Why this 3-year-old Japanese luxury SUV makes more sense than buying new

Published Aug 19, 2026, 12:15 PM EDT Adam Gray, a seasoned automotive journalist and content creator from the UK, joined the How-To Geek editorial team in January 2025. As an automotive journalist for How-To Geek, Adam breaks first-to-report news on the latest in automotive tech, as well as penning automotive features and reviews. Adam is also a contributor to one of How-To Geek's sister sites, TopSpeed, where he uses his media accrediation with manufacturers' press offices to gain access to the latest vehicles for subsequent review. Prior to joining How-To Geek, Adam worked on a freelance basis, contributing automotive content to a variety of business and lifestyle publications. His experience also includes time spent serving as senior editorial & auction content manager for SBX Cars, automotive content writer for Supercar Blondie, motoring editor for Portfolio North, and motoring editor - North East for Reach plc. When he's not putting the latest vehicle through its paces or testing out its tech, Adam can be found at his local ice rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC. Adam also enjoys spending quality time with his three children: Ellie, Oscar, and Heidi. A new luxury SUV gives you the latest model, but it also comes with one big financial downside: depreciation. The 2023 Acura MDX has already absorbed much of that initial hit, while still offering the refinement, performance, space, and features that make it a compelling premium SUV. That makes a three-year-old MDX worth a closer look if you're shopping for a luxury SUV. Instead of paying new-car money for something that will immediately start losing value, you can get into a lightly used MDX that still has plenty of life left in it. The bigger question is whether buying used means giving up too much. In the MDX's case, the answer looks surprisingly favorable, with strong reliability credentials, useful cargo space, and a range of features that make it more than just a cheaper way into a luxury SUV. The biggest depreciation hit is already behind it You're letting the first owner take the hit Credit: NetCarShow.com The biggest argument for a three-year-old MDX isn't that it's simply cheaper than a new luxury SUV. It's that it has already gone through the steepest part of its depreciation curve, so the first owner has absorbed much of that initial drop in value. That changes the value equation for a buyer who doesn't need the latest model year. You can still get a premium SUV with the refinement, capability, and usability that made the MDX appealing when it was new, without taking that initial depreciation hit yourself. You still get a genuinely luxurious SUV Three years hasn't made the MDX feel outdated The appeal of a luxury SUV isn't just having the newest model sitting in the driveway. The things you actually notice every day—quietness, comfortable materials, useful technology, and a feeling of refinement—don't suddenly stop mattering because the vehicle is a few years old. That's where the 2023 MDX still makes a strong case. Its cabin uses available Milano leather, open-pore wood, brushed metal, and soft-touch surfaces, while higher trims add heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic moonroof, and tri-zone climate control. The technology also hasn't been left behind. The MDX comes with a 12.3-inch infotainment display, a 12.3-inch digital cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, AcuraWatch driver assistance, a power tailgate, and a nine-speaker audio system, giving a three-year-old SUV plenty of equipment for modern daily driving. The MDX has a reliability record worth considering It could be a long-term buy Credit: NetCarShow.com The MDX's reliability record is another reason it stands out as a used luxury SUV. J.D. Power rates it 79 out of 100 for reliability, while iSeeCars gives it an average lifespan of 156,200 miles, or 11.5 years. iSeeCars also puts its chances of reaching 250,000 miles at 9.1 percent, making the MDX 1.9 times more likely to reach that milestone than the market average. For comparison, the BMW X5 has an average lifespan of 133,300 miles, while the Audi Q7 comes in at 124,200 miles. The MDX costs less to own than some newer luxury SUVs You get plenty of SUV for the money Credit: Acura Edmunds estimates that owning a 2023 MDX for five years can cost up to $71,709, including insurance, maintenance, repairs, depreciation, and gas. That may sound like a lot, but it's considerably less than the $106,718 to $114,745 estimated for a 2026 Audi Q7. The comparison gets more interesting because the Q7 doesn't offer a clear advantage in performance. The versions compared have similar 0–60 mph times of 5.5 seconds, despite the newer Audi costing substantially more to own. The MDX also wins when it comes to carrying space. It offers up to 95 cubic feet of cargo capacity, compared with 69.6 cubic feet in the Q7, giving the Acura a useful advantage for buyers who actually plan to use their SUV as an SUV. The Type S brings genuine performance to the MDX It's more than just a family SUV Credit: NetCarShow.com The standard MDX uses a SOHC 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 producing 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. The Type S gets a 3.0-liter DOHC turbocharged V-6 producing 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft, giving it a substantial step up in power. The standard MDX is tuned for balance, using a double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear setup to control body movement while keeping the ride comfortable. SH-AWD models add Acura's torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, while the Type S gets SH-AWD as standard. Base Trim Engine 3.5L V6 Gas Base Trim Transmission 10-Speed Automatic Base Trim Drivetrain Front-Wheel Drive Base Trim Horsepower 290 hp Base Trim Torque 267 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm Fuel Economy 19/26 MPG Make Acura Model MDX Segment Midsize Luxury SUV The Type S takes that setup in a much sportier direction. Its sport-tuned adaptive suspension lowers the ride height, while Brembo front brakes, a Sport+ drive mode, and an active exhaust with quad outlets give it the hardware and attitude to back up its extra power. Why the 2023 Acura MDX makes sense as a used luxury SUV You don't need to buy new to get the luxury experience Credit: NetCarShow.com Buying a new luxury SUV isn't automatically the smartest way to get a premium driving experience. The 2023 MDX has already taken much of its initial depreciation, while still offering the comfort, performance, practicality, and technology that made it appealing when it was new. Its used prices make the proposition even more interesting. With a typical 2023 MDX now costing considerably less than its original sticker price, buyers can get into a three-row luxury SUV without taking the biggest depreciation hit themselves. The MDX isn't going to make sense for everyone, particularly if having the latest model year matters more than getting value. But for buyers who want a genuinely premium SUV and would rather put their money into the vehicle than its depreciation, the three-year-old MDX makes a very strong case for itself.