Most striking in the remake is the flush-mounted metal grille set between sharply cut headlight clusters. No longer does the MDX suffer from a boat-like bow. Somehow the new lines conceal the vehicle's true girth- perhaps it's too sporty-looking to appear its rightful size.
The same youthful flair is found inside the MDX as well, where a cluster of four, cylindrical pods house the primary instruments. The cabin of the new MDX is accurately assembled. Plenty of leather and wood can be found among the many switches and redesigned controls, of which the navigation system is a highlight. It is simpler and more straightforward to use than many other such interfaces.
A third row seat is standard equipment in a MDX. Due to tight confines, I found it best suited to children. All other seating positions provide plenty of head and legroom, with the front thrones taking the medal for comfort and support. With the second and third rows folded flat, cargo bay capacity expands to 2,364 litres (83.5 cu ft).
Grasping the reins of the 2007 MDX places 300 horsepower under foot at 6,000 rpm. A new, 3.7 litre, 24-valve V6 drives the MDX. This mill is capable of producing 275 foot-pounds of polished torque at 5,000 rpm.
It wasn't that long ago when a high performance V8 was needed to master such output- while consuming considerably more fuel I might add. The new V6 is gutsy and refined. It really comes alive north of 4,000 rpm when its variable valve timing ratchets things up a notch; including the hushed exhaust note, which becomes a serious growl.
Power funnels to all four wheels through a five-speed transmission, and is sufficient to move the 2,093-kg sled with authority. The vehicle carries plenty of highway passing power and off-the-line snap while delivering moderate fuel economy of 13.8 and 10.0 litres of premium nectar per 100 kilometres of city and highway driving respectively (17 / 23.5 mpg US).
The autobox features Acura's Sequential Sport Shift mode for those who prefer greater control of gear changes. This features works well, enabling the driver to exploit the higher, more potent reaches of the engine's power band.
All of the get-up-and-go is quickly restrained by four-wheel, antilock disc brakes augmented with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. I found the binders to be predictable and linear in their application, with only moderate pedal pressure required to achieve maximum effectiveness.
Additional safety equipment supplied as standard fare includes Acura's Vehicle Stability Assist program combined with traction control. If such technology fails in averting a collision, front airbags, front side airbags and three-row side curtain airbags will definitely improve survivability and injury mitigation. And because the MDX is an SUV, which could potentially mean off-road accidents, Acura has included rollover sensing as well to ensure the necessary airbags deploy if the vehicle topples.
Although most MDX owners are unlikely to take their pricey rigs off-road, the benefit of all-wheel-drive (AWD) can apply to equally well to the mundane.
For instance, the morning after picking up the MDX began with a nasty snowstorm that coated streets with a layer of white misery for drivers facing a morning commute. I was one of them. My journey isn't long but it is hilly, which provided an auspicious occasion to put the MDX to the traction test. With nary more than a momentary spin, my tester carried me up steep pitches and safely down again. Such can't be said for many of the vehicles spinning away like stationary tops that morning.
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| The instrumentation is well layed out. |
A third row seat is standard equipment in a MDX. Due to tight confines, I found it best suited to children. All other seating positions provide plenty of head and legroom, with the front thrones taking the medal for comfort and support. With the second and third rows folded flat, cargo bay capacity expands to 2,364 litres (83.5 cu ft).
Grasping the reins of the 2007 MDX places 300 horsepower under foot at 6,000 rpm. A new, 3.7 litre, 24-valve V6 drives the MDX. This mill is capable of producing 275 foot-pounds of polished torque at 5,000 rpm.
It wasn't that long ago when a high performance V8 was needed to master such output- while consuming considerably more fuel I might add. The new V6 is gutsy and refined. It really comes alive north of 4,000 rpm when its variable valve timing ratchets things up a notch; including the hushed exhaust note, which becomes a serious growl.
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| The 3.7L V6 is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. |
The autobox features Acura's Sequential Sport Shift mode for those who prefer greater control of gear changes. This features works well, enabling the driver to exploit the higher, more potent reaches of the engine's power band.
All of the get-up-and-go is quickly restrained by four-wheel, antilock disc brakes augmented with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. I found the binders to be predictable and linear in their application, with only moderate pedal pressure required to achieve maximum effectiveness.
Additional safety equipment supplied as standard fare includes Acura's Vehicle Stability Assist program combined with traction control. If such technology fails in averting a collision, front airbags, front side airbags and three-row side curtain airbags will definitely improve survivability and injury mitigation. And because the MDX is an SUV, which could potentially mean off-road accidents, Acura has included rollover sensing as well to ensure the necessary airbags deploy if the vehicle topples.
Although most MDX owners are unlikely to take their pricey rigs off-road, the benefit of all-wheel-drive (AWD) can apply to equally well to the mundane.
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| The all-wheel drive system is really effective. |