First Drive: 2025 Acura MDX Type S! [with Q&A with Matias Markou from Bang & Olufsen]

I was honored to be part of a journalist event in Southern California where I experienced the 2025 Acura MDX Type S. This popular crossover received some new content for 2025 which has heightened its competitive edge in a very popular segment. Thanks for coming along for the ride!

[@garysimpson3073]

The ZDX you were in was the ASpec and not Type S so you didn’t get the loaded one with 500 hp but great video on the MDX. See you at the dealership.

[@TysonHugie]

Shows you how much I was paying attention! It was the end of a long day, haha. Thanks Gary!

[@StealthC1]

Patiently waiting for my 25 MDX Type S

[@TysonHugie]

What color are you getting? Nice!

[@tiaastle8343]

You had me at 64 degrees! 😊

[@TysonHugie]

😁

[@DanN1HondaFan1985]

You’re so lucky to get to do this. I’m not on the SUV bandwagon, but the MDX looks better now. San Diego looks beautiful and being by the ocean. Use your influence with Acura to bring back the Legend Coupe! Imagine a Legend Type S Coupe!

[@TysonHugie]

That would be cool!

[@user-ot8rn9zd4z]

I agree!!!! I want the Legend back!!!

[@acuracl88]

Love me some 3421! Great review, LOVE the MDX-S!

[@TysonHugie]

Thanks CEK!

[@coolshariq]

MDX is beautiful ride comfort is super 👍👍 my sister was so close to getting ugly Tesla Cybertruck i had convinced her it was bad choice she end up buying the MDX she's super happy with her purchase.

[@TysonHugie]

Awesome, congrats to your sister!

[@Chiroman527]

Your Sister is Lucky to have a Good Brother who offered the Smart Advice. The Tesla Cyber Truck will be a Dinosaur that will sink in value and look Uglier each day in her driveway. My 22 MDX Advance still "Winks" at me everyday.

[@AndrewM83]

Mannnn that MDX is nice! I got to service a TLX type S the other day and loved driving it for a bit. I can only imagine the MDX is just as if not nicer! And I'm jealous of the 60-70' weather

[@TysonHugie]

Well I was just there for 1 day, I'm back to the desert inferno now haha. Where are you located?

[@AndrewM83]

@@TysonHugieroughly the center of NC. Been in the mid to upper 90's lately. Our shop has no AC

[@paean109]

Looked like fun driving on that twisty road. The MDX is such a beautiful Acura SUV. I like the colour of the exterior with the light interior. I really like the look of the seats. 31 speakers? wow. Great to have Matias available to explain the B&O system. That ZDX looks awesome in red. The ZDX has a more minimalistic dash compared to the MDX. Thanks for the video, Tyson..... Reid

[@TysonHugie]

Sure, thanks for checking it out!

[@beagler4234]

Need to get these soccer moms to the grocery store and ball fields as quickly as possible lol

[@TysonHugie]

Exactly!

[@erice7746]

Tell Matias the best song (I've found so far) to test the limits of an audio system: "Sanctus" Durufle's Requiem. I hope the ZDX sales start picking up. . . just saw a video of slowest selling cars on the market today and ZDX was a runaway first. Bummer because it looks pretty good inside and out.

[@TysonHugie]

I'm definitely going to check that song out!

[@theopenroadahead]

Really enjoyed this review! The MDX is on the short list of vehicles my wife wants to test drive if her current vehicle ever needs to be replaced. That adjustment screen for the B&O stereo was pretty wild, too. Did you have a chance to notice what kind of fuel economy you were getting on the test drive? I know Acura/Honda tend to be conservative with their estimated mpg, so I was curious what you saw during your test drive.

[@TysonHugie]

Sorry I didn't check MPG! Maybe when I get one for a full week-long review!

[@user-mg1fy4hy5v]

Very Very good Kars 👍

[@TysonHugie]

Thank you for watching

[@sziii8417]

Hey man! I do like the look of the new remaking MDX! I'm not sure that you would remember, but I have mentioned previously at times about my great like of the original SLX? I was close to getting one brand new back in the day, but the data about its tendency to roll over in emergency cornering was too damaging for me then. I will still get one though. Maybe I'll take yours? LMAO 😂😅 Funny too, is that the all new ML320 in '97/'98 had a roll over gremlin, too!! That's why I went with the new LX470 in '98 after my '96 LX450 that my parents gave me for my HS graduation, which was replacing my '95 Land Cruiser. I did like the new MDX in '00 for the '01 model year, but again ended up with an '02 LX470, again. I read that the first edition RDX was better and sportier than the next gens after? I really DO like the original ZDX, but yet to ever ride/drive one. An ex of mine he had one, but gave it to his new twinky out of spite to me lol 😂 What are your thoughts on the new ZDX? Any thoughts on the RL from start to death lol?

[@TysonHugie]

I love my '96 SLX and it has served me well for over 5 years now. As for the ZDX, I was only in it for about 20 minutes but I was overall pretty impressed with it.

