Maybe. To me, I see it as a decent value for someone that wants more than a standard GLE/Q7/X5 without shelling out for corresponding AMG/S/M trim. The Type S sits somewhere between their standard model and performance variants. It has also received top marks from many reviewers.

That said (and I've said this in other posts), I think Acura completely misread where the market was going and instead of focusing on electrification, they focused on creating performance variants which has turned out to be the wrong strategy.

 

I believe the term Ikeda likes to use is “sports derivative”, which is apt since these cars are more about being sporty than they are about performance.

 

I have the base MDX Type S. For 68K, its good value for what we need. I though we would have buyers remorse for not getting the Advance but I'm glad we didn't get it. More than enough tech for us. Hauls the kid safely around yet still has enjoyable performance for fun when its just me and the wife. Really hard to find a SUV like this at this price point. Definitely room for improvement. Gas mileage is terrible, if the engine has a 390-400 HP output then the gas mileage would be more tolerable. Hopefully ,the good-ole petrol dollar will bring the gas prices back down to reality soon

 

Totally agree with you after my test drive of Type-S..RDX Type-S is the right product for Type-S and the J30AC engine.

 

In reply to the Type S sitting on lots, the only ones that I see sitting on lots are the Type S Techs. Where I live in South Texas, my local Acura dealer is marking both trims up $6k. The Type S Advance are still selling. I went 90 miles up the road and purchased at MSRP. My dealer has one Type S Tech on the lot, everything else is presold. They might show ones incoming, but they are all presold. Now, as far as a $10k markup, I know dealers in the DFW area and in the VA and DC area are and people are paying them. That’s just ridiculous. My husband still can’t believe we paid $73k for an Acura, but it’s nicer than any BMW we’ve ever had.

As far as gas mileage, I knew going in what to expect. I didn’t buy the Type S for its gas mileage or lack of. I’m getting about the same mileage as the A-spec we traded in; so not bad.

Just my thoughts… and, I would love an RDX Type S. Maybe with the next redesign.

 

Question......how much "nicer" (and please define) is the MDX Type S Advance versus the RDX Advance. I'm not talking about the differences in the powertrains and performance attributes That's a no brainer. I'm asking about things like features, materials, fit and finish, etc. I've not personally sat in a MDX Advance to compare to my RDX Advance. I've only been able to compare the vehicles on Youtube videos and the RDX Advance looks like (from what I can tell) a smaller version of the MDX Advance.

 

Personally, I can’t answer that question. We never looked at an RDX as the MDX was always for my husband. But I can tell you moving from an A-spec to an Advance was totally worth the price difference. Yes, I did it to a Type S, but I can totally see why people get the regular Advance too. I honestly do not know what features the RDX Advance has, but I think the biggest thing that people are loving at the moment are the massaging seats in the Type S Advance. They are pretty nice. But I actually find them a bit distracting while driving. In the passenger seat they are great or if you are waiting in the carpool line or just in a parking lot, but driving, totally distracting. My opinion of course. The sound system is pretty nice too; 25 speakers, hidden all over the place. But again, I honestly do not know what features the RDX Advance comes with.

 

The MDX seats are more comfortable than the RDX. The RDX seat pan is quite hard, not so for the MDX.

 

My experience is with non-Advance models, but MDX for sure feels richer and more luxurious. The infotainment screen on MDX has better color and contrast, and even though the graphics are the same as RDX, the bigger screen is as refreshing to read as the 12" screen on X7.

The interior design on MDX is far more cohesive/mature than RDX. The RDX design has everything laid out in-your-face on the dashboard, while convenient the approach lacks the compartmentized sophistication on MDX. All materials except for the piano black plastic are a step above those on the RDX. For example, the steering wheel leather feels softer or has more paddings, and the touchpad feels more clicky.

I also like the seating position of MDX better, the seat can go lower than RDX so I feel more sitting inside the car instead of sitting in the car with my head poked out.