Acura MDX

 The Acura MDX is a large seven-passenger crossover vehicle. Introduced for the 2001 model year, the MDX is in its second generation, with the newer version arriving in showrooms as a 2007 model. A 2010 update added new features and a new corporate face to the big crossover vehicle, which continues to sit atop TheCarConnection's rankings for large family vehicles, placing just behind the likes of the Ford Flex. The Acura MDX is built in Alliston, Ontario, and shares some of its running gear with a wide swath of Honda and Acura models, including the Honda Pilot, Honda Odyssey, Honda Ridgeline, and Acura TL. It competes most directly with the Lexus RX crossovers, the Volvo XC70, the Flex and the similar Lincoln MKT.

 The first-generation Acura MDX replaced a slow-selling vehicle dubbed the SLX--simply, a rebadged version of the then-current Isuzu Trooper. Offered as a seven-passenger crossover, the MDX came with a single drivetrain, a 3.5-liter V-6 with 240 horsepower, mated to a five-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Over the years, this first MDX would see its power boosted to 265 hp, while it added features such as Bluetooth connectivity, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, Bose audio and satellite radio, and a voice-activated navigation system. Side-curtain airbags were another addition to the MDX's safety package, which performed well in crash tests. While it never reached the prestigious ubiquity of the Lexus RX, the Acura MDX became a reliable sight in upscale mall parking lots and commuter lanes thanks to its luxe equipment, its airy interior and its relatively good ride and handling.

A new MDX emerged in the 2007 model year, and brought with it a more substantial look and feel, both inside and out. The second-generation Acura MDX featured an uprated engine--now at 3.7 liters of displacement and 300 hp--and a new all-wheel-drive system related to the one that would bow in the new Acura RL, "Super Handling All-Wheel Drive." Standard equipment included a sunroof and leather trim, while options included a high-quality premium audio package; voice-activated navigation; and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system. Handling remained tried and true to its crossover positioning, but the MDX's interior grew more spacious and useful, giving it one of the most adult-friendly interiors of any crossover vehicle. Fuel economy, though, was not a strong point, at 14/20 mpg.

With the 2010 model year, the MDX has adopted Acura's new corporate grille, which some have likened to a bottle opener. It's the best-integrated version of the grille on any Acura, at least. The MDX also received new electronic power steering in 2010 that misses the mark completely for responsiveness (it's too fast) and heft (it's way too light). At more than $41,000 base, the MDX also has grown seriously expensive--though it still bests most of its competitors thanks to the large, cozy cabin and high-quality finishes. Safety remains a strong point, though since no roof-crush tests have been performed, the MDX has lost its "Top Safety Pick" status with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which changed its requirements for the designation this year.

The two-door Acura ZDX shares some mechanicals with the MDX.

 Angular Rear Exterior View - 2010 Acura MDX AWD 4-door Tech Pkg