Acura MDX - 2007 let down or fluke? Any MDX owners here?

[MotoSook]

So we've been casually looking for a new family hauler (third row seating required). I've gone around and around looking for one that isn't too big (i.e. GM Suburban) or a gas guzzler. The lady of the house won't drive anything as big as a suburban, and the vehicle has to meet her approval for ingress and egress with baby seat accomodations (tough unless we go big). I wan't towing and she wants "car like" driving. We can't agree.

I finally checked out the MDX, and took her in to the dealer to see it and drive it. She falls in love with the 2007 (redesigned for 07), so we drive it. I wanted to drive the previous model too since we can pick one up for a better price with very low mileage.

The 2007 has 300HP and 275 ft-lbs of torque, all the techie toys that she loves, and it's a great cabin design. The 2006 has 265 hp, and it is slightly heavier than the 2007.

BUT! I liked the 2006 more. It seemed to have better pickup and acceleration. It was very odd and disappointing. The 0-60 time for the 2006 is .7 seconds slower, but the 2006 felt more muscular. Even the lady of the house admitted that it felt stronger.

I'm wondering if the shifting program in the 2007 we drove had a glitch. But even in the auto-manual mode it felt like the tranny was slipping..and it just wouldn't get up and go like 275 ft-lbs of torque should allow. The 2007 has got reviews and is top in class...and a "good buy" in its catagory...but I'm a little disappointed and would hate spending that much money for a glitchy car!

Anyone have a 2007 MDX yet? What about the older model? Any issues with the older models?

[alf]

Take a look at the Volvo XC90, my wife and kids love it. Not the fastest but I am going for space and safety and AWD for the family rig. We checked out the early MDX and felt that it was not well designed for interior space.

[MotoSook]

Heather didn't like the interior design of the older MDX that much either, especially compared to the 2007 MDX. That's one of the reason she wants the 2007, but I'm not sure they worked out the bugs yet in the new model.

We'll have to go see the Volvo. I didn't know they had a 7 passenger. Thanks.

[89911]

I found the Mdx nice but overpriced. Many new options are coming out to fill the 7 passenger needs without being cramped or huge. Here is one:
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=CX9

[onewhippedpuppy]

Sounds like you drove a lemon. If you believe the reviews, the new MDX is much sportier than the old one. I would go drive another, they look to be very nice SUVs.

I just picked up a 2004 Cadillac SRX V8 AWD, and really love it. The Northstar V8 is a great motor, excellent power and nice noises. Handles well, great standard features, and seems very well built. You can pick up new ones with some nice discounts right now, or get an '06 after the initial depreciation hit. We replaced our '03 4Runner after we found that a child seat and baby seat took up the entire rear row. With the SRX, we have room for both seats in the second row, one adult, and still have the 3rd row. It also has more legroom (by far) than the 4Runner, and my wife can easily sit in the 3rd row.

Other good mid/large options with the 3rd row are the Honda Pilot, new bodystyle MB M-class, new bodystyle BMW X5, Audi Q7, Saturn Outlook/Buick Outclave/GMC Acadia (take your pick), and Mazda CX-9. MB, Audi, and BMW may be more than you want to spend though, since you really can't find the new-gen ones used.

[skipdup]

Bought my wife an '07 MDX a few months ago. We totally love it! I drove them all and considered it a bargain compared to the competition. It's seems like a much more expensive vehicle than it sells for.

One thing... The engine is very smooth - feels like a flat torque curve. I'm not surprised it could "feel" slower than it really is. Same thing happens with me when I drive my SC and then the 930... The SC "feels" almost as fast. Reality is it isn't even close - at all. I believe the MDX is much faster than it feels.

We love the "sport" suspension. It really makes a HUGE difference in the way the car handles. Also, nice to be able to put in comfort, for easier drives and/or rough roads.

The SH-AWD is just amazing. You can actually feel the outside rear pushing you through hard turns. Very cool.

All the gadgets work as advertised. Happy with the nav. and the voice recognition works and is actually useful.

Also, last I checked, we were actually getting better than the posted fuel economy.

No problems of any kind so far. And, considering it's Honda, don't expect any.

One draw back - it's premium fuel only.

- Skip

[Dottore]

We had narrowed the search for my wife's new car to the Acura MDX or the ML 320 CDI - and were about to buy the MDX, when my wife spotted a Mazda CX 9 and decided she really liked the looks of it. So now we are driving the CX9 later today and the MDX is on hold.

I really, liked the way the MDX drove and handled - so I think yours had some sort of a glitch. It is fast and corners incredibly well. You have no sense of being in an SUV. And the interior is superb. The only almost deal-breaker for us was that incredibly ugly front end. What were these guys thinking?

So now, we'll look at the CX9 - and also check out the Volvo that Alf mentioned - which hadn't appeared on our radar screens at all.

BTW, where we are the dealers were discounting MSRP on the MDX by $4K. Seems like there are a lot of them around.

[MotoSook]

We looked at the Acadia/Outlook, but didn't drive it. She thinks it's too big, but they seem to be a great bargain. I'm trying to present options to her, but she fell in love with the MDX. I don't mind the MDX at all, but I want to feel the 300HP. I really think the one we drove WAS a lemon (not good for Honda). I considered that the torque curve was different from the 2006 thus providing the "slower than it is" feel, but when I stepped on the gas, it just seemed like it was winding up a rubber band and then nothing.

The SH-AWD was kinda cool. We'll have to drive another 2007.

We looked at the Mazda, but she doesn't like the styling. I should have taken her to see the MDX last....it would be easier to get her to drive something else! But I can't blame her. The MDX is roomy and damn small for a 7 passenger car. The build quality looks great.

