Acura rarely misses when it comes to the MDX, but with strong sales throughout a pandemic-ridden 2020, the new model has large wheel tracks to fill.

However, the new 2022 MDX has another role within Acura’s line-up. Since discontinuing the RLX sedan, the three-row SUV has become the flagship of the luxury brand. Thankfully things look positive, with its bold design language and a raft of standard equipment making it stand out from the crowd.

The 2022 MDX rides on an Acura-exclusive platform, which means it no longer shares underpinnings with Honda’s Odyssey or Accord. The new MDX has a larger footprint to accommodate those flagship aspersions; it’s three inches longer than the outgoing model, with all trim levels including three rows of seats.

See Also: All-New 2022 Acura MDX Flagship SUV Enters Production In Ohio

In this video, Redline Reviews takes a closer look at an A-Spec MDX, a sort-of half-way-house until the much-anticipated Type-S launches later in 2021. The A-Spec offers an overall more sporting package in terms of exterior appearance, including black accents and unique wheels.

Happily, it’s not all about the looks, as the MDX steps up interior quality, with many exclusive elements rather than sporting bits pulled from Honda’s parts bin as with previous generations. You get a leather-stitched dash, power and memory front seats, and two 12.3-inch screens. The reviewer points out that these screens aren’t touch-capable, with Acura preferring drivers to use their “TrueTouch” touchpad.

The MDX gets the familiar 3.5-liter V6 VTEC with 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. However, for those pining for something a little more potent, the Type-S will launch with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.

Read: Acura’s Next-Gen MDX Has Been 20 Years In The Making

The latest generation of the MDX is available in front-wheel-drive or with Acura’s Super-Handling AWD and has a 10-speed automatic gearbox. And, with a return to double-wishbone suspension (something that Honda and Acura touted no-end in the ’90s), the MDX feels like a more premium and better-handling vehicle.

So, if you’re in the market for a luxury-feeling alternative to the European offerings, the 2022 Acura MDX might be the car for you — although if you’re looking for something a bit more potent, stick around until the Type-S launches in the Summer.