Overview & Reviews

The Acura MDX is a midsize luxury SUV with a carlike unibody platform and three rows of seats. The original MDX bowed in 2001, at a time when most competitors still featured body-on-frame construction and the term "crossover" was but a glimmer in some marketer's eye. Since then, Acura has maintained the MDX's family-friendly packaging, including standard seven-passenger seating, while spicing up the recipe with various styling, performance and handling enhancements. In typical Acura fashion, every MDX comes well equipped, with options generally limited to a few choice features bundled into packages.

New or used, the Acura MDX stands out for its comfort, versatility and refinement. It's one of our top recommendations for a family-oriented luxury crossover SUV. In reviews, we've found the MDX to be a polished performer, as it remains one of the more engaging luxury crossovers to drive and also provides a commendably supple ride. Weak points include cramped third-row accommodations for adults and less sumptuous interior appointments than in some rivals, though the MDX's strong resale value offers ample compensation.

User Reviews:

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  Worst SUV/auto I have owned - 2009 Acura MDX
  By Stanley Eilers - February 26 - 1:11 pm

  My experience with a 2009 ACURA MDX with 71,000 miles driven 1. AC Unit had to be replaced 2. Struts had to be replaced 3. AC Control module had to be replaced (illumination led lights on control board did not work) 4. Control module overhead had to be replaced (illumination lights on control board did not work) 5. Front wheel bearings had to be replaced My best advice to anyone buying an ACURA MDX is to buy their platinum extended warranty. If you have the experiences I have had with this vehicle it will set you back a pretty penny.

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  TOO MANY DEFECTS IN 1ST YEAR - 2014 Acura MDX
  By rmc71 - January 21 - 4:13 am

  14k miles on AWD Tech pkg. Have had in shop a total of 26 days. Brake warning comes on with no traffic in front (Acura says to just turn it off !!). Has occurred when at stoplight, door chime doesnt work, steering column had to be replaced. Now waiting for new electrical module to see if it will solve issues. Navigation system not user friendly when trying to set up. Way too many defects for a $50k car. This car has fallen into lemon territory and will be hard-pressed to get another one.

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  My last Acura - 2015 Acura MDX
  By bhuddle - January 12 - 11:56 pm

  I have owned several Acura products over the years. I traded a 2011 MDX for this new model. I cant believe how much they have cheapened up the new model. The seats are very uncomfortable, covered with low grade leather. The HD screen of the previous model has been replaced with two sub par displays. The infotainment offering is horrible, unintuitive, hard to navigate. It doesnt even have tailpipes, replaced with faux lookalikes. I have to take the key fob out of my pocket and hold it up to the handle to unlock. Overall, a very unsatisfactory vehicle.

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  Poor visibility in rear - 2015 Acura MDX
  By mdx514 - January 2 - 10:44 am

  Overall, I have been very pleased with my 2015 MDX AWD with tech package. After driving the car for a couple of months, I have become familiar with programming the nav and radio. My biggest concern with the model is the rear visibility. When crossing a four lane highway, stopping in the median to continue a left-hand turn, visibility is completely blocked by the rear window brace. I have experienced this a few times when the car is sitting at an angle and look to the right, you cannot see anything--very scary and dangerous.

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  2015 MDX with Tech - 2015 Acura MDX
  By aparichithan - December 18 - 11:04 am

  I recently purchased a brand new MDX-Tech. Its a good car in many respect for a middle class family like me who can at most shell some 45k towards a 7 seater. But ACURA being a so called luxury brand, I would expect them to use some reasonably good plastic inside. My car seat hinge cover broke apart in one pull... that did not speak about the quality.

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  Buyers remorse - 2015 Acura MDX
  By drjaykorsen - November 16 - 4:37 pm

  I had my MDX for just a few weeks and the warning lights started going off for tire pressure, check engine, and a few other things. Brought it in and it had a computer reset. That seemed to help but come on! The computer, nav and radio voice commands are not very intuitive. You have to memorize a text book to make it functional...no thanks! I just got a "recall" notice in the mail I have been waiting for and it is just for the radio, nav and phone, not to address the other computer problem. Lastly, I get flashed every time I drive at night because the headlights Blind Every Oncoming Car...What a 50K dollar pain in the Butt!

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  Love my MDX but would hesitate to buy again - 2014 Acura MDX
  By johnra - August 23 - 11:24 am

  This is a great family car with plenty of room, power, fuel efficiency, safety features, and style. For these reasons I am very happy with my purchase. However, there are enough quirks that I would hesitate to buy an MDX again. There is an odd noise the car makes when shifting from 3 to 6 cylinders the lumbar adjustments on the front driver seat are too limited sound quality from the radio is pathetic and I have heard awful things about the in car nav (thankfully I did not waste my money on this). All cars have quirks but these are too many for a car in this price range. I get the sense Acura rushed this out the door - a lesson learned for me in buying the first year of a new model.

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  Almost got everything right - 2015 Acura MDX
  By mrso718 - July 24 - 10:11 pm

  My first car was the 2013 RDX so when a 2014 MDX redesign was coming out, I knew I had to get one. Because of the over design and value of this vehicle, two years down the road we (my wife and I) traded in our RDX, which was great, for the 2015 MDX. Fell in love with the vehicle immediately, BUT not a minute longer of driving off the lot, we started to discover little things that the quality of this vehicle is REALLY lacking. Loud adjustable seat motors, scraping noise coming from the steering wheel louder, louder then normal engine, a paint job gone bad, bad outside temperature gauge and the list goes on! Acura what have you done?

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  Beware of noise (VCM or modulator?) - 2014 Acura MDX
  By lbjr51 - July 2 - 10:44 pm

  This car is comfortable to drive other than the fact that one must put up with an irritating noise that Acura refuses to fix (5 in all categories otherwise). Some have described the noise as being similar to "a cell phone in vibrate mode going off on a hard surface." My understanding is the noise is identified as being from the Variable Cylinder Management System (VCM) switching from 3 cylinders to 6 cylinders. Unfortunately, the noise gets louder over time. Acura contends it is the all wheel drive unit modulator activating. It apparently is also noted on other Honda models like the RDX, Pilot and Odyssey. At the minimum, Acuras dealers should be required to disclose this issue.

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  Good SUV but Can be better - 2014 Acura MDX
  By icern - June 13 - 3:44 am

  Before i purchased the MDX, i test drove other SUV in or near this 7 seater class. From Explorers, Qx60 and Highlander etc. But it came down to two. The infiniti or the Accura. I went with the MDX. For the reason that it is more enjoyable to drive. Good suspension on minor bumps although the Adv Tech seems to be quiter that the other trims. It has A good Gas Mileage. I get 22 to 24 MPG Combined with more Bostonian/suburb driving than highway. The Interior does not feel cheap at all. Although the Center console looks outdated. It has pretty cool features like the flood lights and interior lighting are LEDs. Safety is also good