Acura is getting ready to muddy its designer trainers. The premium Japanese brand is planning three new SUVs, including an adventure-ready off-roader due in showrooms in the first half of 2028.

It’ll be Acura’s first rugged SUV since the SLX disappeared in 1996. That old-school machine was essentially an Isuzu Trooper wearing a posh badge, but don’t expect its successor to follow the same recipe.

Instead, the new model could share its underpinnings with Honda’s Passport TrailSport, giving it genuine off-road ability without the expense of developing an entirely new platform.

Honda’s latest Passport TrailSport boasts 9.65 inches of ground clearance, so there’s already a fairly capable foundation to work with.

Acura has revealed little beyond a teaser image showing the new SUV’s wheel design, promising a combination of outdoor capability, premium styling and modern technology.

But that’s only part of the plan. A next-generation RDX is also on the way, arriving in 2028 with hybrid power exclusively. Meanwhile, a new flagship SUV with seating for eight is expected in 2029, sitting above the seven-seat MDX.

The bigger picture is a concerted effort to revive Acura’s fortunes by targeting popular SUV segments and embracing hybrids rather than betting everything on electric cars.

With 15 new hybrid models planned across Honda and Acura globally by 2030, the message is clear: efficiency matters, but customers still want versatility.

Now Acura just needs to build SUVs compelling enough to get buyers through the showroom doors.