Design and Specification Acura MDX

Design Acura MDX

Blockbuster sequels are all about one-upmanship more explosions mean more popcorn sales. Luxury carmakers generally follow Hollywood’s lead, with horsepower standing in for special effects. So when Acura introduced a redesigned but less powerful MDX, we were puzzled. Then it said the three-row SUV would, for the first time, be available in a dumbed-down, front-wheel-drive model. The whole thing sounded like The Expendables 3 rewritten as a Katherine Heigl romantic comedy.

A new platform makes its debut here, developed just for the MDX (at least for now). Cutting ties with the rest of Honda’s light trucks, which shared architecture with the Odyssey minivan, helped the MDX drop 275 pounds compared with the old model. The body in white saw 123 pounds trimmed, thanks to the increased use of high-strength steel. A new rear-suspension design netted a 26-pound weight saving. The diet means the MDX’s power-to-weight ratio improves, despite the reduced output of the smaller engine.

Interior Acura MDX

The carry-over six-speed automatic isn’t great. Whether in Sport mode or through the steering-wheel-mounted paddles, shifts aren’t as quick as those executed by state-of-the-art seven- or eight-speed automatics offered by German competitors. Acura replaced the old MDX’s dual exhausts with a new single pipe hiding behind the rear bumper, a disappearing act that mirrors what happened to most of the noisiness of the old MDX. Better sealing and insulation and thicker acoustical glass quiet the cabin enough that you’ll be able to hear the kids whispering insults to each other in the third row, at least up until 4950 rpm. That’s the threshold where the VTEC kicks in for a 1850-rpm howl to the redline.

Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front- or 4-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 5-door wagon

BASE PRICE: FWD, $43,185; AWD, $45,185

ENGINE TYPE: SOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 212 cu in, 3471 cc
Power: 290 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 267 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 111.0 in
Length: 193.6 in
Width: 77.2 in Height: 66.7 in
Curb weight: 4050–4350 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 6.1–6.3 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 17.2–17.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.8–14.9 sec
Top speed: 120 mph

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 18–20/27–28 mpg