Acura is reportedly developing a new three-row hybrid SUV aimed at narrowing the sales gap with Lexus. According to Automotive News, the new model is expected to target the Lexus TX and will be positioned above the Acura MDX as the brand’s flagship utility vehicle.
Acura Plans a Larger Three-Row Hybrid SUV
Lexus outsold Acura by nearly 3-to-1 in 2025, and Acura is reportedly preparing a larger SUV to strengthen its lineup.
The Lexus TX is based on the unibody Toyota Grand Highlander but features unique styling, upgraded interior materials, enhanced sound insulation, and exclusive premium powertrains. Automotive News reports Acura is pursuing a similar strategy with its future three-row hybrid SUV.
Internal documents reportedly refer to the vehicle as the “XL,” although it remains unclear whether that is a working title or the final production name.
Production Could Begin in 2029
According to Automotive News, citing people familiar with Honda’s production plans, the Acura XL is expected to enter production in September 2029 at Honda’s manufacturing facility in Lincoln, Alabama.
The report says annual production could reach approximately 40,000 units, and the SUV is expected to feature a new hybrid powertrain.
Platform Remains Undisclosed
Honda currently does not offer a full-size crossover SUV, with the midsize Pilot serving as its largest utility vehicle in the United States.
The report does not indicate whether Honda will also introduce a full-size model related to the Acura XL, leaving that question unanswered.
Automotive News noted that U.S. dealers have been requesting a “full-fledged large SUV that gives us the ability to compete against Tahoe, Expedition, Escalade,” according to one dealer interviewed by the publication.
Body-on-Frame Questions Continue
Competing directly with vehicles such as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Cadillac Escalade would require a body-on-frame platform. Acura and Honda currently build their cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks using unibody platforms.
The report also states that Honda is evaluating Nissan’s truck platforms, including those planned for the revived Xterra and next-generation Pathfinder, as possible foundations for future pickup trucks and SUVs.
If Honda and Nissan reach an agreement, the report says the first body-on-frame Honda models would likely be produced by Nissan at its own factories.
Because the Acura XL is expected to be assembled at Honda’s Alabama plant, which also produces the Pilot and Passport, the report suggests it will likely remain a unibody SUV. A stretched version of Honda’s PF7 unibody platform, which underpins the company’s midsize models, appears to be the most likely architecture based on the report.
New Model Could Expand Acura’s Lineup
Acura’s product range is expected to shrink to three nameplates—the Integra, ADX, and MDX—following the cancellation of several planned electric vehicles as part of the brand’s strategic shift toward hybrid models.
According to the report, the Acura XL would help the brand compete with the Lexus TX while also offering a more affordable alternative to premium European SUVs, including the upcoming Audi Q9, BMW X7, and Mercedes-Benz GLS.
