Your favorite apps are already in your car
Download the apps you use from Google Play and they live on the MDX's 12.3-inch display. Not on your phone. In the car.
Icons are illustrative. App availability varies; apps from Google Play may require a subscription. Spotify, YouTube Music and NPR One are trademarks of their respective owners.
Eight ways Google built-in changes the drive
Hands on the wheel
Navigate, call, text and change the climate by voice. Nothing to tap, nothing to reach for.
No phone, no cable
Maps, music and your assistant run in the car itself. Leave the phone in your pocket, or at home.
Time back every day
Live traffic rerouting and send-to-car directions mean you start moving the moment you sit down.
Signed in as you
Your saved places, playlists and reminders follow your Google account into the car.
Something for the back seat
Shows, movies and videos on the display while you're parked. Takeout waits, kids don't.
Comfort on command
"I'm feeling cold" turns on the heat and seat heaters. No menus, no searching for buttons.
Stay reachable, safely
Hear texts read aloud and answer by voice. Set reminders and to-dos on the way home.
It gets better over time
Automatic updates from Google bring new apps and features while parked or on the go.
Find your best route with Google Maps
Real-time traffic, rerouted for you
Google Maps is built into the car. When traffic changes, your route changes with it, and you're asked before it switches.
Plan ahead. Send to car.
Plan your route in Google Maps on your phone, then send it to your MDX. It's waiting on the screen when you get in. No cables, no fuss.
Ask for exactly what you want
Nearby places, hours, ratings. Ask by voice and get the answer on the screen, with directions one tap away.
Say "Hey Google" to adjust settings
Climate and seat heaters by voice
Turn on your seat heater, change the temperature and more without searching for buttons or scrolling through menus.
Keep your hands on the wheel
Everything you'd normally reach for on a cold morning, handled while you keep your eyes on the road.
Your playlists and podcasts, no phone needed
Apps from Google Play
Download your favorite media apps, like Spotify, YouTube Music, NPR One and more, straight to the car. Skip tracks and turn up the volume with your voice.
Catch up on shows when parked
Waiting for takeout or for the kids? Watch shows, movies or videos on the car display while you're parked.
Stay on top of it all while on the go
Hear and answer texts by voice
Listen to text messages and reply without touching your phone.
Reminders and to-dos
Ask Google to set a reminder or add something to your list, and it's there when you get home.
Always updating
Cars with Google built-in receive automatic updates directly from Google while parked or on the go, delivering new apps and features.
Google built-in in our lineup
- 12.3-inch touchscreen
- Google Gemini as your in-car assistant
- Google Maps and apps from Google Play
- Three rows, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive available
- Google built-in with a complimentary 3-year unlimited data plan
- Google Maps and apps from Google Play
- Acura's compact premium SUV
Other Acura models connect your phone through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Ask us which setup fits the way you drive.
Set up before you leave the lot
Sign in
Sign in to your Google account on the center display. Your consultant walks you through it at delivery.
Bring your places
Your saved places and recent searches in Google Maps come with you, so "take me home" works on day one.
Add your apps
Open Google Play in the car and add the music and podcast apps you already use.
Moving up from an older Acura?
Tell us about your current vehicle online and see what it's worth before you visit. TLX and RDX owners may also qualify for the Allegiance Loyalty Offer.
Answer a few questions about your vehicle online and see an instant trade-in value range. Final offer subject to final review based on vehicle condition and history.
Google built-in, answered
What is Google built-in in a car?
Google built-in means Google Maps, the Google assistant (Gemini on the 2026 MDX) and apps from Google Play run on the car's own display and account, without a phone connected.
Which Acura models have Google built-in?
It is standard on every 2026 Acura MDX and available on the 2026 Acura ADX A-Spec with Advance Package, which includes a complimentary 3-year unlimited data plan. Other Acura models connect your phone through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Is Google built-in the same as Android Auto or Apple CarPlay?
No. Android Auto and CarPlay mirror apps from your phone. Google built-in runs Google apps in the car itself, so navigation, music and your assistant work even when your phone is not with you.
Do I need my phone for Google built-in?
No. Sign in to your Google account on the car's display once. Your saved places, playlists and reminders follow your account into the car.
Does Google built-in need a data plan?
Google built-in services require a data connection. The 2026 ADX A-Spec with Advance Package includes a complimentary 3-year unlimited data plan. Ask Chevy Chase Acura about data plan details for the MDX. Message and data rates may apply.
What can I say to Google in the car?
Ask for directions, nearby places, music, podcasts, reminders and to-do items, or to read and reply to texts. You can also adjust climate and seat heaters by voice, for example "Hey Google, I'm feeling cold."
Can I watch video on the car display?
Yes, while the vehicle is parked. Shows, movies and videos play on the display when you are stopped, for example while waiting for takeout.
Does Google built-in get updates?
Yes. Cars with Google built-in receive automatic updates directly from Google while parked or on the go, delivering new apps and features.
Where can I try Google built-in on an Acura?
At Chevy Chase Acura, 7725 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. Schedule a test drive in a 2026 MDX or call (301) 656-9200.
Come say "Hey Google" in an MDX
7725 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda · Family owned and operated since 1939