Skip to main content

Acura’s 2017 MDX gets a sharper design and a powerful hybrid drivetrain

Honda-owned Acura has traveled to the New York Auto Show to introduce the redesigned 2017 MDX.

The updated MDX receives a much sharper-looking design than the current model. The bulk of the updates are found up front, where the crossover gets a taller front end that does away with Acura’s shield-shaped grille and instead adopts a hexagonal unit that’s loosely inspired by the one found on the chiseled Precision concept that bowed in Detroit earlier this year. The back end carries over with only minor modifications such as new-look tail lamps and a re-styled bumper.

Mechanically, the big news is that the MDX gains a hybrid drivetrain that consists of a 3.0-liter V6 engine, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with a built-in electric motor, and a pair of electric motors out back that spin the rear wheels. Called Sport Hybrid, the gasoline-electric MDX is rated at 325 horsepower, 35 more than its non-hybrid counterpart, and it’s expected to return a respectable 26 mpg in a mixed cycle. The hybrid model lives up to its name with a sport-tuned suspension, and four driver-selectable profiles called Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, respectively.

Non-hybrid versions carry on with a direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 290 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 267 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. It spins the front wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission, though it can be paired with Acura’s Super Handling All Wheel Drive System (SH-AWD) at an extra cost.

Acura’s AcuraWatch suite of electronic driving aids now come standards on all variants of the MDX regardless of trim level. It includes a collision mitigation braking system, a lane departure warning system, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control, among other features. Acura has also expanded the list of standard features with an electric parking brake, SiriusXM satellite radio, automatic high beams, and four USB charging ports.

The 2017 Acura MDX will go on sale this summer, and the Sport Hybrid model will launch a little later this year.

Updated 03/34/2016 by Ronan Glon: Added official information, pictures.

Ronan Glon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Uber partners with May Mobility to bring thousands of autonomous vehicles to U.S. streets
uber may mobility av rides partnership

The self-driving race is shifting into high gear, and Uber just added more horsepower. In a new multi-year partnership, Uber and autonomous vehicle (AV) company May Mobility will begin rolling out driverless rides in Arlington, Texas by the end of 2025—with thousands more vehicles planned across the U.S. in the coming years.
Uber has already taken serious steps towards making autonomous ride-hailing a mainstream option. The company already works with Waymo, whose robotaxis are live in multiple cities, and now it’s welcoming May Mobility’s hybrid-electric Toyota Sienna vans to its platform. The vehicles will launch with safety drivers at first but are expected to go fully autonomous as deployments mature.
May Mobility isn’t new to this game. Backed by Toyota, BMW, and other major players, it’s been running AV services in geofenced areas since 2021. Its AI-powered Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) tech allows it to react quickly and safely to unpredictable real-world conditions—something that’s helped it earn trust in city partnerships across the U.S. and Japan.
This expansion into ride-hailing is part of a broader industry trend. Waymo, widely seen as the current AV frontrunner, continues scaling its service in cities like Phoenix and Austin. Tesla, meanwhile, is preparing to launch its first robotaxis in Austin this June, with a small fleet of Model Ys powered by its camera-based Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. While Tesla aims for affordability and scale, Waymo and May are focused on safety-first deployments using sensor-rich systems, including lidar—a tech stack regulators have so far favored.
Beyond ride-hailing, the idea of personally owned self-driving cars is also gaining traction. Waymo and Toyota recently announced they’re exploring how to bring full autonomy to private vehicles, a move that could eventually bring robotaxi tech right into your garage.
With big names like Uber, Tesla, Waymo, and now May Mobility in the mix, the ride-hailing industry is evolving fast—and the road ahead looks increasingly driver-optional.

Read more
The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

Read more
You Asked: State of smartphone design, Slate Truck breakdown, and soundbars under $600
You Asked

On today’s You Asked: What's to come with the new Slate Truck and its potential availability? Is it worth the hype? Why does it feel like smartphone design and innovation has stalled recently? And why do directors think that ultra wide 21:9 is a good ratio for movies?
Slate Truck breakdown with John McCann
Some of you have been in touch to ask about the availability of the new Slate Truck. I'll go through the preorder process in a moment, but first, let's get everyone up to speed on this newly unveiled EV. What is it? What makes it stand out? And why is it generating so much buzz?
This is being touted as a sub-$20,000 electric truck after government incentives, and you’ll be able to customize it to your heart’s content. It stands out not so much for what it offers, but for what it doesn’t offer as standard. There’s just one trim and one paint color. No touchscreen, no stereo, no Bluetooth, no electric windows.

So, what do you get? There are two seats. There's a five-meter bed, good for payloads up to 1,400 pounds. There's AC, steel wheels, and hand-cranked windows, plus all the standard driver safety assists you’d expect from a modern vehicle. There’s a rear-mounted electric motor, a roomy frunk, and a battery rated for about 150 miles, according to Slate.
That isn’t great in the world of EV range, but a larger battery will be available to push that figure up to a more reasonable 240 miles. That bigger battery is just one of over 100 add-ons Slate is making available. These will be offered not just at the point of purchase but also at any time during your ownership, allowing you to swap and upgrade as your needs evolve.
Want to add a splash of color? Check out the vast range of vinyl wraps you can apply and remove from the truck at will. There’s also an SUV upgrade kit that converts your two-seater truck into a five-seater car. Inside, infotainment is strictly “bring your own device.” There’s no touchscreen, no built-in CarPlay, not even a stereo. Instead, you get a universal phone mount and a few USB ports. You can also add holders for a tablet if you want a bigger display, and a Bluetooth speaker if you want to listen to music while out for a drive.

Read more