Acura Confirms Development of MDX EV, Model WIll Target Family Buyers

by Carl Malek | April 9, 2024

Acura is making its intentions known in the EV segment with electrified MDX. Model will target family buyers and those looking for more performance in their utility vehicle purchase.

Acura confirmed MDX will get EV variant

Acura is preparing to make the most of 2024 with the Japanese luxury brand preparing to aggressively expand its reach in the EV segment. This move is part of a broader effort by Acura and Honda to sell over 800,000 EVs by the year 2030 as the two brands prepare to enter a segment that has seen rapid growth both in models and sales.

While the recently confirmed Acura ADX will help pump vital funding into these projects, the brand is working on EVs that buyers will want including an electrified version of the MDX that will add a new alternative for those wanting to make the switch to electrified motoring but want something that can haul the family and all the gear that often comes with them.

MDX EV will help create momentum for Acura

Expect EV to maintain strong familiarity with ICE model

The MDX EV was reportedly confirmed last week during a closed-door meeting that Acura had with invited members of its dealer network. The MDX EV would allow Acura to bring EVs into the family market and build on the core building blocks already laid out by the ICE version to try and make the model appealing to family buyers.

While the tight secrecy surrounding the meeting has kept leaks to a minimum, attendees of the meeting that spoke to Automotive News said that they were excited to hear the news and many of them look forward to seeing the model enter the model place when it eventually begins production. Acura hopes this early excitement will be duplicated by customers with the brand hoping that it’ll help provide a strong start to sales.

Acura to walk fine line

With how strong of a loyalty pool the MDX has, it’s no surprise that Acura is taking a cautious approach with the company not wanting to hurt sales of the existing MDX too much when it introduces the EV variant.

The current generation model is coming off of a mid-cycle update that it received for the 2025 model year. These tweaks updated the exterior styling slightly and added a new 12/3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google’s Built-in software. The model is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 290 hp with the Type S bumping power up to 355-hp.

Look for the EV to perhaps steal a page from rival Genesis’s playbook and feature exterior styling that’s largely similar to the ICE model with the EV retaining the bulk of its cousin’s DNA but with tweaks to help accommodate the EV components. This would be stealing a page out of rival Genesis’s playbook with the Korean brand doing a similar tactic for the G80 and GV70 Electrified.

Acura plans to have the market covered from A to Z

2024 Acura ZDX Type S blue front 3-4 REL

EVs, like this 2024 Acura ZDX, will flood the market next year.

When the Acura MDX EV eventually makes its way to dealerships, it will be part of Acura’s attempt to have the market covered from “A to Z” in reference to its alphabet soup of vehicle monikers.

This will be true in the EV segment and while the 2024 Acura ZDX will be the first spearhead entry into the market for Acura, models like the MDX EV and others will help fill in the gaps and add depth to Acura’s sales plans as well.