I'm a little shy of GM quality, but I checked out the Saturn Outlook (GMC Acadia) online and it's a good chunk of change less than the MDX, but who knows if it will hold up to family abuse. It may be junk in a few years while the MDX will hold it's value and build quality.

I don't think I'm going to convince her to drive the Caddy. She's not a fan of their angular styling. But I'll try. I think the Northstar is something I can live with.

The V8 Volve sounds like fun though

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by Souk


The V8 Volve sounds like fun though

The Volvo is gorgeous. I looked at the MDX's specs at one point, IIRC it only tows about 3500.. Maybe they changed that?

[MotoSook]

Steve, It's still 3500 but 5000 with load distribution..just like all the others in it's class. My Jeep is rated the same, but it's got less power and weights less. Tow vehicle can weight less than the rig if I'm not careful with the Jeep. The SH-AWD should make tower much better with the MDX.

OK...F1 is over and we're off to see a Saturn OUtlook and a Volvo. The Volvo Sport has my attention

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by Souk
Steve, It's still 3500 but 5000 with load distribution..just like all the others in it's class.

Can you describe load distribution? I find that other than full size nut swinging pickups none of these mfgrs can accurately or consistently describe how much these things can tow. I have been told the X5 with a 3.0 (I6) will tow 5000 as well. The X3 is rated lower only because it's smaller/lighter.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I assume he means load or weight distributing hitch. It's just a different style of receiver hitch, I think it distributes the load to the frame and allows you to tow more. Probably more to it, but that's all I know.

[kaisen]

Look hard at the Buick Enclave version of the Saturn Outlook. I could go into great detail on the differences, but will point out the top four: More dealers and they negotiate, much quieter, Michelin tires, and a year longer warranty. Looks are subjective.

Which Saturn dealer would you visit? A friend owns two Saturn franchises in the Bloomington area.

I drove a loaded GMC Acadia for four months and loved it. I can tell you anything you want to know.

E

[MotoSook]

Thanks E. We have a couple of Saturn dealers in Aurora that we could buy from, but I don't mind driving down to Bloomington for a good deal.

OK. So we went and looked at the Saturn Outlook and the GMC Arcadia. Heather and I both agree that the GMC styling is not for us. We also checked out the Nissan Pathfinder, which is a no no for us. Poor seat access and not as roomy as any of the other third seaters we've seen.

We found an Outlook that was unlocked, and we put it though the ingree/egree test. It's got the best 2nd row design and it's a cavern inside compared to all the other x-overs. The 2nd row seats flip and fold and gives the most room for ingress/egress. The seats are not as well built as the MDX seats, and the overall build quality is expectedly not as good. With the rear seats folded the back is 6+ plus in length and I can easily sleep back there without being in a fetal position (think track weekends). The seats fold flush, another plus for track weekends.

Although the build quality and material choices are not up to Acura standards, we figure the Outlook is worth the $10,000 savings (comparably loaded MDX versus Outlook). We crawled through an MDX again and it's not nearly as roomy as the Outlook. So it looks like we're now thinking GM product. As much as I want to keep away from a GM product, it has the key factors we want.

We just have to drive an Outlook or Enclave to be sure it isn't a complete pig.

[MotoSook]

Originally posted by VaSteve
Can you describe load distribution? I find that other than full size nut swinging pickups none of these mfgrs can accurately or consistently describe how much these things can tow. I have been told the X5 with a 3.0 (I6) will tow 5000 as well. The X3 is rated lower only because it's smaller/lighter.

Def:

Weight Distributing: Weight distribution hitches add spring bars to the hitch system which are used to apply leverage between the tow vehicle and the trailer. This leverage transfers the load sitting on the rear of the vehicle to all the axles of the vehicle and trailer. With the trailer tongue and rear cargo load distributed between the axles, the vehicle is leveled off and performance is greatly increased. Weight distributing systems should be used any time the trailer weighs more than 50% of the vehicle weight.

Almost all mid-size SUV's have 3500 lbs capacity, but they are further rated for 4500-5000 with a weight distributing hitch. My Cherokee tows my aluminum trailer with a 911 just fine, but I have to load all my tools and spare tires on the Jeep..and be mindful of weight distribution of the trailer. It's very doable and safe enough. I'm not familiar with the X3, but it seems even smaller than my Cherokee which has enough torque to get things rolling.

[tabascobobcat]

Isn't the Mazda CX9 a re-badged Ford Edge???
The drive-train is the same at least I think.

Don't 2nd guess your first instinct.
Drive a different 2007 MDX on the lot to compare to the other one.

Good luck.

[skipdup]

My '07 4Runner v8 has 7,000 lbs. capacity. A weight-distributing hitch is standard on the v8.

[MotoSook]

Skidup, the hitch is rated up to 7000 lbs if you use a distributive device. I don't think your 4runner has a spring bar on it. The distributive devices are external and attached to the triler and hitch.

As for the MDX, it's really not about the power anymore since we saw and crawled through the interior of the Outlook. We have two boys that are destined to be 6' plus in height and that may be a couple of years from now...so we need the space for them and ideally two more children. So two 6 footers and two baby seats in the back....not gonna happen with the MDX infortunately. The Outlook has the most room in a X-over from what I can tell...and it's potential a hell of a deal dollar to size wise.

So unless the Outlook is a total flop...it looks like we'll be buying a Saturn. I don't like the Buick styling, and it is more expensive (maybe by just a couple of grand, but). It might be quieter, but I'm sure that comes at a cost (heavier than the Outlook).

Someone get Acura to stretch the MDX by a foot or two, then reprogram the transmission....I'll be all over it

[tabascobobcat]

Originally posted by Souk

Someone get Acura to stretch the MDX by a foot or two, then reprogram the transmission....I'll be all over it

An Acura version of the Odyssey......

[MotoSook]

No no no! No minivans