Acura MDX

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $10000.00 from Thomas Acura

Year / Model Reviewed:
2008 MDX, tech package

Summary:
The MDX SUV is exactly what we expected it to be. It is comfortable, we did not buy it for the third row passengers, its handling is outstanding for a large, relatively heavy, truck, and gas mileage exceeded even our expectation (surprising, yes?).

Strengths:
Fun and luxurious to drive. It is better off road then Acura or the Range Rover crowd would have you believe (if you can keep the R. R. out of the shop long enough to take it out.

Weaknesses:
Probably the gas milage - I knew going in that it wasn't a rock climbing, off roader, but it meets my expectations.

Similar Products Used:
Jepp Grand Cherokee, with all the off-road-options, V8; lousy gas mileage; horrible reliability (can't begin to tell you what went wrong with this, with less than 20,000 miles on it).

Price Paid:  $41000.00 from Keyes Acura

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Acura MDX

Summary:
My lease was ending on a 2004 Honda Pilot EX-L and I decided to upgrade to the new design MDX for more features and the longer warranty. The pluses, a beautiful interior and excellent audio system. The negatives, the value is not there compared with the Pilot and my MDX has several quality issues yet to be fixed by the dealer. Save over $10,000 and buy or lease a new Pilot and you have a budget left over for a high mileage commuter car.

Strengths:
Striking exterior design (people either love it or hate it), beautiful, comfortable interior. Great audio system. Good pickup and handling for as large and heavy as this vehicle is.

Weaknesses:
To get the good pickup means poor gas mileage. Much worse than my 2004 Pilot. Great audio system but Acura only gives you 3 months satelite radio and traffic included.Infiniti gives 3 YEARS on their models (Acura that is an insult!)My model has sunroof that "whistles" and a number of rattles. The plastic used on the front and rear bumpers shows every slight bump. The tires are noisy at highway speed and follow the grooves in the highway lanes.

Similar Products Used:
2004 Honda Pilot EX-L
2003 Honda CRV EX
2000 Acura TL

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $39000.00 from Acura of Salem

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 MDX

Summary:
This is a comfortable, well made car that should appeal to those who like every kind of tech feature at a bargain basement price but be ready for poor gas mileage. If you are looking for utility be advised it will not tow a large trailer well or seat more than four adults comfortably. Although competent it does nothing particularly well to justify the price.

We bought this vehicle hoping it would tow a subtantial trailer. The tow rating, at 5,000lbs, appeared adequate. I swallowed some hyperbole from an independent professional review suggesting this vehicle could tow a horse trailer or a wooden sailing vessel. I was willing to overlook what I considered strange styling and a cheap looking plastic interior in favor of reliability in a sturdy car.

It has turned out to be comfortable and reliable. There have been only a few glitches which were fixed by the dealer almost before I knew they were there. Acceleration is adequate but not impressive. You have to rev the engine way up to get it to move in real world driving like entering the freeway. The seating is comfotable despite the hot in the summer and cold in winter low grade leather trim heated seats that only warm the bottom of the passenger side and not the back. It is high-centered yet stable in cross winds (for an SUV). Many of the features, like Bluetooth and an XM radio with a short teaser subscruotion go unused. I don't have the time for programming more gadgets. Some of the features are just annoying: If someone else in the family drives the car they will easily erase all of your presets for the radio by pushing the wrong button and replace them with random stations without evening knowing it. Some are worse. If the driver is not careful with the key when exiting and shoves it against something in pocket or purse it will roll down all the windows including the sunroof without your knowledge. Hope it does not rain because this and other annoying features can not be disabled. It has power window buttons which, unless you are light on the touch, roll the windows all the way down, Worse and even dangerous if there are children around, the windows roll all the way up without stopping. Again this feature can not be disabled. Visibility from this car is a serious, dangerous, drawback. No matter your height, you simply can not see well out the rear for backing. It is dangerous, and on occasion I have resorted to getting out and raising the tailgate to see where I am backing. You can order a backup camera as part of an option package, but I understand it takes 10 seconds to activate when you select reverse.

