A sleeker exterior and more attractive cabin help to highlight a vast range of intelligent changes Acura has made to the 2014 MDX sport-utility.
Available with an all-important third row of seats, the MDX is pitched against strong competition, such as the Lexus RX350, Volkswagen Touareg, Infiniti QX60 and Audi Q7. That’s an imposing list of competitors but, in our opinion, the Acura MDX stands amongst the best of them.
Starting at $42,290, the MDX is powered by a 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel-drive is standard, though it’s worth spending another $2-grand for Acura’s “Super Handling All-Wheel Drive” system.
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The 2014 Acura MDX has been given a thorough round of technical improvements, not to mention a handsome new exterior.
Yes, it’s pretty cool to order an option that starts with the word “super.”
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More importantly, the extra traction is worth the added expense during those times when the weather doesn’t cooperate with your commute.
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Every MDX comes powered by a 290-hp 3.5-liter V-6 engine. Fuel economy is one of this SUV's major strong suits.
There is a small fuel economy penalty when choosing the all-wheel-drive MDX variants. A front-wheel-drive MDX manages robust mileage figures of 20-mpg city/28-mpg highway. The SH-AWD models are slightly less economical, with an EPA rating of 18/27-mpg. That’s still very strong, especially for a 7-passenger SUV.
On the road, the MDX is remarkably nimble and feels lighter on its feet, so to speak, than you’d expect from a vehicle that tips the scales at more than 4,000 lbs. Acceleration is brisk and the suspension easily handled a variety of city and highway driving situations.
One recurring complaint had nothing to do with the driving experience, however. It was the MDX’s dash layout – particularly the split-screen display located in the center of the dashboard – that irked us.
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The cabin looks good and most controls are user-friendly. But at times, the split-screen dashboard proved befuddling when trying to figure out some very basic commands.
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The design is supposed to let you view more information at once. You don’t have to choose between viewing a navigation map versus, say, the display for the radio. It’s good in theory but, in practice, the system has room for improvement.
A simple task, such as displaying ‘song and artist’ while tuned into satellite radio, shouldn’t require a deep-dive into the owner’s manual.
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The third row of seats are easily accesible and help boost the MDX's total seating capacity to seven.
In general, Acura has done a fine job upgrading the finish and layout of the cabin. The standard third row seating is invaluable to anyone with kids to haul around. Other notable standard features include tri-zone dual-mode automatic climate control, Bluetooth, multi-view rear camera and a power-operated tailgate.
With the rear seats in place, there’s approximately 15 cu. ft. of cargo room. That should handle most daily errands and routine chores. Fold the third and second row seats down, and you’ll have a massive 68.4 cu. ft. of space available.
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Cargo capacity swells once you start flipping down the second and third row seats. If you need to haul lots of stuff, the Acura MDX will be happy to lend you the extra space.
Safety features fitted to the MDX include dual front airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, and side airbags for all three rows. Traction control, stability control, ABS and a tire pressure monitoring system are also part of the MDX’s impressive roster of safety equipment.
Most options are broken down into three major groupings: Technology, Entertainment, and the Advance Package.
The Technology Package is your best bet, since it adds a premium 10-speaker audio system with USB and iPod interface, Pandora, Song by Voice®, Aha™ and SiriusXM radio. Acura’s navigation system, blind spot warning, forward collision warning and lane departure alert are also included.
For many buyers, this covers the safety and luxury features most sought after in this segment.
The Entertainment package adds a rear entertainment system with 9-inch screen, heated second row seats, and a 110-volt outlet in the center console.
Opting for the Advance Package throws in exclusive 19-inch wheels, premium leather seating (which also happens to be stain resistant), adaptive cruise control, remote engine start, and a huge 16.2-inch screen for the rear entertainment system.
Tick all the options boxes, and the MDX rings in at $56,505. That’s not cheap, but it’s thousands less than a number of this Acura’s main competitors. We’d suggest all-wheel-drive and the Technology package, for the best blend of value, performance, and luxury.
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