Background: Acura, the luxury arm of Honda Motors, debuts a new sport utility vehicle in 2001 that stands up to customer's demands much better than its first effort. Acura was the first Japanese luxury nameplate to debut in the United states (back in 1986), preceding both Lexus (the luxury arm of Toyota) and Infiniti (Nissan's upscale division) into this market place. Their arrival has served as a wakeup call for such American luxury names as Cadillac and Lincoln, which have found sales harder and harder to come by due in no small part to the success of the Japanese trio. Long-standing German icons BMW and Mercedes-Benz took note as well.
Acura's newest vehicle, the all-new, 2001, four-door MDX sport utility, is the automaker's second foray into the sport utility ballgame. The first entry, the SLX debuted in the 1996 model year and was a thinly veiled Isuzu Trooper and came up a bit short in HTQ (head turning quotient). No doubt Acura was influenced by the success of the Lexus RX 300, a sport-utility-wagon hybrid which in only two short years has emerged as the best-selling Lexus product.
But MDX, classified as a mid-size SUV, is larger than the Lexus RX 300. Also, MDX includes standard third-row seating to accommodate seven passengers; RX 300 seats five. The MDX is wider and longer in part because Acura's newest addition is built off the Honda Odyssey minivan platform.
The RX 300 is loosely built from a car (the Toyota Camry) platform. The MDX is unit-body construction, suitable for on-road traveling but not serious off-road cruising (although all-wheel drive is standard for heavy-duty snow and ice.)
In addition to the all-new MDX, Acura's 2001 model line up consists of the CL Coupe, NSX exotic coupe, RL sedan, TL sedan and Integra coupe. In 2002 Integra, Acura's longest-running nameplate, drives off into the sunset making way for an all-new RSX sports coupe. Acura assembles the MDX in Ontario, Canada.
Safety features: The MDX includes dual front air bags, (including dual stage passenger air bag,) theft deterrent system, driver and front passenger side-mounted air bags, remote keyless entry, front and rear crumple zones, collapsible steering column, five-mile-per-hour crash impact bumpers and anti-lock brakes standard.
Engine and trim levels: The all-new MDX comes in two trim levels: base and up-level Touring. Both are powered by a 3.5-liter, V-6 engine mated to an electronically-controlled, five-speed automatic transmission. The V-6 engine generates 240 horsepower. The MDX is an all-wheel-drive exclusive vehicle. No two-wheel drive models are available.
Standard equipment: Since MDX qualifies as a luxury vehicle, many popular nuances come with the price of admission including: AM/FM/cassette/compact disc player, power windows, power locks, power outside mirrors, air conditioning with dual climate zones, cruise control, rear window defogger, front and rear climate controls, speed sensitive front wipers, rear window wiper, power sunroof, power steering, tilt adjustable steering wheel and halogen headlights. The touring trim level adds a six-unit in dash, eight-speaker stereo system, roof rack, memory seating positions and eight-way power front passenger seat.
One of the more notable options available in both trim levels is the in-dash, global positioning satellite (GPS) navigation system. Many manufacturers now offer this high-tech mapping feature providing occupants with directions to destinations, but the Acura/Honda version is one of the most driver-friendly I've tested. Through a simple array of touch-screen tutorials, one can program a pre-determined destination. Within a matter of seconds, visual and audio commands are available. As with most electronic gadgets, it takes time to figure the ropes, but Acura's system is one of the easiest to learn. These navigation systems also provide an Ariel view of streets, forest preserves and interstates within a 10-mile radius to alert the driver about what direction the vehicle is traveling as well as what streets they're on.
Price: Our well-equipped, top-of-the line MDX Touring edition test-drive model included a suggested manufacture's retail price of $36,970. The only extra was the $2,000 in-dash navigation system so the bottom line added up to $39,450 with $480 destination charge factored in. A base MDX checks in at $34,850 with destination charge. By comparison a totally redesigned 2002 4 x 4 Ford Explorer XLT with automatic transmission starts at $30,345. A 4 x 4 Lexus RX 300 starts at around $36,250; an all-wheel drive, V-6 BMW X5 starts at $39,545.
