| Acura Buff |
May 13, 2007
Acura MDX: If It Looks Like a Duck...
By JERRY GARRETT
ACURA says the exterior styling of its redesigned MDX sport wagon was inspired by high-end yachts, like the Wally Boat.
Really? From a side view, I see the profile of one of those surplus World War II DUKW amphibious craft. Duck Tour, anyone?
In considering what the second-generation MDX should look like, Acura’s designers decided to depart from the safe me-too look of most S.U.V.’s. They wanted to make a notice-me statement, and they have certainly succeeded, from the anime-inspired grille to the nautical prow to the hunched haunches.
The MDX made its debut as a 2001 model, greatly improving on the poorly received Isuzu-built SLX sport utility that Acura had previously tried to sell. The MDX hit the streets with stellar build quality, quickly built a reliability record to match and gained immediate respect.
What it didn’t get was a lot of buyers. Competitors, including luxury sport wagons from German manufacturers, had a decided advantage in overall performance. The MDX was also saddled with comparatively bland styling. Worse, its own stablemate, the similar but less expensive Honda Pilot, poached sales from the same pool of buyers.
Still, I considered the MDX a best buy, because it offered perhaps the auto industry’s best array of standard features at an excellent price in the mid-$30,000 range. Initially, the only option was a $2,000 DVD navigation system. For 2007, the base price has passed $40,000, and although the Acura still has an enviable array of standard features, a buyer seeking a loaded MDX must shell out another $8,000 for options.
Acura is gambling that it can change minds and buying decisions in the high end of the S.U.V. market where BMW, Porsche and Mercedes play. In the past, MDX buyers were mostly women, who considered the outgoing MDX a comfortable, cushy, bullet-proof people hauler and grocery getter.
This new model will probably seem like overkill to them. Now Acura is aiming at men. The MDX has been completely reimagined as a cutting-edge performance machine, with macho styling and a positively Teutonic array of electronic and telematic equipment.
The MDX still comes only with a V-6, but the new 3.7-liter engine makes a more competitive 300 horsepower; indeed, this is Acura’s most powerful engine ever — even the discontinued NSX exotic sports car mustered only 253 horsepower.
A dual-stage intake manifold and unusually high 11.0:1 compression ratio give the MDX’s engine the punch of a V-8 while sipping fuel like a V-6. In combined city and highway driving, I found it traveled nearly 20 miles on a gallon of premium unleaded.
The MDX also still comes with a five-speed automatic that can be shifted like a manual. Although some competitors offer six- and even seven-speed transmissions, the MDX didn’t seem gear-deprived.
This year, power is delivered as needed to each wheel through Acura’s savvy Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system (introduced in the RL sedan), wherein the outside wheels can rotate faster to facilitate cornering. The racetrack-tuned suspension offers switchable sport and comfort settings. A magnetic shock-absorber system, included with the optional Sport Package, includes two-mode active dampers that increase stability and body control in hard maneuvers without ill effects on the ride.
The MDX’s quickness and dexterity compare favorably with pricier high-performance rivals like the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5. What’s more, towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, certainly adequate for a car-based utility.
Standard safety equipment includes front air bags, side air bags mounted in the front seats, full-length side curtain bags, active front head restraints, stability control with a stabilizing feature for towing, tire-pressure monitors and antilock disc brakes with brake assist. The brakes, by the way, provided strong, sure stops.
The MDX has grown to seven-passenger capacity, with three rows of seats; leather is standard on all MDXs. The power-adjustable front seats are handsome, firm and supportive. The roomy second row, which folds in a 60-40 configuration, has reclining seatbacks and a folding center section that doubles as an armrest with cup holders (in addition to other beverage and gear cubbies in the door pockets and elsewhere).
The third row, split 50-50, is fit only for children.
With the second- and third-row seats all up, cargo space measures 15 cubic feet, but the hold grows to 83.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A small storage compartment is hidden under the rear floor.
While the second and third rows fold easily, they create a crooked, angled load floor when down. Another option, a power liftgate, can be handy.
The mostly black interior of my test vehicle contrasted in an oddly pleasing way with the chocolate brown leather that comes with the Sport Package. The driver, passenger and two rear seat positions were also heated, and the driver’s seat has a lumbar adjustment. The leather steering wheel and shift knob, padded door and center console armrest were tactilely pleasing. But the cheap graphite-gray plastic wood trim used throughout the cockpit does not belong in a vehicle aspiring to move up-market.
Another ergonomic shortcoming is the center stack with its Big Brother control knob, akin to BMW’s odious iDrive. Acura was once the industry’s model for ergonomic simplicity but it seems to have followed the Germans down a path to complexity.
