2026 Acura MDX Type S

2026 Acura MDX Type S
2026 Acura MDX Type S

The 2026 Acura MDX Type S is the performance version of Acura's 3-row MDX, with a 355-hp turbocharged V6. It also brings adaptive air suspension, Brembo front brakes and 21-inch wheels. Acura sells it in one form, the Type S with Advance Package, and only with SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive). It is the same size as every other MDX and has the same 3 rows.

If you're shopping here in Central Indiana, browse our new Acura MDX inventory and schedule a test drive to compare the Type S with the standard V6 from the driver's seat.

What the Type S Adds Over the Regular MDX

What the Type S Adds Over the Regular MDX

Compared with the MDX with Advance Package SH-AWD, the Type S changes the engine, the chassis hardware and a short list of features.

Feature MDX with Advance Package SH-AWD MDX Type S with Advance Package
Engine 3.5-liter V6 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged V6
Suspension Amplitude Reactive Dampers Adaptive Air Suspension with Auto Leveling
Front brakes 13.8-inch front discs Brembo front 4-piston system; 14.3-inch front discs
Wheels 20-inch 21-inch
Audio 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen Premium 31-speaker Bang & Olufsen Ultra
Driver assistance AcuraWatch AcuraWatch 360
Active exhaust valve Not available Standard

The 2026 MDX comes in 6 grades, Acura's name for its trim levels: the base MDX, MDX with Technology Package, MDX A-Spec, MDX with Advance Package, MDX A-Spec with Advance Package and MDX Type S with Advance Package.

The Turbocharged V6 and 10-Speed Automatic

The Turbocharged V6 and 10-Speed Automatic

The Type S engine makes more horsepower and more torque than the 3.5-liter V6 in the other 5 grades, and it reaches both peaks at lower engine speeds.

Engine specification 3.5-liter V6: Other 5 Grades 3.0-liter Turbo V6: Type S
Horsepower 290 hp at 6,200 rpm 355 hp at 5,500 rpm
Torque 267 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm 354 lb-ft at 1,400–5,000 rpm

That works out to 65 more horsepower and 87 more lb-ft of torque, which makes the Type S the most powerful MDX in the 2026 lineup.

Every 2026 MDX uses the same 10-speed automatic with Sequential SportShift paddle shifters, and only the Type S adds Rev-Matching Downshifts.

Air Suspension, Brembo Brakes and 21-Inch Wheels

Air Suspension, Brembo Brakes and 21-Inch Wheels

The Type S uses Adaptive Air Suspension with Auto Leveling in place of the Amplitude Reactive Dampers on other MDX grades, and it keeps the double-wishbone front and multi-link rear layout that every MDX shares. Its front brakes are the Brembo Front 4-Piston Braking System.

The Type S also changes the front brake discs, wheels, tires and ground clearance.

Feature MDX with Advance Package SH-AWD MDX Type S with Advance Package
Front / rear brake discs 13.8 / 13.0 inches 14.3 / 13.0 inches
Wheels 20 x 9.0 inches 21 x 9.5 inches
Tires 255/50 R20 275/40 R21; self-sealing
Ground clearance, unladen 7.3 inches 6.7–9.4 inches

The Type S rides on self-sealing tires and carries no spare tire, while the other SH-AWD grades carry a spare.

Inside the Type S: Seats, Sound and AcuraWatch 360

Inside the Type S: Seats, Sound and AcuraWatch 360

The Type S gets its own quilted, perforated Milano leather and Ultrasuede sport seats with contrast stitching and piping. The front seats are heated and ventilated, and heated rear outboard seats are standard. You also get a heated, leather-wrapped flat-bottom sport steering wheel and the Type S Interior Sport Appearance Package.

The Bang & Olufsen Ultra system is exclusive to the Type S. At the other end of the lineup, the base MDX uses an 11-speaker Acura Premium Audio System.

Audio system MDX with Advance Package SH-AWD MDX Type S with Advance Package
Bang & Olufsen system Premium Sound System Ultra Sound System
Speakers 19 31

AcuraWatch 360 adds 4 driver-assistance features that no other 2026 MDX offers:

  • Active Lane Change Assist
  • Lane Change Collision Mitigation
  • Blind Spot Information System (BSI) with Steering Avoidance
  • Front Cross Traffic Warning (FCTW)

The Type S also has the Surround-View Camera System, a 10.5-inch head-up display and front and rear parking sensors, shared with the other Advance Package grades.

