Truly one of man's best friends
Cars and trucks are regarded as means of transportation, therefore tools to accomplish specific tasks. Some are perfectly adapted for specific types of work and others could be best described as versatile go anywhere do anything vehicles. One of the finest user-friendliest Swiss Army knives in the automotive world has to be the Acura MDX. Here we have a luxury SUV that is as docile as a regular sedan, as powerful as a sporty sedan, as roomy as a minivan and as capable off the beaten path as 90% of other SUVs.
Better than a dog
The MDX has been around since 2001 and shares numerous components with the likes of the [link artid="31491"]Honda Odyssey[/link], [link artid="54724"]Pilot[/link] and [link artid="28543"]Accord[/link]. These origins explain the plush comfortable ride that one would expect from an
automobile. In normal driving conditions, the MDX is composed and surefooted. The ride is stable and the cabin remains quiet at highway speeds.
The MDX does not require its owners to make any compromises. It fits in every garage, it has a tight turning radius, and it can accommodate up to 7 passengers and basically drives like a minivan. It is practically impossible to fault this SUV and the way it handles itself. Acuras, like Hondas, are known to be reliable and cost efficient to own, not to mention that it will not leave any funny spots on your living room carpet.
Powered by Honda
My trip at the wheel of this truck included a total of four passengers and over 150 kg of luggage and gear. At no moment did the MDX demonstrate
any signs of being over-worked. The ride continued on unwavering and engine performance was only mildly affected by the added weight. Passing manoeuvres incited little effort unless we were climbing. The autobox served its purpose well with excellent results in acceleration and fuel economy. The 2,100 km round trip turned up an average of 12L per 100 km, a very impressive result.
The 3.5L V6 generates plenty of low-end grunt, enough to propel the large SUV to 100 km/h in about 8.5 seconds. When pushed hard, the engine generates a deep pleasant howl that speaks volumes about the sophisticated high compression VTEC powerplant. It is whisper quiet at idle and puts many other V6s and V8s to shame in terms of all-around performance.
Still stylish after 5 years
Although a half-decade is nearly a lifetime in the car business, the MDX has aged gracefully. In 2004, the addition of a second tailpipe and new wheels spiffed up the already handsome and chiselled lines of the truck.
The interior is very well appointed. The large leather-covered seats provide cosiness and support for both front and rear passengers. Fit and finish is exemplary as is the selection of materials. The cabin is impressively cosseting for the first two rows of passengers. There are tons of shoulder, head and legroom. The cargo are can swallow a large amount of gear.
The dash is logically laid-out and functional. I can find only two irritations when it comes the MDX's accessories: the automatic wipers tend to exaggerate the amplitude of the falling rain and the location of the temperature controls are somewhat out of reach from the driver's position.
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| Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre |
Better than a dog
The MDX has been around since 2001 and shares numerous components with the likes of the [link artid="31491"]Honda Odyssey[/link], [link artid="54724"]Pilot[/link] and [link artid="28543"]Accord[/link]. These origins explain the plush comfortable ride that one would expect from an
 |
| Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre |
The MDX does not require its owners to make any compromises. It fits in every garage, it has a tight turning radius, and it can accommodate up to 7 passengers and basically drives like a minivan. It is practically impossible to fault this SUV and the way it handles itself. Acuras, like Hondas, are known to be reliable and cost efficient to own, not to mention that it will not leave any funny spots on your living room carpet.
Powered by Honda
My trip at the wheel of this truck included a total of four passengers and over 150 kg of luggage and gear. At no moment did the MDX demonstrate
 |
| Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre |
The 3.5L V6 generates plenty of low-end grunt, enough to propel the large SUV to 100 km/h in about 8.5 seconds. When pushed hard, the engine generates a deep pleasant howl that speaks volumes about the sophisticated high compression VTEC powerplant. It is whisper quiet at idle and puts many other V6s and V8s to shame in terms of all-around performance.
Still stylish after 5 years
Although a half-decade is nearly a lifetime in the car business, the MDX has aged gracefully. In 2004, the addition of a second tailpipe and new wheels spiffed up the already handsome and chiselled lines of the truck.
 |
| Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre |
The dash is logically laid-out and functional. I can find only two irritations when it comes the MDX's accessories: the automatic wipers tend to exaggerate the amplitude of the falling rain and the location of the temperature controls are somewhat out of reach from the driver's position.