[@vc232]

Don't forget the rlx had the krell audio

[@TysonHugie]

Oh yeah!!!

[@Chiroman527]

There is one thing that many, if not all the reviewers of the new 25 MDX models, is the fact that Acura has Deleted the Sirius/XM Radio!!! You are now required to "stream XM radio via your phone app!! Come On Acura! really? First you (and many other carmakers) removed CD players and Internal Hard Drives (my 4 previous Infinitis [2007, 2010, 2013 & 2016 and my previous 2019 MDX all had HDs built in), and now this. It Forces you to Stream Music selections. The New Touchscreen is Very Welcome change (hate the TTIP in my 22 MDX ) and how it goes into Full Screen modes while in AA or CP ( vast improvement from the current split screen nonsense). Going to a new B&O sound system iis too much Fluff IMHO. The ELS system in my 22 MDX Advance is outstanding IMHO. I I were to proceed to get a new 25 MDX Type S, it would be in this Color for sure.

[@TysonHugie]

Thanks for checking out the vid. That's good to know about the Sirius XM

[@nickval5962]

Damn! That 2025 MDX Type-S is a sharp looking SUV, I'm in Alfa Romeo Sales and the only car that I would say looks as good as our Stelvio is the Acura MDX. I just wish the Type-S emitted a little more sound from its exhaust. I'm still not on board with EVs in general but the ZDX has a pretty nice design to it.

[@TysonHugie]

Yeah the design of the MDX is one of its best features for sure. The Stelvio is a sweet ride

[@MrJusmobile]

The dash looks ancient compared to the Lincoln Nautilus, not even close!

[@TysonHugie]

I will have to compare!

[@averytulak]

That ZDX looks all right for an EV. I guess. It's got a little bit more character than the teslas I drive around everyday that's for sure. I've never been a fan of SUVs. Probably never will be. I'm a odd duckling that way some might say. If I had to have one for hauling around a family I would definitely get an MDX. Or maybe a Yukon? Who knows.

[@TysonHugie]

Right, I'm in the same boat. I don't need 3 rows or even 4 doors. Give me a coupe any day.

[@codycrawford2385]

I’ve always said the MDX looked better than the Pilot and I’ve owned both a 03 Pilot and a 03 MDX, the type s MDX could have been something else I think using a single turbo v6 kinda defeats the type s name. Could use a 3.5 TT from the NSX, and the ZDX isn’t something I wanna get INTO bc of GM

[@TysonHugie]

I think a lot of people feel that way about the ZDX. The single turbo does a pretty nice job with the MDX. Same as my 21 TLX-S had. 355 hp

[@codycrawford2385]

@@TysonHugie GM has the worst track record and that’s why I sold my Cadillac so fast. I’ve had a TLX v6 and it was quick just didn’t keep up with the crowd

[@douglasdowns4846]

The MDX has always been a standout and this one is no exception. Very Lambo Urus looking.

[@codycrawford2385]

@@douglasdowns4846 it looks like a Acura and that’s why they did good about it. It’s not a cheap copy of a VAG pile

[@douk.0317]

Are they killing off the ELS in-house brand entirely? It's somewhat bittersweet, as I've been listening to it since the 3rd gen TL (the DVD-Audio, if you remember 😅).

[@TysonHugie]

Oh yes I love the DVD-A systems. I'm not sure what is happening with other models, but it seems Acura is always changing up the audio formula!

[@erice7746]

The ELS in my 18 yr old TL still sounds great even with the speakers under a double digit count.

[@Chiroman527]

I have the ELS Max stereo system in my 22 MDX Advance with 25 Speakers. It is Outstanding ! I guess Acura Thins the B & O 31 speaker system is Better ? Why? It only served tto Bump the MSRP unnecessarily. I'm on a lease extension for my 22 MDX Advance for 6 months until February 2025. I can eith Buy my MDX with only 22K miles on the clock for $35400 OR Lease a new 25 MDX or any other vehicle for that matter. The TYpe S is alluring (I would get it in this exact Color configuration). But even though I'm being Enticed by watching these reviews on Line, I will probably wait & see ... As they become somewhat Over stocked, maybe get a 10% Reduction on the MSRP for a purchase or new lease.

[@joshuakarp2586]

How do you think this compares to BMW X5?

[@TysonHugie]

@@joshuakarp2586 unfortunately I haven’t driven that

[@wrinkleneckbass]

One great thing about the ELS audio systems was support for true 5.1 discrete audio. Early versions supported that on DVD-Audio discs, and later versions support it using 5.1 FLAC files. I would have asked Matias if this new B&O supports that feature. I don't believe it does since I tested it on a ZDX a few weeks ago. It looks like B&O is using software based virtual surround which upscales a stereo-channel to multi-channel. 99% of people won't care and won't even understand what that means, but if you're used to listening to discrete 5.1, you'll hear the difference.

[@TysonHugie]

That's good to know, I feel like there is a lot of tech talk around audio that I want to learn more about. I definitely miss the ELS system in my 3GTL-S. DVD-A with Dire Straits "Money for Nothing" on high volume was life changing.