Acura prepares a response to market demands
Some brands are forced to watch from the sidelines as they lack a vehicle to fill a profitable niche. This is what Acura has done for years when it comes to large three-row SUVs. While the MDX remains one of the brand’s most popular vehicles, its relatively cramped third row is becoming increasingly difficult to justify as buyers increasingly value true family spaciousness. If a new report is accurate, Acura is finally preparing to seriously address this weakness.
New model: Acura XL
According to Autonews, Acura is developing a new three-row flagship SUV that will sit above the MDX. Production, based on preliminary data, is expected to begin in September 2029 at Honda’s plant in Lincoln, Alabama. In internal documents, the model is referred to as “Acura XL.” And this is no joke. Annual production volume could reach 40,000 units.
Hybrid powertrain
While many American SUVs rely on large-displacement engines, Acura, according to rumors, will choose a more traditional Japanese path for the XL. The large SUV will receive an all-new hybrid powertrain for large vehicles, which is expected to combine premium performance with enhanced efficiency. There is currently no information on the number of cylinders or power output.
Strategic shift towards hybrids
This is not surprising given Honda’s position. The automaker scaled back its electric vehicle plans after a challenging 2025, and these cuts could leave Acura with only three models in the US. This has not prevented the brand from overtaking Cadillac and Audi in the first half of the year and becoming the fourth largest luxury brand in the country. The shift to hybrids, especially large ones with high margins, is expected to help.
Competition in the large SUV segment
Large premium three-row crossovers continue to gain momentum: last year, sales volume in this segment in the US reached nearly 195,000 units. To a large extent, this growth was driven by vehicles like the longer Lexus TX, which won over buyers with a truly comfortable third row and a spacious trunk. This is an area where even Acura enthusiasts acknowledge that the current MDX falls short of its newest competitors.
Dealer wishes
Interestingly, Autonews reports that dealers are also pushing for something more substantial than just another slightly stretched crossover. One unnamed Acura dealer told the publication that he hopes for a “full-fledged large SUV” capable of competing with the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Cadillac Escalade. He claims that a body-on-frame platform or a longer wheelbase would provide both a proper third row and more cargo space.
“It’s a missed opportunity if they don’t do it. I fully support this concept,” the dealer said.
Return to old plans
The newcomer will also give Acura an alternative to larger luxury SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7, as well as the future Audi Q9, without reaching their premium prices. It will also revive a plan that Acura shelved over a decade ago. In the mid to late 2000s, the brand explored V8, rear-wheel-drive platforms, and a flagship SUV until the global financial crisis halted those plans.
Honda, at least for now, has declined to comment on this information. We hope the brand sticks with the name XL. It might not happen, but it would be quite funny if they did, if only for simplicity’s sake.
The arrival of the Acura XL could be a landmark moment for the brand, which has long avoided a direct confrontation with the biggest players in the segment. If Acura can offer a truly spacious cabin, modern hybrid technology, and a competitive price, it will not only strengthen its market position but also give buyers a long-awaited alternative to dominant German and American models. The revival of the large SUV concept nearly two decades after initial attempts suggests that the market has finally matured for such a move, and Acura is ready to seize this moment.