2019 Acura MDX A-Spec – Test Drive
A Sports-Thriller Seating 6
There’s no better example of the “do it all in one” 7-seater cross-over than the Acrua MDX. Both stylish and luxurious, but more importantly, the MDX holds what Acura is best known for – performance. And the 3.5L V6 i-VTEC is what produces that classical natural aspirated thrust.
It still sounds good on paper, but in the fast-paced automotive market, five years is a long time – and that is exactly how long the 3rd Acura MDX has been lingering around since 2014. Sure the front grille pattern has been refreshed with a holographic-styled one, and the jewel-eyed LED headlamps has held together well with time, but not even cosmetic mascara can hide the MDX from aging wrinkles.
While the love for the naturally aspirated V6 will never die, the future favors a greener space, and the the 2019 RDX gives us a glimpse of what the next generation MDX might entail – a 9-speed turbocharged V4 to match the power output of its predecessor’s V6 in the expense of lower carbon emissions. It intuitively makes sense that the MDX will eventually follow suite.
But the biggest signs of aging happens to be the homogeneous black cabin space. Addition to the nostalgic feel, and the completely diverged cluster and infotainment design offers no aesthetics flow. Still, the MDX is tapped together with the latest safety tech offerings with Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) and blind-spot monitoring.
Where the MDX thrives is the ride and handling. The naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 produces 298 horsepower and 267 lbs.ft of torque with little hesitation. Thanks to VTEC, the MDX behaves composed under light city driving and gives off a serious grunt in acceleration when the pedal is closer to the floor. Couple that with independent 4-wheel suspensions and finely tuned electric power assist help make the MDX a smooth and confident ride. Unfortunately, some of the good stuff from the Acura parts bin didn’t make it into the MDX, mainly their Dual-Clutch transmission, but there are still 9-speeds to shift through and does come with SH-AWD torque vectoring system.
Fuel economy scores in at 19/26/22 MPG in the city, highway and combined. That puts the MDX slightly behind one of the main contenders of the 7-seater SUV segment, namely the Mazda CX-9, which gets 20/27/23. Still, the added luxury with quality perforated leather seats, richer styling and more capable drive makes up for the compromise.
It’s not going to be a bargain though. The base price for the MDX will cost $54,390, but a generous set of standard features are included including a power tailgate, multi-angle rearview camera, 12-way adjustable seats and tri-zone climate controls. You won’t get the safety tech features though. Save an extra $3,500 will buy you in the Tech package with blind spot monitoring and larger 20″ wheels. And the A-Spec trim under test offers more cosmetic flair with 20″ A-Spec designed wheels, stickier
P265/45 wheels and ventilated front seats. Seating requires opting into the Elite 6-passenger trim at a whopping $66,990.
Needless to say, the cost adds up especially when you want to carry 5 or more passengers around town comfortably. Despite its size, we still liked the natural and honest driving character offered by a classical V6. Those wanting to save more can opt for the Mazda CX-9.
Specifications
- Vehicle : 2019 Acura MDX
- Model : MDX A-Spec
- Price as Tested : $60,490
- Vehicle Type : Luxury Cross-over
- Seating Capacity : 2+3
- Powertrain Configuration : AWD
- Engine : 3.5L V6
- Transmission : 6-speed Automatic
- Horsepower : 297
- Torque: 267
- Fuel Economy: 19/26/22 city/highway/combined
Pros
- Classical V6 Acura perfrmance
- Luxury interior quality and exterior looks
- Can seat 6 with the Elite-6 trim
- Lively driving character
Cons
- Dated 6-speed automatic gear box
- Dated interior and infotainment software
- High entry pricepoint