The Acura MDX is a very popular luxury SUV that has been produced and sold by Acura. Ever since the SUV was first introduced with the 2001 model year, it has been one of the best-selling luxury SUVs on the market. Each year, the MDX continues to sell in excess of 50,000 units across the world. Many luxury SUV buyers are attracted to the MDX due to the comparatively affordable MSRP, great safety features, luxurious interior finishes, and significant cargo space.
In line with previous models, the 2019 model year has a variety of improvements. One of the main improvements is the introduction of the new MDX A-Spec package, which includes a suite of different tech, luxury, and safety features. There has also been new transmission and engine revisions, which have been well received by customers and auto critics alike. All-in-all, the 2019 Acura MDX has a lot of features that will help it to be one of the best-selling SUVs on the market once again.
Performance Specs
One of the stronger selling points of the Acura MDX is that it has a very powerful engine at the base trim levels. The MDX comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that can produce just under 300 horsepower and can tow around 3,500 pounds. While there are some other luxury SUVs that have upgradable V8 engines, this standard V6 is very competitive to the base engine options offered in competitive luxury SUVs. Those that upgrade the MDX Hybrid will get about 320 horsepower out of the 3.0-liter V6 engine.
Fuel Efficiency
One of the concerns that people have when it comes to buying a luxury SUV is fuel efficiency. However, the Acura MDX gets very acceptable fuel efficiency ratings. With the base engine option and front-wheel-drive, you can expect to get about 27 mpg when driving on the highway and 20 mpg when driving in the city. Those that upgrade to all-wheel-drive will see their fuel efficiency decline by a couple of mpg.
Those that upgrade the MDX Hybrid will get slightly better fuel efficiency of around 28 mpg when they are on the highway. However, it will get much better fuel efficiency of around 26 mpg when driving in the city.
With either option, a driver will find that they get better fuel efficiency when compared to the competition.
Safety and Entertainment Features
The 2019 Acura MDX comes standard with a wide variety of safety and entertainment features. Some of the top features and improvements that come standard include a seven-inch touchscreen display and eight-speaker audio system, which can also be easily synced with your smartphone. There are also six different USB ports found in the front and rear of the SUV. For those looking for more safety features, some of the most impressive include the standard rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, and rear traffic detection.
How it Stacks Up Against the Competition
The Acura MDX stacks up very well against the competition with the 2019 model year. There are several features and selling points, in particular, that show the Acura MDX compares favorably to other vehicles in the same class.
Fuel Efficiency
One area of strength for the Acura MDX is that it gets very good fuel efficiency. The MDX has a blended fuel efficiency rating of around 23 mpg. There are several competing SUVs that have blended fuel efficiencies closer to 20 mpg, which helps to save an MDX owner a significant amount of money on gas. This saving is even more significant when upgrading to the MDX Hybrid.
Lower Base MSRP
One of the reasons why the Acura MDX continues to sell very well with consumers is that it provides someone with a luxury SUV at a price that is lower than most of the competition. The base MSRP of around $45,000 is much lower than similar SUVs produced by the competition. By comparison, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes each have SUVs that are about the same size and come with similar features but are priced between $55,000 and $60,000 for the base trim levels.
Safety Ratings
When it comes to safety, there is no better SUV in the class than the Acura MDX. The Acura MDX continues to receive great ratings from both the NHTSA and other rating agencies. For the 2019 model year, the Acura MDX has received five-star overall and crash resistance ratings from the NHTSA.
Those that purchase the Acura MDX will receive a wide range of base safety features including the rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, pedestrian and rear traffic detection, and lane departure warning and lane keep assist.
Pros and Cons
Overall, there are several great advantages that come with the Acura MDX. Some of the main pros of the MDX are below.
Impressive Suite of Tech and Safety Features
The Acura MDX comes with an impressive amount of tech and safety features. All the trims of the Acura MDX come with a standard eight-inch upper display, a seven-inch touch screen with infotainment, an eight-speaker audio system that connects to satellite radio and smartphone configuration. The newer Acura Watch system also provides some great safety technology including a rearview camera, road departure mitigation, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring. Some upgradeable features also include the impressive surround-view camera system.
Affordable Vehicle to Drive
Compared to other vehicles in the same class, the Acura MDX is very affordable to drive. The MDX has a very impressive fuel efficiency rating for a luxury SUV and the base MSRP is much lower than some of the competing vehicles. Furthermore, due to the great safety features and ratings, it can be a much more affordable vehicle to insure for qualified drivers.
Great Handling
While engine performance with the 290-horsepower V6 is more than enough, many drivers are also very impressed by the handling. Whether it is coupled with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the 2019 MDX handles very smoothly in any driving conditions. Much of this is attributed to the nine-speed automatic transmission, which comes standard with all trim levels. The suite of tech controls and features provide a driver with even greater control and assurances when they are behind the wheel.
While there are plenty of selling points for the Acura MDX, one downside compared to the competition is that the interior space is smaller and can be tight in some situations. The Acura MDX has over 90 cubic feet of cargo space and a foldable third row, which allows for seating up to seven passengers. This is typically more than enough for most drivers. However, some of the competing vehicles have slightly larger cabins, which allow for more comfortable seating space more cargo space when the seats are folded down.
Autoversed
Loading ...