Controls for the entertainment and navigation systems include 3 knobs, 2 disc slots, 34 buttons and dozens of functions — all within an area about the size of a man’s hand. The steering wheel adds four more buttons and six toggle switches. Too complicated? There’s also a complete set of redundant voice controls. An owner with a post-graduate degree might well learn all this, but in a week’s test drive, I flunked out.
The base MDX is $40,665. The Technology Package brings the price up to $44,165 and includes a navigation system, surround-sound audio system and Bluetooth wireless phone connectivity. The Sport Package adds the active-damper handling system and sport seats, pushing the price to $46,265. The $2,200 Entertainment package has a second-row DVD video system, heated second row seats and power liftgate. Fully loaded, our test vehicle topped out at a sobering $48,465, including destination.
So, let’s sum up the segment. The MDX now outpowers the Mercedes-Benz ML350 and Lexus RX 350, neither of which has a third-row seat. The redesigned BMW X5 3.0i offers three rows, and the MDX can beat it in a drag race (though maybe not on a slalom course). But the Bimmer’s base price almost equals the sticker of a fully equipped MDX. The Audi Q7 3.6 is close in power and price but a loser in the feature race.
Other competitors, like the Cadillac SRX, Volkswagen Touareg, Infiniti FX35 and Lincoln MKX, all seem a notch below the MDX in sophistication.
The verdict? The MDX is still a best buy, but no longer such an overwhelming deal.
INSIDE TRACK: Leader of the quack. |
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| shootist |
When I read this in the Times this morning, I thought the writer did nothing but read through the Acua sales brochures. I doubt if he even accelerated the vehicle around a curve. If he had, he would have commented on the feeling. This is a very uninspiring article, and gives no insight into the vehicle.
I continue to be surprised that the Times accepts articles from free lance car reviewers who can't even figure out how to work the controls. |
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| Blackura |
I have the RL and love it for the most part, but the controls are absolutely ridiculous. The dealer spent over an hour at delivery just so the sales rep could begin the process of explaining all the controls. That fact alone speaks volumes on the idiocy of this system. I've had the RL since '05 and still don't know how to do some things (and I'm a tech/gadget-oriented guy). The voice recognition does not recognize what I say most of the time and I spent more than a quarter of a century as a radio announcer and still do commercial voice overs and work in recording studios for a living.
Simple things are now complicated. It was a huge mistake for Acura to persue iDrive and other idiotic ideas from BMW and certainly a mistake to borrow it from the slow-selling RL and add it to the MDX. We won't be buying any new vehicles with these controls again. |
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| Acura Buff |
Yeah, the review was a bit confusing for me to follow too.
At first I thought the review was going to be very negative on the MDX by the way he started - ridiculing the look of the new X and all that DUKW and quack analogy.
But by the end of the review, I realized that he actually thinks the X is tops in terms of performance and sophistication.
It's just that the reviewer thought the looks and the center console controls were really abysmal.
When my wife, who drives a 03 MDX, first saw the new X, she thought the new X look too porky and just hates it.
Other than the grille and the bumper, I thought the X looks alright.
So I am hoping that Acura changes those things on their next year's X and I'll pick one up for myself (since the wife doesn't like it ). :) |
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| huntpsu1 |
| What I find funny are complaints about the numerous buttons on the center stack. To me, it is more convenient to have a button specific to each task. I wonder what the complaints would be had Acura required the user to navigate through a litany of menu prompts just so the number of buttons could be reduced? Or have the Nav system also serve as the interface for the audio and climate control systems--wouldn't it be fun to be in the middle of directions and want to change the radio station and the temparature?:rolleyes: |
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| keremoner |
quote:
Originally posted by shootist
I continue to be surprised that the Times accepts articles from free lance car reviewers who can't even figure out how to work the controls.
I am not surprised. NYT is nothing but a worthless, partisan rag. |
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| Norb |
| Acura made a mistake when they went away from the touch screen system. It just makes so much sense to use a touch screen rather than the knob. Its a step backwards for sure. Now the Honda Odyssey touchscreen NAV system is the best available. |
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| shootist |
quote:
Originally posted by Norb
Acura made a mistake when they went away from the touch screen system. It just makes so much sense to use a touch screen rather than the knob. Its a step backwards for sure. Now the Honda Odyssey touchscreen NAV system is the best available.
