Technology is one area where you see a substantial difference between luxury and non-luxury SUVs. The 2017 Acura MDX comes with some unique features such as GPS-linked climate control. With this, the SUV has a GPS-linked solar sensor that measures the sun’s intensity relative to the vehicle to ensure each part of the cabin maintains its preset temperature. If you want to change the temperature at any time you can do so by way of voice commands.
Performance is also an important factor to weigh when examining luxury models. The Acura MDX comes equipped with the 3.5L I-VTEC engine that achieves 279-horsepower and earns up to 27 highway mpg. To elevate drives, Acura paired this engine with its six-speed automatic transmission with Sequential SportShift paddle shifters. This combines the ease of driving an SUV with automatic transmission with the fun of tailoring your drives more to your liking.
Overall, the 2017 Acura MDX does offer much in the way of innovative equipment and responsive performance to make it a great choice to examine further. In that regard, it’s a good idea to see how it measures up to some of its immediate peers, as this will give you a better indication of if this is the right model for you.
Price
When the term luxury applies to a vehicle, you immediately think dollar signs. In the case of the 2017 Acura MDX, however; its cost might surprise you some. Its base model begins at $35,670. This isn’t a bad price point when you consider the cost of some of the other models in its class:- 2017 Infiniti QX 60: $43,100
- 2017 Lexus GX 460 4x4: $51,680
- 2017 Lincoln MKX Premiere: $38,260
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is an important factor to measure not only because it helps you save more money, but it’s a good indication of the quality of engineering that went into the SUV you bought. In this regard, the Acura MDX achieves better than average in fuel economy factors such as city driving, highway driving, and combined efficiency. The biggest gain you’ll find is on the highway. Part of this can be attributed to the six-speed automatic transmission that helps the engine achieve better efficiency through smoother shifting. The result is an output as high as 27 miles per gallon, helping the SUV earn a highway range of 527 miles. This is 20 miles further than you will receive with the average output of its immediate peers.Power Capability
The Acura MDX achieves enough power to make your drives exciting as well as provide the push needed to traverse up steep inclines with ease. At the same time, when compared to its counterparts, the MDX falls short. Its 279-horsepower output is 24 fewer horsepower than the class average of 303. While the difference is negligible, the power deficiency extends further when you examine capabilities. The Acura MDX has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds whereas its immediate peers can tow up to 5,000 pounds on average. These deficiencies in horsepower output and towing capacity show the MDX is far from the most powerful. Then again, when comparing it to performance powerhouse brands like Porsche, it doesn’t do poorly either.Interior Space
Luxury SUV buyers also weigh interior space as one of the most important considerations when buying a new vehicle. The Acura MDX has 14.9 cubic feet of trunk space, offering 9.90 cubic feet fewer trunk room than the average of its class. This theme continues when you move to the cargo area where its 68.4 cubic feet of cargo space is 17.30 cubic feet less than you will receive with other models on average. Therefore, if you need maximum space, the Acura MDX might be too tight of a fit for you.
Our Impressions
The 2017 Acura MDX more than holds its own in affordability, technological offerings, and fuel efficiency. Its biggest detriment is a small interior, which will hold some back from buying. However, if you don’t need as much interior space, the Acura MDX is one of the best choices in its segment for the incredible value you receive with it.Useful SUV Links
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