What the Type S Shares With the Regular MDX

What the Type S Shares With the Regular MDX

In these areas, the Type S matches other 2026 MDX grades:

  • Size: Every 2026 MDX, Type S included, is 198.4 inches long, 78.7 inches wide and 67.9 inches tall on a 113.8-inch wheelbase.
  • Cabin: The Type S has the same 3 rows and 50/50 split third row as the rest of the MDX lineup.
  • Cargo: Behind the third row, the Type S holds 16.3 cubic feet by Acura's Standard figure and 18.1 cubic feet by its Max figure, the same as every MDX.
  • Towing: The Type S is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds, matching every MDX with SH-AWD.
  • Fuel: Acura recommends premium unleaded, 91 octane, across the whole MDX lineup.
  • Steering: The Type S uses the same variable-ratio electric power steering as every MDX, with a 40.5-foot curb-to-curb turning diameter.
  • Warranty: The Type S carries the same new-vehicle warranty as every 2026 Acura: 4 years or 50,000 miles, with powertrain coverage for 6 years or 70,000 miles, whichever comes first.
MDX Type S Fuel Economy

MDX Type S Fuel Economy

The turbocharged V6 in the Type S carries lower EPA ratings than the 3.5-liter with SH-AWD.

2026 MDX configuration City (mpg) Highway (mpg) Combined (mpg)
Type S: 3.0-liter turbo V6, SH-AWD 17 21 19
3.5-liter V6 with SH-AWD 19 25 21
What the 2026 MDX Type S Cost at Launch

What the 2026 MDX Type S Cost at Launch

The 2026 MDX Type S launched in a single configuration; here it is beside one non-Type S grade for comparison.

2026 MDX configuration Drivetrain MSRP at launch
MDX with Advance Package SH-AWD $66,900
MDX Type S with Advance Package SH-AWD $75,850

MSRP at launch for the 2026 model year, excluding Acura's $1,450 destination charge. Tax, title, options and fees are extra.

To estimate a monthly payment, use our payment calculator. For current offers on new Acura models, see our new Acura specials.

Is the MDX Type S Right for You?

Is the MDX Type S Right for You?

Choose the Type S if:

  • Power is the priority and you want the turbocharged V6 over the 3.5-liter.
  • Air suspension and Brembo front brakes are on your list, since no other MDX offers them.
  • The Bang & Olufsen Ultra system or the AcuraWatch 360 driver-assistance features matter to you.

Look elsewhere in our new MDX inventory if:

  • Fuel economy matters more than output, since the 3.5-liter SH-AWD grades have higher EPA ratings.
  • You want front-wheel drive, which Acura offers only on the base MDX and the MDX with Technology Package.
  • Price leads the decision, since all 5 other grades launched below the Type S.

Tell us you'd like to try the Type S when you schedule your MDX test drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the MDX Type S add over the regular MDX?

The MDX Type S adds a 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged V6, adaptive air suspension, Brembo front brakes, 21-inch wheels on self-sealing tires and an active exhaust valve. It is also the only 2026 MDX with the 31-speaker Bang & Olufsen Ultra Sound System and AcuraWatch 360. Its body, 3 rows and cargo space match the regular MDX.

How much horsepower does the 2026 MDX Type S make?

The 2026 MDX Type S makes 355 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 354 lb-ft of torque from 1,400 to 5,000 rpm. The 3.5-liter V6 in the rest of the lineup trails it by 65 horsepower and 87 lb-ft, so no 2026 MDX has more power.

Which Type S package does Acura offer on the MDX?

Only one: every MDX Type S comes with the Advance Package and SH-AWD, so there is no front-wheel-drive Type S.

What did the 2026 MDX Type S cost at launch?

The 2026 MDX Type S had an MSRP at launch of $75,850. Acura's $1,450 destination charge comes on top of that, along with tax, title, options and fees. To see what that could mean per month, try our payment calculator.

What are the MDX Type S fuel economy ratings?

The MDX Type S is EPA-rated at 17 mpg city, 21 highway and 19 combined. MDX grades with the 3.5-liter V6 and SH-AWD are rated 19 city, 25 highway and 21 combined.

Is the MDX Type S bigger than the regular MDX?

No. The Type S matches every 2026 MDX in length and width and stands the same 67.9 inches tall. Ground clearance is the only exterior dimension that differs: 6.7 to 9.4 inches unladen for the Type S, against 7.3 inches for the other grades.

Is a spare tire included with the MDX Type S?

No. A spare tire comes with the other SH-AWD grades, but the Type S has self-sealing tires and no spare.

How much can the MDX Type S tow?

The MDX Type S can tow up to 5,000 pounds, the same maximum towing capacity as every 2026 MDX with SH-AWD.

What warranty comes with the 2026 MDX Type S?

The MDX Type S comes with Acura's New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 4 years or 50,000 miles and its Powertrain Limited Warranty for 6 years or 70,000 miles, whichever comes first. Every new 2026 Acura carries the same coverage.

Where can I test drive an MDX Type S near Indianapolis?

We're Ed Martin Acura, just south of Carmel at 96th Street and Keystone, right on the Marion and Hamilton county line. Schedule a test drive and mention the Type S, then check our hours and driving directions before you head over.