I've had both. The touchscreen sucked compared to the 07 dial and buttons. It's very easy now to enter an address, where I couldn't do it accurately with the touchscreen. The new master dial is right where my hand falls. And the screen isn't covered with fingerprints. |
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| drjay |
quote:
Originally posted by keremoner
I am not surprised. NYT is nothing but a worthless, partisan rag.
I enjoy reading the Times, which is ranked #3 in circulation, after USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Not bad for a "worthless, partisan rag." |
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| keremoner |
I meant mainly the editorial section.
quote:
Originally posted by drjay
I enjoy reading the Times, which is ranked #3 in circulation, after USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Not bad for a worthless, partisan rag.
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| theseans |
This does bring up a design "beef" for me....I looked at one last night, and the side and rear profile aren't very muscular in comparison to the front snarling grill (as star trek-ish as it might be, it's tough looking). It gives it that amphibious appearance from profile.
In this shrinking tail-end club as well, is the new BMW X5, ML's, and Subaru Tribeca. Actually, Mercedes have always been like that. The others, who cares, but the X5 is the real loss. This was a larger-than-most midsize with a tough, rear-profile. Now it looks like an FX35. On paper, they may actually be bigger, but I do think they are downsizing the midsize segment stylistically in an effort to steal from the CUV demographic.
Not a fan of this trend.
(quote)"From a side view, I see the profile of one of those surplus World War II DUKW amphibious craft. Duck Tour, anyone?" |
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| Blackura |
Are there any non-partisan rags? I think not.
Compared to the other NY rags the Times is a shining example of sterling journalism. Liberal-leaning? You're absolutely right (so to speak), but very intelligently written unlike the other local papers. If you balance the Wall St. Journal editorials with the NY Times editorials, you come out pretty well informed from both sides of most issues. Leave one of them out of the mix, and all you're reading is one-sided propaganda.
quote:
Originally posted by keremoner
I meant mainly the editorial section.
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| Acura Buff |
Quote:
" This does bring up a design "beef" for me....I looked at one last night, and the side and rear profile aren't very muscular in comparison to the front snarling grill (as star trek-ish as it might be, it's tough looking). It gives it that amphibious appearance from profile."
You're right about the very different feelings one get from looking at the new X from the front versus looking at it from the side or rear.
I think it's mainly because the front is very angular in comparison to the side or the rear which are more roundish.
It's curious why they didn't crease the sides and rear more to match the angular front.
Anyone notice how angular the Acura Advanced Concept Cars are from ALL sides? |
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| dvilla |
quote:
Originally posted by drjay
I enjoy reading the Times, which is ranked #3 in circulation, after USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Not bad for a worthless, partisan rag.
If this kind of MDX review is from FOX news then maybe we'll not hear about the 'partisan rag' from the neocons. |
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| pdempsey |
quote:
Originally posted by Norb
Acura made a mistake when they went away from the touch screen system. It just makes so much sense to use a touch screen rather than the knob. Its a step backwards for sure. Now the Honda Odyssey touchscreen NAV system is the best available.
I thought that at first, but after using the voice input, I just love it. My wife had so much trouble with the touch screen and her nails. All I heard was "woops" as she got the wrong letter as I went over a little bump.
The voice rec. really works great. |
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| pdempsey |
quote:
Originally posted by dvilla
If this kind of MDX review is from FOX news then maybe we'll not hear about the 'partisan rag' from the neocons.
I used to buy a NY Times about once or twice a week, but since they started releasing secrets that put our country or troops at risk, I refuse to give them any money. I can live with differences of opinion and ideology, but I just had to draw the line at releasing classified National security information.
It's called voting with a check book.
On the review, it is definitely an example of "Drive By Journalism" written from sales materials and press releases. Not one opinion of an MDX driver. |
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| Mike_TX |
I was also a skeptic when I went from my TL's touchscreen Nav to the RL, but the controller knob is so easy and accurate to use that I now find it as convenient to operate as the touchscreen. Acura's implementation makes the iDrive seem clunky and complex by comparison, so making that analogy was a journalistic cop out.
As for the poster who said he can't get his RL's VR to recognize his voice commands, all I can say is go get it checked. I'm certainly no radio announcer and I RARELY ever have a misunderstood command.
(Is he maybe not saying the command right? You DO have to say the right thing ... )
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| keremoner |
Watch out. They may shut the thread down for 'politicizing the thread' What is revealing a secret or two to libs if that will further their cause while possibly causing some unintended casualties in the process !!
quote:
Originally posted by pdempsey
I used to buy a NY Times about once or twice a week, but since they started releasing secrets that put our country or troops at risk, I refuse to give them any money. I can live with differences of opinion and ideology, but I just had to draw the line at releasing classified National security information.
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