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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  Excellent Value - 2011 Acura MDX
  By akanorm - March 3 - 2:57 am

  Ive had the MDX for about 2 months and have driven it about 1k miles. It handles well for an SUV and the quality and the technology is equivalent to that of BMW and Lexus. I also, considered the A4 and A6 Audi, Avante, The A4 was too small and the A6 was not readily availability subsequently the dealer were asking nearly list price for the A6. Overall, Im pleased with the car and would suggest others in the market for an SUV to test drive the MDX.

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  SH-AWD Will Make Everything Better - 2008 Acura MDX
  By marko221 - March 1 - 7:23 pm

  During the recent snowstorm we received at Lake Tahoe, our MDX simply blew past everyone installing chains and kept up with the 4x4 rigs with the huge mud/snow tires and lift kits. Even on icy surfaces, we held our traction. The OEM Bridgestones have 5/32" tread left but the power distribution to the fronts, rears, or left or right was incredible! It can be monitored on the computer within the dash. My confidence kept building during our 3-hour commute up the mountain. A hazard warning blipped on and off when I intentionally tried to "drift" the vehicle on an icy patch at the gas station. Note to all: the commercials regarding the SH-AWD are fact!

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  Overall satisfied but plenty of room for improvement !!! - 2010 Acura MDX
  By yar7 - January 23 - 1:48 pm

  After having a bad experience with the dealer who insisted & put a different remote starter because of supposedly Acuras is not reliable and dealing with Acura headquarters who were not responsive to our complaints, I am now content with my 2010 MDX ,7,500 miles on it. There is room for improvement in terms of gas mileage, noise reduction and quality of interior materials.

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  Excellent value in a 7 seat SUV, awesome in the snow! - 2011 Acura MDX
  By danmoch - January 2 - 8:51 am

  Purchased 10 MDX in June 10. Needed an AWD/4WD SUV >5 seats with tow hitch, priced under 50K. Also have 09 BMW X5 35d (diesel) which I love. First looked at another X5, but 3rd seat optioned vehicles were hard to find. The MDX drives well everyday, has nice electronic things (nav, rear cam, bluetooth, ipod/usb adapter.) Rear seatbacks tilt back a few degrees making the difference between an okay seat (BMW) and a nice relaxing one. Interior space definitely bigger/more usable than in 09 X5. Where the MDX really shines is its snow traction. This car is better on snowy town roads in the Tahoe area than my X5. Note MDX = Michelin Latitude tires, BMW = Bridgestone Dueler runflats.

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  A little disappointed - 2010 Acura MDX
  By mark3840 - January 1 - 6:54 pm

  This is my wifes car although I drive it often. Im not a huge fan of the MDX. It suited our needs and was a good value compared to other luxury CUVs. Way too many buttons and very confusing to navigate the controls and nav system. Voice commands are useless - even difficult to make a simple phone call. (In the Genesis you just push 1 button and say, "dial home," for example.) Nav & stereo, although rated high, doesnt even belong in the same league as the Genesis. Seams are not tight. Quite a bit of noise for a lux CUV. Good power and ride as well as fairly comfortable. I like it overall but I hope Hyundai comes out with a luxury CUV soon, because it will blow away Acura.

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  Moved from a Lexus RX - 2011 Acura MDX
  By g35shopper - December 19 - 11:35 pm

  Took delivery of a 2011 last Saturday. Mostly very pleased. The exception would be the mpg. My Lexus was bullet proof but just too dull to buy another one. The MDX handles much better and the transmission is much more decisive. I do have to admit that I can tell why the RX commands a price premium. The interior and the controls in the MDX feel cheaper (although acceptable).

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  False MPG Claim! - 2011 Acura MDX
  By ezboston - December 8 - 7:35 am

  I have a 2010 MDX Tech Package/entertainment since April and my Average MPG is between 11/13 MPG. I have been conservatively driving the car. I do 80% Highway. Horrible car to get if you are are concerned about getting that extra few MPG.

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  The Sports Sedan of mid-size SUVs - 2010 Acura MDX
  By SJ - November 14 - 2:00 am

  Traded in a 2005 Honda Pilot. The Pilots acceleration, cornering, and braking cant compare to the MDX. I have it out on the twisty roads of the Sierra Nevada. It feels like a decent sports sedan, not an SUV. The interior ambience if the MDX is way more luxurious than the Pilot. Another huge difference is road noise. There is very little road noise in the MDX. Gas mileage is disappointing. At 8,000 miles on the odometer, I am still not hitting the EPA highway mileage on longer trips. So far it is has not had a single reliability issue. If is is as reliable as my previous 3 Acuras, it will be a 10.

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  Best vehicle I have ever owned - 2007 Acura MDX
  By Mark - November 10 - 2:00 am

  Great handling and performance. Lots of room in a moderate size. Steering is too heavy. Way better value than comparable German models.

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  Fantastic vehicle, but a few quirks... - 2007 Acura MDX
  By Kat - November 2 - 2:00 am

  We love our Acura. However, after putting about 10,000 miles on it during a cross-country move, we have found a few disappointing features. The leather seats are showing more "wear & tear" than I would expect for a vehicle this age. The leather quality in my Subaru is far better! The leather has pulled up from the center console and is loose. The radio is a bit quirky, as it resets the radio stations randomly to the factory settings (and no, its not because of the Driver 1 & Driver 2 keys). The paint seems to chip VERY easily. A beautiful car altogether, though, and a smooth ride that easily pulled a large U-haul trailer through the Rocky Mountains!