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Acura has long struggled with its identity over the last 15 years. In fact, the second half of the 2000s were a complete mess save for one vehicle: the MDX. Between you and I, if the MDX had not been as good as it was, and is, I don’t think we’d still have an Acura brand network to speak of.
2017 Acura MDX
Review Overview
Performance - 80%
Driving Experience - 80%
Comfort - 80%
Security - 90%
Roominess - 90%
Prestige - 80%
83%
I won’t breakdown what was wrong with all the other products during that period of time as I’ve been mean enough already with Honda’s luxury brand but I think they’ve finally arrived. Or at least, I think I’ve figured it out. The MDX is Acura and that’s the way it should be. Acura is a CUV make.
Hear me out: The MDX is the flagship CUV, the RDX is the compact king, bring in a sub-compact CUV and there you have it! Am I crazy? Can the MDX support the entire brand? Yes, and it already does because it’s one of the best in its segment and the top selling Acura. Again, am I crazy? The MDX is a Top 10 best selling luxury vehicle in North America.
Perceived luxury value
By perceived, I mean that the MDX has it all going for it. It’s size, stature, styling and position in the line-up make it the top model (NSX notwithstanding, as it should be a Honda) and so by purchasing an MDX, you got the brand’s most expensive product.
And then there’s content. At $65,790, a sum that won’t get you a base BMW X5, the top-line Elite has an incredible amount of kit. A similarly equipped BMW X3 xDrive28i is only a few grand less and the situation is more or less the same with a Mercedes GLC 300 with options. This is top brass for decent buck.
To look upscale
Acura designers and engineers never once messed about with the MDX’s styling. If anything, it has always set the bar for the remainder of the company. For 2017, Acura’s once more done a commendable job at giving the MDX the persona of a flagship luxury ‘ute.
The Diamond Pentagon grille and revised Jewel Eye headlights give width and power to the truck without it being overly huge. The larger wheels aid in scaling down the overall dimensions. In a word, the MDX is handsome.
The cabin is equally upscale with a modern albeit busy dashboard layout and some trim-specific contrast stitching. It is difficult to really fault any one aspect of the MDX’s interior however if the idea of two screens seemed good, the execution is less so. The redundant displays’ information can overlap which is kind of silly. On the other hand, the gauge cluster is limited in what it can show, as in a digital speedometer is non-existent.
The front seats are comfortable but could use extra thigh support. I covered over 1,300 km at the helm of the MDX and more than once I needed to shuffle in my seat. Beyond that, as far as trunk and general storage space are concerned, the Acura is brilliant.
Refined powertrain
Acura’s version of the 3.5-liter V6 is nothing short of creamy smooth. With 290-horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. of torque on tap, things get exciting but only once all the gears align.
The standard 9-speed automatic transmission is galaxies beyond what I’ve previously experienced at Acura. The scenario is not ideal however but the MDX is about refinement. At just under 2,000 kg (4,400 lbs.), the Acura’s throttle pedal needs coaxing if the intention is being mildly quicker off the line than your red-light neighbour. I noticed little to no change in reaction times even when the Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) was set in Sport. With nine gears, you’d imagine that the ratios would be tighter but at the very least, the box’ improved programming will permit a 9-4 shuffle to take place faster than the glacier-like pace of the previous transmission.
Beyond that, the MDX glides along very luxuriously. The fully independent suspension is tuned for a wonderful mix of handling and comfort. The electric power steering’s assistance is well judged and I appreciated the precision, and general stability provided by the MDX’s chassis on my long drives.
Unfortunately for me, the suit of safety elements included with AcuraWatch failed me at times as the cruise control’s sensors went off-line due to poor weather. Long portions of the long drive were done with cruise control. This too is a topic for another time.
MDX Sport Hybrid
Before long, the hybrid version of the MDX will make its way into showrooms. The new vehicle will feature a 3.0-liter V6 mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission to go along with an integrated electric motor up front two electric motors on the rear wheels. Total system output will be of 325-horsepower and should make not only the driving experience even better but save you money at the pump to boot.
Always a good choice
The current Acura MDX remains one of the best at what it does. It is, after all, the best-selling three-row luxury SUV of all time and for good reason.
The RDX and MDX account for roughly 65% of all Acura sales in Canada so the business case is simple – people want CUVs and love what Acura has to offer them. I think the time has come for a mini-MDX and watch sale numbers fly. And yes, the ILX and RLX must go for this to happen. That leaves the TLX… Yet another topic for another story.
