2026 Acura MDX Type S Advance: St. Louis Buyers Guide

Quick Answer: 2026 MDX Type S Advance

Type S Advance starts at $75,850 MSRP (plus $1,350 destination) and is the only MDX trim with the turbocharged engine: a 3.0-liter turbo V6 making 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft, versus 290 hp / 267 lb-ft on every other trim’s naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6. It pairs that engine with Brembo front brake calipers, a performance-tuned adaptive suspension, 21-inch wheels, quad exhaust outlets, a flat-bottom sport steering wheel and remote engine start, on top of every comfort feature the Advance package includes. SH-AWD is standard (no other drivetrain offered); EPA rates it 17 city / 21 highway / 19 combined.

2026 Acura MDX rear view with illuminated taillights, parked on a reflective salt flat at dusk
The 2026 MDX Type S Advance, the only trim built on the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. Photo: Acura.

The only MDX with a genuinely different engine

Every other 2026 MDX trim, Base through A-Spec Advance, runs the same 290-hp naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6. Type S Advance is the exception, and it’s not a minor one — a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 making 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft, a real jump in both numbers over the standard engine. Acura backs that engine with hardware the rest of the lineup doesn’t get: Brembo four-piston front brake calipers sized for genuinely harder stops, a performance-tuned adaptive (air) suspension that firms up for handling without sacrificing everyday ride quality, and 21-inch wheels that are both the largest in the lineup and part of what gives Type S Advance its stance. Quad exhaust outlets, a flat-bottom sport steering wheel and remote engine start via the key fob round out details that separate this trim from A-Spec Advance’s still-sporty-but-conventional 3.5-liter setup.

Type S Advance also carries every comfort feature the Advance package includes — surround-view camera, head-up display, ventilated and massaging front seats, heated second-row outboard seats — so the roughly $6,950 step up from A-Spec Advance goes almost entirely toward the engine and performance hardware, not additional convenience features that were already present one trim down.

What the turbo engine costs at the pump and the tow hitch

The trade-off for 355 horsepower is fuel economy: Type S Advance is EPA-rated 17 city / 21 highway / 19 combined, noticeably below the 19/25/21 every SH-AWD trim on the standard V6 achieves, and it calls for premium gasoline like the rest of the lineup. Towing capacity, on the other hand, matches every other SH-AWD trim at 5,000 lbs — the extra power doesn’t translate into a higher tow rating on this SUV, so a buyer choosing Type S Advance specifically to tow more than a standard SH-AWD trim can shouldn’t expect a different number on the spec sheet.

Driving Type S Advance in St. Louis

An adaptive suspension and Brembo brakes are the kind of upgrade that’s easy to undervalue on paper and obvious within the first few miles — sharper turn-in on the ramps around I-270, more confident stops in stop-and-go traffic on South Lindbergh, and a ride that stays composed rather than harsh over the same potholes that unsettle a softer-sprung SUV. It’s a genuinely different driving character from the rest of the MDX lineup, not just a badge and a spec-sheet number.

Frequently asked questions

What makes Type S Advance different from every other MDX trim?

It’s the only trim with the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (355 hp / 354 lb-ft) instead of the standard 290-hp 3.5-liter V6. It also gets Brembo front brakes, a performance-tuned adaptive suspension, 21-inch wheels and quad exhaust outlets — none of which appear on A-Spec Advance or any trim below it.

Does Type S Advance get worse gas mileage than the rest of the lineup?

Yes. EPA rates it 17 city / 21 highway / 19 combined, compared to 19/25/21 on every SH-AWD trim running the standard V6. The turbocharged engine’s extra power comes with a real fuel-economy trade-off.

Is there a gas-guzzler tax on the Type S Advance?

No. The federal gas-guzzler tax applies only to passenger cars, not to SUVs and light trucks like the MDX, regardless of EPA combined rating.

Does Type S Advance tow more than other MDX trims?

No. Towing capacity is 5,000 lbs on Type S Advance, the same as every other SH-AWD trim in the lineup. The extra horsepower doesn’t raise the tow rating.

See the Type S Advance in person

Frank Leta Acura keeps Type S Advance units moving through its new inventory at 11777 Tesson Ferry Road in St. Louis. Call (314) 673-4076 or stop by to confirm current colors and stock before making the trip.

All 2026 Acura MDX guides

MSRP excludes the $1,350 destination charge, taxes, title, registration and dealer-installed accessories; Frank Leta Acura sets the actual selling price. EPA fuel-economy figures are estimates from fueleconomy.gov; real-world mileage varies with conditions and driving style. Equipment and availability can change with production timing — confirm current specs and stock with the dealership.