2014 Acura MDX Video Review

2014 Acura MDX Video Review by Auto Critic Steve Hammes

There’s no doubting that the luxury crossover has become the transport of choice for affluent families.  And the all-new 2014 Acura MDX melds 3-rows of seating with excellent driving acumen in a fuel-efficient package.

The biggest difference between a luxury and non-luxury crossover is that the latter is typically focused on the cabin, leaving the driving experience to play second fiddle.  But when you enter this realm – that of the MDX Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive with Advance and Entertainment Packages – you rightfully expect and get a more complete vehicle.

Having recently tested the all-new RLX sedan, getting into and driving the MDX felt quite familiar.  Same engine and transmission, similar feel to the driver’s seat and much of the same tech, the MDX really comes across as an RLX SUV.  And that’s a great thing – both share a very tuned driving experience with the benefit of Agile Handling Assist; an Acura innovation that selectively uses the brakes to improve cornering and impart more confident handling.  That’s in addition to the SH-AWD system which powers the rear wheels independently when additional traction is beneficial.  And furthering a growing trend, the Integrated Dynamics System or IDS lets the driver pick from comfort, normal and sport modes – a great idea which goes beyond just adjusting throttle response to also include steering effort, all-wheel drive and active noise control.  The 6-speed auto also has a sport mode and can be paddle shifted.  The new Amplitude Reactive Dampers do a wonderful job in delivering a supple, luxurious ride quality while keeping the MDX athletic.  The lower, narrower and lighter body contributes to this feeling as well and helps improve fuel economy.  With the new, smaller direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 with Variable Cylinder Management you get a more powerful engine making 290 horsepower thus hastening the MDX’s 0-to-60mph time by a half second while returning gas mileage of 18mpg city/27mpg highway on premium.  An optional towing kit allows for hauling up to 5,000 pounds.  So there, whoever gets to take the helm of the MDX will be very pleased in every way.

But perhaps more so than from the behind the wheel, vehicles like this earn their keep in all the other areas.  One of the key ingredients to a useful 3-row crossover is providing access to that 3^rd row.  And this is Acura’s solution.

This One-Touch Walk-In feature, available on both sides and from the 3^rd row is a thoughtful idea but this is small kid only territory – even with the 2^nd row slid forward it’s tight all around.  Overall, passenger and cargo volume are both down fairly significantly from the previous generation even though the wheelbase has increased.  But other than from the 3^rd row, I never felt like the MDX was undersized.  Sliding and articulating 2^nd row seats with an awesome widescreen theater system with dual controls, climate control with heated seats and a flat floor make for 3 happy passengers.  No Blu-ray however.

Up front, there’s a multifaceted center console with big storage and all of the creature comforts you’d expect, including some you wouldn’t like automatic heated and cooled seats.  Unfortunately the dual screen Acura Link system continued to frustrate even more so than I realized in the RLX.  It’s a mediocre system at best.  There’s lots and lots of tech though like adaptive cruise with a stop and go traffic mode which reduces the driver’s role to just steering and lane keeping assist among others.  It’s all good stuff but accessing some of the infotainment features can be exasperating.

Available in 2-wheel drive for the first time, a base MDX starts at $43,185 while this top-trim all-wheel drive example stickers for $57,400.  Offering a better driving experience than the Infiniti QX60 but not as much room, the new MDX is a winner for those who don’t see much use for the 3^rd row.

 

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