort, style, comfortable seats, an amazing sound system, intuitive infotainment UI, USB ports up the wazoo, and plenty of space.
Although the driving experience could still stand to be improved, when it comes to interior appointments, the 2025 Acura MDX Type S is right on the money.
Muara Digital Team
