Update ‘Acura investing in gateway models’ and ‘On the all-electric Acura MDX’ sections added.
The fourth-gen MDX, launched in 2021, isn’t available with a hybrid powertrain, and it may not receive the option later during its lifecycle. In other words, as things stand, the Acura MDX Hybrid may not return to the U.S. market.
Why the MDX Hybrid isn’t returning
While SUVs across segments are gaining hybrid variants during generational changes, the Acura MDX had lost its only electrified powertrain in 2021. Citing Acura’s global development chief from a media roundtable, a report from Autoblog.com, filed in December 2020, suggested that the Type S variant offers adequate performance in the fourth-gen MDX. So, there’s no need to bring back the Sport Hybrid (SH-AWD) powertrain available in the third-gen model.
In August 2022, Dave Gardner, former executive Vice President of National Operations, American Honda, told CNET that the Acura brand will “bypass hybrids altogether and move directly to zero-emission vehicles”. It is evident that there will likely be no future hybrid Acura models coming to market, with the ILX Hybrid and MDX Sport Hybrid (both discontinued) being the last Acura hybrids in the U.S.
Customer profile: Acura vs. Honda
A lineup of all-electric models complementing gas-only options aligns well with the Acura customer profile, which is characterized by a higher budget and a demand for technology and performance in their vehicles. This differs significantly with the typical expectations of a Honda customer, where a hybrid option would be seen as a major requirement, where fuel efficiency is a big priority.
Acura invests in gateway models
For the moment, Acura will direct attention towards introducing gas-powered vehicles that fill up white space in the lineup. Acura’s strategy places importance on “gateway models” that attract new buyers to the brand. According to Jessica Fini, American Honda’s assistant vice president of communications, who spoke to Edmunds, the Integra and the upcoming ADX are examples of how these entry-level models play a vital role in the lineup.
Fini stated that “investing in those gateway models” is a priority for Acura as they help strengthen the brand’s appeal to a broader audience.
On the all-electric Acura MDX
As reported by Automotive News on September 1, 2024, Acura is preparing to introduce a three-row electric crossover to compete with the Kia EV9 and the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 9. Expected to debut in late 2026, Automotive News reports that the new model may carry the MDX badge and will likely be sold alongside the combustion-powered MDX. Acura provided a preview of the vehicle during a dealer meeting in April 2024, but further details about its specifications and features haven’t been disclosed.
Why customers ask for an Acura MDX Hybrid
MPG
One could argue that customers demand hybrid variants in cars like the Acura MDX for the benefit of fuel efficiency, not necessarily only performance. Sure, the 2025 Acura MDX Type S can deliver 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, which is noticeably higher than the erstwhile MDX Hybrid (321 horsepower and 289 pound-feet). However, it is nowhere near the 27 mpg combined fuel economy rating of the discontinued MDX Hybrid. The Type S variant is far less efficient, delivering an EPA-est. combined fuel economy of 19 mpg.
Emissions
Some customers find the standard variant’s efficiency inadequate, wishing there was a hybrid option. As a driving.ca reader review (by Rosa Reyes) concludes, MDX customers still call for a hybrid option due to rising fuel costs and environmental issues. For reference, the standard variant returns 22 mpg combined in FWD and 21 mpg in AWD.
European competition
The BMW X5 and Mercedes GLE are available as plug-in hybrid models optionally, with an EPA-estimated electric range of 39 miles and 48 miles, respectively. The Volvo XC90, which features seven seats as standard, also comes with a plug-in hybrid powertrain option, returning an EPA-estimated electric range of 32 miles. The Lexus TX, on the other hand, is available with both hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies, with six seats as standard. Lexus expects the TX PHEV to travel up to 33 miles in EV mode.
Also See: Acura RDX Hybrid not part of the company’s future plans: Report
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
