Editor’s note: This Car Seat Check was published in January 2021 about the 2022 Acura MDX; little has changed with this year’s model. See what’s new for 2023 or check out a side-by-side comparison of the model years.
The verdict: Acura’s largest SUV, the MDX, grew in size for 2022 and received fresh, aggressive styling, upgraded interior materials, and some additional safety and tech features. With exposed Latch anchors in the second row as well as an extra set of anchors beyond the customary two, there’s a lot to like about the MDX, especially because our test version fit three car seats across the second row. We tested an MDX equipped with a second-row removable middle seat, which adds extra flexibility.
Does it fit three car seats? Yes, and the second row has three sets of Latch anchors.
Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2023 Acura MDX.
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B Grade
- Infant seat: This seat was easy to install in the second row. Our 5-foot-6-inch front passenger had just enough legroom seated ahead of it, but taller passengers will need more space to be comfortable.
- Rear-facing convertible: As with the infant, the convertible seat in rear-facing mode installed easily in the second row, but taller front passengers will feel cramped.
- Booster: After raising the head restraint, the booster fit well in the second row, but the MDX’s floppy buckles might make it difficult for kids to buckle up independently.
- Third-row access: The second-row seatbacks have an easy, one-touch button that quickly collapses the second-row seat and slides it forward. This won’t work with car seats installed, however, and the opening is on the smaller side. The middle seat in the second row is removable, opening up a passageway to the third row — but this isn’t perfect, either, as the seat is heavy and cumbersome to remove.
- Third-row booster: The third-row’s fixed head restraints are slim enough to not interfere with how the booster fits against the seatback, but the MDX’s floppy buckles might be difficult for kids to grasp and use independently.
C Grade
Grading Scale
A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.
B: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing the third row when available.
C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access the third row when available.
D: Insufficient room, plus multiple fit or connection issues.
F: Does not fit or is unsafe.
About ’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger and Jennifer Newman are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Chicco KeyFit 30 infant-safety seat, a Graco Contender 65 convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.
We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.
