Car Review: 2012 Acura MDX

The 2012 Acura MDX Review

Full Review by Andy: What an Entry-Level Luxury SUV Should Be

The 2012 Acura MDX is a carryover from 2011. And that’s just fine. While the MDX is still plagued with an ungainly shell, underneath the awkward exterior is a midsize crossover worthy of applause and maybe even a signature on the dotted line. Why change that?

Exterior
What’s the one problem with going somewhere no one has gone before? It’s easy to get lost. Several years ago, Acura attempted to forge ahead of its competitors in the looks department, but it got lost. The MDX’s sculpted lines, beak-ish fascia, and no-neck stance craft a contemporary but cross-eyed vehicle. However, most have grown accustomed to Acura’s fowl foul, so the MDX is unlikely to spawn much controversy.

Interior
The cabin of the Acura MDX is one of the few that successfully blends traditional wood and leather cues with an ultra-modern falcon-wing dashboard. Best of all, it not only looks rich, but it feels rich. Honda is an excellent engineering company, and the sturdy construction and user-friendly controls in the MDX mirror Honda’s strict attention to detail.

Packin’ a Powertrain
The Acura MDX is powered by a 3.7-liter all-aluminum V6 engine that puts out 300 horsepower 300 rpm short of the redline. An adaptive shiftable six-speed automatic transmission routes power to all four wheels. The MDX is one of the few luxury SUVs to come free of charge with all-wheel drive. Acura’s SH-AWD system can route between 30 percent and 90 percent of torque to the front axle, and up to 100 percent of each axle’s power to either wheel. So equipped, the MDX can tow up to 5,000 pounds, more than its entire body weight. Fuel economy is impressive for an athletic seven-passenger AWD-equipped SUV, but the engine does require premium fuel.

Driveline Performance
There is one simple reason to purchase the Acura MDX over the Lexus RX350, Lincoln MKX, or Volvo XC90: performance. Despite its hefty curb weight and seven-passenger arrangement, the MDX refuses to give up the spry, sporty nature of a vehicle half its size. It takes just over seven seconds to swiftly speed to 60 mph. Courtesy of AWD, the Acura has high cornering limits and well-contained body roll. Mediocre ride comfort is an expected tradeoff. Short of a Porsche Cayenne or BMX X5, both of which are substantially more expensive with fewer features, the Acura MDX is one of the best-handling luxury SUVs available.

Safety Information
Besides trailer-sway control, the Acura MDX has class-average standard safety systems. Notable highlights include daytime running lamps, automatic xenon headlamps, and front fog lamps. The 2012 Acura MDX is an IIHS Top Safety Pick and won a four-star crash test safety rating from NHTSA. Along with a gamut of other amenities, the Advance Package adds a collision mitigation system, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring system, and other high-tech safety features.

Comfort & Cargo
The Acura MDX provides three rows of seats and three levels of happiness: Ecstatic, Pleased, and Peeved. Take a guess which level the rear row is in. Most of the MDX’s interior continues in this fashion. The front seats are simply sumptuous, while the second-row seats are pleasant, and the third-row seats are like baseball stadium chairs. However, such complaints are typical for midsize crossover SUVs. With all seats folded, the MDX has 83.5 open cubes of space; with all seats up, that number dwindles to just 15. Yet even with its flaws, the MDX is extraordinarily practical for a sporty SUV.

Feature Highlights
Too often, luxury vehicles are loaded to the gills with the latest gadgets, but lack basic user-friendly features that make life easy. Not the MDX. It has heated mirrors and heated power front seats, an autodimming rearview mirror with rearview camera, tri-zone automatic climate control with air filtration, a power steering wheel and power liftgate – the list goes on. It also outfitted with comprehensive entertainment systems, but the popular Technology package adds amenities like a navigation system, voice control, 10-speaker audio system with USB/iPod interface, and much more. Yet even with the Technology package or one of the many other packages, the MDX still costs less than than most of its AWD-equipped rivals.

Tidbit Trio:
1. Along with the aforesaid safety amenities, the Advance package also offers an adaptive suspension and sport steering wheel.
2. Xenon headlamps shine with a blue tint.
3. MDX stands for “Multi-Dimensional Luxury.”

Minus the looks, the 2012 Acura MDX is what an entry-level luxury CUV should be. Don’t believe me? Try driving one for yourself.

Details:
Engine: 3.7-liter V6
Horsepower & Torque: 300 hp @6,300 rpm, 270 lb-ft of torque @4,500 rpm
Transmission: six-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain: AWD
Fuel Economy: 16/21/18 mpg
Base MSRP: $42,930

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