We have family including adult children coming and going, and this has been the last vehicle to leave the driveway. No one picks this car to go anywhere. The Volvo wagon is more practical, the Tundra will actually tow a heavy trailer, and the BMW 330i is fun to drive.

We had the MDX only 10 months. It just did not fill any real need well. I tried pulling a 5,000 lb trailer, but that horse the reviewer was saying we could pull had better be a skinny one if you think you are going pull that horse trailer with this vehicle. The smallest hills overwhelm it and the maximum tongue weight allowed is only 500 lbs. Gather any speed at all and it wants to sway from side to side. It is just to light, and has too little power and torgue.

In summary, this car is pleasant but forgettable. We decided sell it. You will not get much for it; they have a reputation as gas guzzlers. It will pull a trailer, but it must be a small one. The seating is comfortable, if you have only four adults, but if you are taking more, just take a second car. The "cargo" space is not large enough to justify chosing this over a sedan, and if you were to raise the little back seat, there is none. The performance in routine driving is adequate, but you can't see out the rear to back or change lanes. The "super handling" is not super, it's no better or worse than any other relatively heavy vehicle I drive and the vehicle is certainly nothing to look at. I would be very careful in buying one if you anticipate towing anything but a light trailer, and if you have determined you want to buy a Honda, chooe something like the Pilot where you will not pay for annoying "features" you may never use. I have never been impressed with gadgets and add-ons like moon roofs and thermostatically controlled heaters in a car. I prefer solid driving performance and reliability. This vehicle can deliver those for you but at more than you need to pay and burning more gas than you need to buy. There just isn't very much "utility" in the this sports utility vehicle. The MDX would be better for someome who really enjoys tech items like Bluetooth, XM and memory seats and does not mind that much of the features are pre-programmed and can't be changed by the owner.

Strengths:
Reliable. Comfortable
Reasonable handling and road manners for an SUV/minivan type vehicle.
Cheapest car in it's market class.
Loaded with standard tech items for those who are impressed by them.

Weaknesses:
Poor fuel economny for a car with such limited seating and towing capacity.
Many annoying "features" intended as luxuries which get in the way and can not be disabled.
Poor visibility to the rear.
High road noise for what is marketed as a luxury care.
Cheap looking interior, fake wood, etc.
Strange, dated, retro styling. Only a samall audience would like this look when you go to sell the car.

Similar Products Used:
BMW 3301, Toyota Tundra, Volvo V-70 wagon. Toyota Sienna minivan.

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $39877.00 from Metro Acura - Montcl

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 Acura MDX Touring NAV/DVD

Summary:
We are happy with the ride and the feel of the MDX. The brakes have not yet started making any noise (1,700 miles) but don't look forward to them making noise either. We are very displeased with the mileage though. The estimates are 17-23, but we are only getting 11-12 in the city. Very disappointing. Should have bought a Yukon XL for that mileage!

Strengths:
Ride, Quality and fit/finish, Power, 7 passenger (5 adutls, 2 little children)

Weaknesses:
Gas Mileage. If you like going to the gas station frequently, get an MDX. You'll know ever 76 gas station attendant by name.

Similar Products Used:
Suburban, Chrysler Town & Country

Price Paid:  $41000.00 from Acura North Scottsda

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 MDX

Summary:
Excellent SUV - (replaced a Suburban) much quieter, smoother ride, tight steering - very responsive. Interior is very nice, gas mileage much better.

Strengths:
Superb NAV system and entertainment package. Airbags all around (2007 ready) - with automatic shutoff for underweight passengers. Snappy engine. Cruises nice on the freeway

Weaknesses:
None so far

Similar Products Used:
Chevy Suburban (bought new) and Jeep Grand Cherokee