Editor's Note: This story has been altered from its original publication to correct options packages and clarify 2018 improvements.
The 2018 Acura MDX features a two-tone interior with perforated leather seats.Acura's flagship SUV, the MDX, is in one of the most competitive - and profitable - automotive segments in the American marketplace.
Along with the highly-evolved MDX, buyers of mid-size, luxury SUVs often cross-shop the Infiniti QX60, the Volvo XC90, the Audi Q7 and the Lexus RX.
All the others have a niche. For the Infiniti it's styling, the Volvo touts safety, the Audi offers German engineering and precision driving dynamics, while the Lexus represents refinement and durability.
MDX buyers get a combination of virtues highlighted by advanced technology and edgy styling - harder to pigeonhole, perhaps, but ultimately easy to love.
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Our week in a 2018 Acura MDX in all-wheel-drive trim proved to be a reminder that "just right" ergonomics - a.k.a. comfort - is the most important virtue of any family vehicle. Slide into the driver's seat of an MDX and it fits you like a well-tailored suit. From the firm, perforated leather seats, to the correctly weighted steering wheel, to the soothing interior color mix, everything about the MDX meshes together to create a comfortable commute environment.
FAST FACTS
-Model: 2018 Acura MDX AWD -Exterior color: White Diamond -Interior color: Graystone -Engine: 3.5-liter, V6 -Horsepower: 290 -Transmission: Nine-speed automatic -Fuel economy: 26 mpg highway, 19 mpg city -Local Dealer: Acura of Chattanooga -Price (as tested): $59,645
Our White Diamond tester with "advance" and "entertainment" packages is the priciest permutation of the MDX, with a suggested retail price of $59,645 - just under the psychologically important $60,000 plateau. A base MDX starts at $44,200.
Acura of Chattanooga, on Chapman Road, had 12 MDXes in digital inventory this week.
STYLING AND FEATURES
The MDX got a facelift in 2017, so the 2018 model has only minor changes, including the addition of Apple Carplay and Android Auto along with navigation telematics improvements. New last year was a mesh grille framed by a chrome pentagon. Lines in the hood and lower side panels were also altered, and safety tech features were upgraded across the line.
The MDX has always had a strong, masculine shape. There are no fussy design flourishes, and so the MDX traditionally ages well. Buy one today and it will still look fresh five years from now. LED headlights, set horizontally, make a strong visual statement. At night they look like cat eyes.
Inside, colors and materials blend modern and traditional hues - imagine Ikea meets Ethan Allen. Our tester has upgraded perforated-leather seats in Parchment with dark piping. Black door and dash panels, with dashes of wood trim, complete the upscale look.
Standard features on all MDXes include the LED headlights, a moonroof, heated side-view mirrors, a 10-way driver's seat, tri-zone climate control and the Apple Carplay and Android Auto interfaces.
Options are clustered into discrete packages and our tester includes the "advance" and "entertainment" paks. "Advance" options are the upgraded upholstery, natural wood trim, a heated steering wheel, surround-view camera, LED fog lights, heated rear seats, second-row sunshades and parking sensors. The "entertainment" package includes a rear entertainment system, a 16-inch ultra-wide screen, an 11-speaker sound system and seven-passenger seating.
All MDXes have a 3.5-liter V-6 engine and nine-speed automatic transmission. Motor Trend clocked the MDX at 6.2 seconds in the zero-to-60 mph dash. All-wheel-drive is a cost-effective, $2000 upgrade. All-wheel-drive models get 26 miles per gallon highway and 19 miles per gallon city.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
It's almost always an overstatement to say an SUV "drives like a sedan" but in the case of the MDX the description is spot on. Body roll is minimal, handling is taut and steering is sharp but not too heavy.
The V-6 produces 290 horsepower; which is not overwhelming in today's world, but is more than adequate, nonetheless. Back-seat comfort is first-rate and the MDX is sufficiently kid-friendly to be a perfect vacation car for a family of up to seven.
Acura's intelligent all-wheel-drive system is built for all road conditions. It doesn't wait for foul weather-induced wheel spin to improve grip and cornering. The MDX will tow up to 5,000 pounds.
BOTTOM LINE
The Acura MDX stacks up well with any midsize luxury SUV in the bunch. The conservatively styled exterior should appeal to those who plan to keep the vehicle for several years, which dovetails well with Acura's reputation for durability.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOL UMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/ mkennedycolumnist.