Whether the snow Gods are pursuing you, or Ra is at your back, the 7-passenger MDX is the perfect family vehicle; blending comfort, space and versatility into a very smart looking midsize SUV. Upon its inception in 2001, the luxury sport utility was impressive enough to be named North American Truck of the Year by a panel of 50 independent
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| The 7-passenger MDX is the perfect family vehicle; blending comfort, space and versatility into a very smart looking midsize SUV. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
automotive journalists. Since then the highly capable MDX has received a bit of mechanical fine tuning and extra horsepower. For 2004, the MDX gains yet another 5 horsepower, plus re-calibrated suspension settings, an optional navigation system (it's about time for this one) and DVD entertainment system (with the changer smartly located up front in the center stack where it's controllable by parents), along with a few styling tweaks. The extra horsepower is achieved via the use of a new low-restriction, high-flow exhaust system that terminates with a great looking rectangular exhaust port adorning each of the rear corners; part of the styling tweaks for '04. So, are the extra horses significant enough to be noticed? Well, that's debatable. But either way the MDX is hardly short on power. More than 95 percent of its 253
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| Acura's V6 engines are renowned for their excellent balance and willingness to send the tach soaring to redline. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
lb-ft of peak torque is available from 3,500 to 5,000 rpm, exactly where you want it when passing on the highway or tackling fierce grades. Laudable is the level of smoothness and refinement the drivetrain exhibits. Acura's V6 engines are renowned for their excellent balance and willingness to send the tach soaring to redline without a hint of thrashiness. I would argue that the 5-speed automatic transmission is the smoothest auto-box in any SUV I've tested. When the precision guided shifter is removed from Park and led through the gated shift pattern to the desired position, no abruptness, clunking or lurching is noticeable. Once underway, upshifts are barely perceptible and downshifts occur without hesitancy.
