Driving Impressions

Acura MDX offers a superb balance of car and truck attributes. Its highway manners are excellent. It corners well, though without the keen turn-in of the BMW X5. MDX feels extremely stable and as untippable as a rhino. Its 3.5-liter VTEC V6 engine generates 260 horsepower and 250 pounds-feet of torque available from 3500 to 5000 rpm. A five-speed automatic transmission features gear ratios spaced to match SUV requirements. MDX can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 9 seconds, a full second faster than the nearest competitor. A mesa-shaped torque curve means responsive acceleration for merging and passing at any speed. The brakes are absolute standouts, responsive and secure. Acura says that MDX can tow a 4500-boat, or a 3500-pound trailer with a tongue weight of 450 pounds. That kind of towing capability is normally considered truck trait. Off road, MDX makes up for the absence of a transfer case and a granny gear with a regular low gear that is extra low. Venturing onto badly rutted forest service roads or trails leading to fishing sites and trailheads will not overtax the MDX. It comes with a unique four-wheel-drive system. Most of the time, the MDX runs in front-wheel-drive mode for good fuel economy. Some all-wheel-drive systems normally cruise in front-wheel drive, engaging the rear wheels when sensors detect front wheel spin. Not so the MDX. Slippage, the Acura engineers reason, can only occur under acceleration. And so the MDX engages the rear wheels as well as the front wheels whenever the driver calls for acceleration, without waiting for slippage to occur. Acura has always been good at taming and avoiding torque steer, the curse of powerful front-wheel-drive vehicles, and this system cuts it off before it can start. Acura provides an "unstuck" button on the dash (that's what it says) that locks the differential progressively to get out of really tough situations. Though safety and clean emissions do not figure in how a car drives they do figure in how you feel about driving it. Two safety points: Acura expects a five-star federal crash rating (the best) on the MDX. And Acura claims the MDX can be hit from behind by a vehicle going 35 mph without the third row of seats being breached. As for "greenness," all MDX models sold nationwide meet strict ULEV-2 emissions standards.

Final Word

Acura MDX combines most of the virtues of the SUV genre and diminishes or eliminates most of its vices. Anyone seeking comfort, performance, spaciousness, flexibility, proven safety features, environmental awareness and driving pleasure in a value-loaded package must have a look at the MDX.