Back in January, after a spectacular US auto sales year in 2023, American Honda offered a very optimistic outlook for its automotive business in the future – with significant gains from both Honda and Acura.
The two brands just came off total sales of 1.3 million last year – jumping 33% compared to 2022. As such, the company was bullish, hoping that Honda alone will top 1.3 million this year while Acura will add another 150k units. This strategy is supported by a slew of novelties, of course.
Honda will start sales of the all-electric Prologue SUV and also the CR-V Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCEV). The Civic lineup is up for a refresh, and Honda will also introduce the 2025 Civic Hybrid model alongside a restyled Odyssey minivan. Over at Acura, meanwhile, there are even more things to look forward to.
The premium division will also start deliveries of the all-electric ZDX crossover SUV as Prologue's ritzier counterpart – including in sporty Type S form. An all-new base crossover is coming this year alongside the Integra, along with an upgraded RDX plus a "significantly enhanced" MDX, the brand's best-selling model. The latter is getting the bulk of upgrades, with styling changes, Bang and Olufsen premium audio, a new tech interface with a touchscreen instead of a touchpad, plus the latest features for the AcuraWatch suite.
However, after January's tally, it seems that only Honda is moving in the right direction – with deliveries up 12.7% and Acura instead dropping 9%. The mainstream brand continues to post record after record with the electrified CR-V and Accord models, while Acura's only bright spot being the 50% rise of the RDX "premium sport crossover." Meanwhile, the popular MDX actually dropped over 30%.
As such, it is no wonder that everyone believes that a refresh for the 2025 Acura MDX needs to come out from behind the curtain as soon as possible. Well, thanks to the imaginative realm of digital car content creators, it just did – albeit from behind the CGI one. The Halo oto channel on YouTube provides fresh automotive info corroborated with their virtual designs; now, there are new CGI ideas about the upcoming MDX – just in the nick of time.
According to American Honda, the 2025 Acura MDX, which currently starts from $50,150 for the 2024MY ($68,450 if you want the MDX Type S), will get the most significant updates among mid-cycle facelifts coming out this year from the Japanese automaker. Hopefully, those will help it recapture its status as the brand's best-selling model with positive sales figures.
Until then, do you think this unofficial rendering has captured the essence of the upcoming morphing? If they didn't, what do you think Acura should do to make the big MDX mid-size crossover SUV fashionable again?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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