The redesigned MDX is a functional three-row luxury SUV with a potent powertrain and a well-finished cabin priced lower than German rivals. But the distracting infotainment system and Acura’s shaky reliability of late should give buyers pause.
The standard 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 makes lots of usable power and generates invigorating sounds the higher it’s revved. The 10-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly most of the time, apart from an occasionally bumpy downshift. But the now larger MDX is about a half-second slower from 0 to 60 mph, and fuel economy regressed by 1 mpg compared with the previous model—though both figures are still decent for the class.
We found the handling mundane out on the road, held back by mushy, artificial steering. But the MDX came alive when pushed to its limits around our track, exhibiting a well-balanced attitude that made it easy to make mid-corner adjustments. The ride is firm but pliant, with only an occasional sharp impact punching through to the cabin.
The wide front seats are comfortable and supportive, while the second-row seat offers good headroom, is adjustable fore and aft, and the seatback reclines—but the bottom cushion is short on leg support. On the plus side, the center seat section can be removed, letting passengers create an aisle between the two outboard positions. Unfortunately, there isn’t a dedicated location to store the seat onboard if you remove it. The third-row seat is super-tight for adults—it’s best-suited for small children—but access is eased by a nifty spring-loaded mechanism, operated by handy buttons, that smoothly slides and folds the second-row seats forward to create a path to the third row.
As with the TLX sedan, the biggest knock against the MDX is the infotainment system’s touchpad. Drivers must press it in a specific spot that corresponds with the dashboard screen, and it’s tricky to hit the right location on the first try, requiring a long glance away from the road. Plus, the way in which you scroll between menus and within lists is the opposite of conventional touch controllers. At least wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard, and the climate controls use physical buttons and switches.
Of note, Acura forces buyers to opt for the top Advance trim in order to get certain luxury features. This includes a heated steering wheel, a hands-free-opening liftgate, and a surround-view camera system.
The MDX comes standard with a full suite of active safety and driver assist features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control.