Just bought a 12 tech for me since I enjoy the 09 tech my wife drives. Just picked it up last night and the buttons on my jeans tore the leather! I've worn these jeans in my 09 a thousand times, and after further review the 09 tech seems to have a much better leather than the 12. The new one almost has a vinyl/pleather feel while the 09 is rock solid. Did Acura downgrade leather quality on tech models???

 

cost cutting at its finest.... lol!

 

Wow, that doesn't seem right. I traded a 2010 for a 2012. The 2010 had about 24,000 miles on it and the leather looked just like new. The leather on the 12 seems just like the 10.

 

Very Interesting !
The base model is bonded split hide like in the TL.
The upscale Advanced uses Miliano full grain {'11 anyway}.
I thought the '11 tech was also Miliano but no AC vents and no contrast stitching or texture.
Others of '12 models should chime in ...

 

'12 tech is Milano leather as well, according to the Acura Fact Sheet for the MDX. It's not perforated like it is in the Advanced model though, since it doesn't have the seat cooling/ventilation system.

 

The Milano leather is very soft and comfortable but it may not be as durable unless you use consideration when using it. I bought the advance running boards to step on to when getting in and out to prevent the additional wear of sliding in and out on the soft leather. Jeans are particularly hard on seats as some have small rivets and there has been reports of dye transfer to the leather too.

 

What, the base is not real leather? I did suspect it but did not know for sure and the dealer said its the same as tech.

 

Not the same but its real leather !
Its cheaper bonded split hide leather with a coating on top like in those TL's.
Better leather is more and called Millano {full grain}.

 

I have a 2012 and the dye from my jeans has stained the seats.