Interior: Wood trim adorns doors, center console and dashboard. Ceiling handles are found near all four doors. Cruise control is turned on and off via a far left dashboard switch while resume, accelerate and other functions are mounted on the steering wheel along with secondary radio station settings allowing the driver to switch pre-set stations without hands ever leaving the wheel. Near the cruise control on/off dashboard switch is a button operating the power moonroof. The instrument panel includes three independent, deep-set circles with a speedometer centrally located flanked by a left-side tachometer (and secondary gearshift indicator) and right-side fuel/temperature gauge. Power lock, window and mirror buttons are found on the driver's door. As with most Asian-designed interiors headlights are activated by twisting the turn signal stalk while front and rear windshield wipers monitor from a right-hand side stalk. The outside fuel tank door unlocks via a floor lever immediately to the left of the driver's bucket seat. In between front bucket seats is the floor-mounted five-speed automatic transmission, two side-by-side cup holders cloaked when not in use by a flip cover and a big, deep storage bin hinged at the rear Buttons activating bun warmers (AKA heated seats) are here, too. Ten beverage holders are interspersed throughout the MDX. Automatic climate control functions are high atop the central dashboard and consist of six square buttons monitoring fan speed, temperature and direction. The rear window defogger button is part of this matrix. The square in-dash navigation screen sits below (in vehicles with this option) while the stereo system rests towards the bottom.
Seating comfort: Seven passenger seating is standard; a popular SUV trend during the past couple of years. Five-seaters were the norm throughout the 1980s and most of the 1990s. Both second and third rows have a 60/40 split and seatbacks fold flat when extra cargo room is needed. With both rows folded down, cargo room measures 82 cubic feet; enough room to transport 4 x 8 sheets of plywood. With only the third row folded, cargo room checks in at 49.6 cubic feet Leather seating surfaces adorn all trim levels with the exception of the fold-down third row seats which is covered by easy-to-clean vinyl. Thanks to a design pitting rear wheels a bit further to the back, rear doors swing out far enough, providing ample room when maneuvering into the middle row. Some late-model SUVs have a smaller wheelbase (distance between front and rear axle) constricting rear-door size resulting in limited room for legs to swing in and out comfortably.
The third row accommodates two travelers in relative comfort. There is enough head and leg room for adults as well as kids; a boast not all third-row SUVs can claim. Access is easiest from the passenger side where the right-side middle seat manually slides forward once the backrest tilts forward.
Eight-way power adjustable front drivers seat come standard. In Touring edition, eight-way passenger seats are also part of the package.
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 106.3 inches
Overall length: 188.5 inches
Overall width: 76.3 inches
Overall height: 68.7 inches
Curb weight: 4,323 pounds
Ground clearance: 8 inches
Maximum towing capacity: 3,500 pounds
Exterior: Because of its minivan origins, MDX incorporates a wide stance. Large, strap-like chrome handles adorn all four doors. A circular, locking fuel door is located on the left rear fender. Mid-size, side-view mirrors are body colored. Large 17-inch all-season tires come standard on every MDX.
The rear liftgate is hinged at the top, opens from the bottom up. Acura's "A" logo is found both on the back tailgate and on the front grille.
Fuel economy: The sole V-6 MDX engine mated with a five-speed automatic transmission averages 17 miles per gallon in the city and 23 m.p.g. highway.
During a week-long test drive our vehicle averaged about 19 miles per gallon in combined driving according to the in-vehicle computer. The fuel tank holds 19.2 gallons of premium, unleaded fuel.
Comparatively speaking, a four-wheel drive RX 300 with a 3.0-liter engine and slightly less horsepower (220) averages 18 miles per gallon in city travel and 22 m.p.g. on the highway.
Gas mileage is a hot topic this summer with prices hovering over $2 a gallon for premium unleaded here in Chicagoland. While not spectacular mileage, the MDX gets better mileage than many other all-wheel-drive V-6 offerings.
Final thoughts: Since its debut last fall, the mid-size MDX has enjoyed robust sales (as has the redesigned 2001 Honda Odyssey minivan). Don't expect too much price discounting from Acura dealers. Standard seating for seven is a big hit. The minivan platform creates a wider, longer interior than what's found in most mid-size SUV competitors, but remember, MDX is not designed for heavy off-road use. Because of consumer demand, more and more automakers are bringing out seven-passenger mid-size SUVs, including two new truck-based editions: the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer and 2002 Ford Explorer. But the smooth riding MDX is the most posh of these and the only one currently with an available in-dash GPS navigation system. Soon, the Buick division of General Motors will debut the all-new 2002 Rendezvous, a SUV-like vehicle based on the Pontiac Montana platform. Rendezvous will be available as a five or seven-seater. |