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:

• 

  Great SUV !! - 2007 Acura MDX
  By Bob - April 26 - 10:50 pm

  Finally a luxury SUV from Acura with good performance. I now have 1000 miles on my 07 and am very pleased with it. It has very comfortable front seats, handles very well for an SUV with good power and acceleration. I use the manual shifting capability a lot and find it very convenient to use. The sound system is excellent. When I first got the car I found myself accelerating to 70 mph to merge with 55mph highway traffic. Then I realized I wasnt hearing any noise associated with the speed and thats why I didnt realize how fast I was going. The Nav and Entertainment systems are excellent and easy to operate. The kids love the larger DVD screen. Thanks Acura for a great SUV!

• 

  Excellent all around - 2002 Acura MDX
  By rroushdy - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Excellent handling, fun to drive, kids love it very comfortable and well disgnd interior.

• 

  Transmission Problems - 2001 Acura MDX
  By Yancey - April 18 - 2:00 am

  I have enjoyed my MDX but I have had a transmission failure at 36,000 miles. Acura did not cover the failure because they stated that I had a third party transmission cooler placed that voided their wonderful warranty. The AAMCO dealer that replace the transmission for $6000 told me that the cooler was not the problem. I have also had a friend that had a transmission failure at $40,000 miles. The local Acura dealer was not only unhelpful but downright indignant.

• 

  Nice Ride - 2002 Acura MDX
  By Mile High Dude - April 11 - 10:00 am

  I can easily hold a conversation with passengers while going 80 MPH, so it is plenty quiet. I fly with ease through intersections with drainage dips, high crowns, and ruts, that slam others, car or truck. Where others loose traction on rough pavement, bouncing left, and then right, the MDX rides through just fine. Maybe that is why the others need the off-road low range gears :-). They have two hands on the wheel, hitting the headliner with their heads, while Im honking to pass. Nice ride Acura, youve tamed the SUV.

• 

  Not what I had expected. - 2016 Acura MDX
  By Jerry M - April 7 - 3:16 am

  After owning Hondas for over 30 years and a 2004 Honda Pilot for the past 13; I decided I was going to get myself a luxury SUV. Given my happiness with Honda vehicles, I always assumed it would be an Acura MDX. After taking it for a test drive I have nothing really bad to say about the vehicle, only that it looked and drove like a very, very nice Honda, but not what anyone would consider a luxury vehicle. It lacked the plusher interior as well as the driving enjoyment that one would expect from a luxury car (at what what still a luxury price). As a matter of fact, I also test drove a completely decked out 2016 Honda Pilot Elite and found that other than being even bigger tan the Acura offered similar features at a lower price.

• 

  Great job Acura! - 2007 Acura MDX
  By AcuraReview - April 5 - 12:56 am

  Excellent ride and lots of bells and whistles for the price. Safe vehicle great for our growing family. My wife and I are expecting our first child in a few months. We purchased this car so she could have a safe, reliable vehicle that could also be great for kids and have some class/luxury to it as well! Very happy with our MDX purchase! The class leader in our opinion!!

• 

  Lovin My MDX - 2003 Acura MDX
  By Tracei C - April 3 - 2:00 am

  An EXCEPTIONAL vehicle! The softest leather Ive ever encountered in a car, the BOSE sound is truly premium, handles like a dream, takes corners like a hot knife through warm butter! Build quality is superior to every other SUV Ive driven by far. Have had my MDX for over 1 year now, and still lovin it as much as I did the very first day. A TRUE DREAM MACHINE.

• 

  Great car! - 2016 Acura MDX
  By Judith Sousa - April 2 - 12:50 am

• 

  disappointed - 2003 Acura MDX
  By alias6276 - March 29 - 2:00 am

  After owning the vehicle for 6 months I wished I had purchased something else. Its not worth the money. Although the performance is good, it falls short of my expectation for a luxury SUV. The lousy gas mileage (not getting the rated mileage) combined with the premium gas makes me ill every time I pull up to the pump. They say you shouldnt buy a car you cant afford to drive. I can afford it but I would rather spend my money elsewhere. The main reason I bought it was for the resale value, just didnt think I would have to cash in so soon.

• 

  best value - 2003 Acura MDX
  By njengineer - March 25 - 2:00 am

  After test dirven Mecedes M320, BMWX5 Luxes GX470 and Acura MDX, I feel this one is the best for the $$$. The MPG is also much better than his competitor.