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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  Love it! - 2001 Acura MDX
  By Barb - December 15 - 7:41 am

  Ive had this MDX for almost nine years (brand new with 14 miles on the engine) and have thoroughly enjoyed owning and driving this SUV. Dealer replaced the transmission about 75K miles ago. Love the strong, stable feel when driving in snow & rain. So roomy and comfortable for trips. Even though I no longer need such a large vehicle (the kids are grown & gone now) I most likely will get another MDX only I will buy used this time. I have over 175K miles and am seeing just how long/far this car will go. Have had most of the preventive maintenance performed which can be pricey but still havent found another SUV I like better.

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  Go buy it now. - 2003 Acura MDX
  By will4271 - December 15 - 2:00 am

  Test drove the MDX, RX300, Highlander, ML320, X5, 4Runner, Sequioa and other SUV. This is most accomodating for a family. Great power and the stops are short and straight.

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  Cheap (really!) components - 2003 Acura MDX
  By renman - December 11 - 11:56 am

  This is a great looking car IMHO. And I love driving it, Its got a ton of room and handles nicely. But... the quality of the internal parts... is just ridiculous. Cheap, cheap, cheap. Vents, seat heaters, switches, etc, etc. Parts that should last 5-6 years or longer (cuz they are just not used much) go out after 2-3 years. A slightly better component would cost pennies, add maybe 1/2% to the total price of the car to upgrade all the little things to be reliable. Going to think long and hard before I buy another Acura. Its sad, because other than ALL the little things breaking, its a great vehicle.

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  Timing belt issues with a 2009 MDX - 2009 Acura MDX
  By Enjay - December 10 - 1:16 pm

  My 2009 MDX with 3500+ miles has been taken to dealer 3 times in the last month. Once I had to get it towed to dealership. First time I was told that they was issue with poor quality Timing belt pulley. So timing belt got shredded. They had to replace them both. They took almost week to replace it. Within a day, 2009 MDX developed issue. This time there was an issue with Catalytic converter. They took another week to replace. Again within two days, "Check emission system" came up again. This time I was told they would have to replace another catalytic converter and also sub converters. This is putting a big question mark on Acura products. Quality?

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  2003 MDX - We like it. - 2003 Acura MDX
  By AC4 - December 9 - 2:00 am

  The MDX is quiet and a pleasure to drive and ride in. My mileage has been between 17 and 18 for mixed city driving. On the highway, I get around 22 in the foothills of NC, and around 24 in the Piedmont (a somewhat flatter area). So the mileage is not too bad for a 7 passenger SUV. Note that my highway speed was 70mph with the air conditioner turned off.

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  First Time Acura Owner - 2009 Acura MDX
  By cegledi - December 5 - 9:15 pm

  Im excited to finally own an Acura. Its my first glimpse into the luxury world and am not a least bit disappointed. Wish they beefed up the standard features (back-up sensors, power tail, USB cable, etc.). However, I think the overall value and the performance of that sweet V6 makes me not care about much of the other stuff. So far, so good. Life is good.

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  A peach - 2010 Acura MDX
  By PHIL BROWN - December 4 - 11:01 am

  Very god car, great turning radius, lode the hard drive for all my favs. Screen controls not user friendly.

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  One of the best SUVs on the market - 2009 Acura MDX
  By JRS-CSC - December 3 - 7:21 pm

  I love my MDX!!!! I do not know what SUV the other folks are driving, but my experience has been great. The MDX handles like a dream. The stereo is one of the best I have ever heard and I have had no issues to date. The only bad thing is that I am only getting around 18 miles to the gallon on average, 22 highway. The sport package has some of the best looking wheels and a nice leather upgrade. I love my MDX...

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  New and nice - 2009 Acura MDX
  By fishin8tor - November 30 - 10:59 pm

  Only had the car for two weeks, but really like all the features, especially the way this car customizes everything from the drivers seat, ac, and keyless memory system. Steering is accurate and direct on center, but took some time to get used to as used to drive a Odyssey. Power is soft at first, but comes on strong when you push it. Love the transmission and shifter as it is quick on the shifts and doesnt hesitate like other systems. The SH-AWD is kinda neat, and havent used it but once in a turn, but its nice to have and gives great confidence when driving. Mileage on is 20 on trip to bay area, and city seems around 16. So far, so good! I am looking forward to years of driving.

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  Best out there in its class [for now] - 2009 Acura MDX
  By tastycakes - November 30 - 12:49 am

  Buying the MDX felt like an arranged marriage, not true love. For cargo storage, vehicle size, functionality, AWD and price compared to competitors, the MDX is great. But driving...well I dont know who said this is a fun drive. 5-spd tranny feels dated and sluggish to accelerate. Feel disconnected from the road more so than other CUVs. Lacks features like keyless entry/ignition, blind spot monitoring. Leather seems cheap compared to all competitors. Fuel economy disappointing at 14 mpg (80% highway) after 3 tanks. Lacks small touches in design - example is doors feel light and flimsy when closed. Chose MDX over CX-9 for the badge but have been feeling regret since purchase.