![]() ![]() First generation (YD1 2001) ĭerived from Honda's Global mid-size platform which underpins cars like the Honda Accord, Acura TL, TSX and Odyssey, it is powered by a J35A3 3.5 L SOHC 24 valve V6 engine with VTEC. In 2003, the vehicle went on sale in Japan and Australia as the Honda MDX sales with Honda badges ended with the introduction of the second generation three years later. In Japan, it was made to replace the Honda Horizon (also based on the Trooper) which was discontinued in 1999. The MDX was introduced on Octo as a 2001 model, replacing the slow-selling U.S.-only body-on-frame SLX, based on the Isuzu Trooper. The Pilot was made available with an eight person seating configuration, while the MDX exclusively seats seven, with two seating positions in the third row. ![]() The MDX is the first luxury crossover SUV to have standard third-row seating, and shares its platform with the Honda Pilot. It has ranked as the second-best selling mid-size luxury SUV after the Lexus RX in the U.S. The alphanumeric moniker stands for "Multi-Dimensional" luxury. That would be a pretty good price for this reasonably sporty premium crossover, if the competition wasn't miles ahead where cabin and safety tech are concerned.The Acura MDX is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by the Japanese automaker Honda under its luxury Acura division since 2000. Cabin tech is an all-or-nothing affair the Technology package includes the ELS audio (which you want), the navigation (which you don't), and a few other amenities (power liftgate, HID headlamps, and a GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone automatic climate control system) for $3,700.Īdd an $895 destination charge to our loaded-up example to reach an as-tested price of $40,890. The 2015 RDX starts at $34,895, while the RDX with AWD comes in at $36,295. Adding a bit of weight and feedback to the electric steering rack would improve this ride tremendously.Īcura's packaging plans are extremely simple, which is both a gift and a curse for the picky RDX owner. The 2015 model probably needs to decide whether it wants to be a sporty SUV or a comfortable one, but generally I was pleased with the RDX's performance. It handles the fundamentals of going, stopping, and turning well and feels like an major improvement over the last RDX that we tested. Antuan Goodwin/CNETįortunately, the vehicle surrounding that dashboard is actually pretty good. Weigh options like HID lights and the ELS audio against the outdated navigation before opting for the Technology package. I'd expect a car that's sprung so tautly (and a Honda at that) to have a weightier steerer and a more direct feeling, but the RDX sometimes gave me the impression that it wasn't sure if it wanted to be a carver or a cruiser. Both On Cars' Brian Cooley and I noticed that the RDX seemed to skip over bumps while cornering rather than soaking them up.Īt the other end of the sport-comfort spectrum is the RDX's steering wheel, which is totally devoid of road feel through its electric power-assist system. This over-firmness can make the RDX a bit unplanted when cornering over rough roads. So while the RDX's frame was unflappable, the passengers within were jostled and bounced quite a bit. The RDX's chassis feels well sorted and didn't creak or rattle over bumps, but its suspension is quite stiff, especially over small potholes and cracked asphalt. If no one told you about it, you'd probably never know that your RDX's engine was a transformer.Īcura leaves a few mpgs on the table by not opting to equip the V-6 with direct injection or by using stop-start or anti-idling technologies. What's most notable is how smoothly and constantly it switches between these three modes depending on the needs of the engine. And when you need the power for accelerating or climbing, it can seamlessly fire up all six pots for the maximum output. When you're coasting along at the speed limit on the highway, it can shut down two cylinders at opposing corners of the V's two banks to run as a V-4. When you're poking through the toll plaza line or creeping through a parking lot, the RDX can drop down to an inline three-cylinder by shutting down one of its banks. In low-demand situations, such as when cruising at low speeds in the city or coasting along on the highway, the V-6's Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system can reduced the engine's displacement by shutting down a few of its cylinders. ![]() The Acura RDX becomes a simpler, more refined SUV for the 2015 model year with a new engine and AWD system, but terrible dashboard tech hurts the bottom line. ![]()
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