Definitely research transmission issues. I have a 2003 on its second engine and second transmission. Sadly, it may be time for its third transmission. It could be bad solenoids or worse. In any case I will not find out because it will soon be for sale.

When everything is working properly it was a great family car. Room for 7 and a big dog. I would not purchase another MDX but I suppose I got my money's worth. In fact, it will be replaced with a pick-up truck in a few weeks. It still drives well but I just don't trust that the transmission will finally go out while I'm far away from home. By the way, it has about 290K on the truck but only 40K or so on the engine and maybe 110K on the current transmission.

JUST went thru this dilemma. Honda or MDX.
we went with a 13 pilot.

not sure what driving experience you are after when looking at either one.

I have owned an RDX - second year they were available.
Ride was stiff, and handled pretty well. Fuel economy was not the best. Only about 17mpg.
I found the maintenance (dealer) ridiculous expensive. They try to guilt you into SH-AWD maintenance at a really frequent interval.
I recall that the seats were really comfy.
Overall, I only kept it a little over a year. Went back to a Subaru for practicality and lower ownership cost.
Fast forward to 2014. We shopped for a replacement vehicle for my wife (2004 Odyssey), which was starting to act like the transmission was going to give up. Only about 105,000 Miles.
Figured we should get rid of it before lots of bad things start happening. It had previously needed a front wheel bearing - which also drove a few other repairs....
In any case, we went to test the current MDX at the time. I always had like them but had never driven one. My wife actually cried while we were at the dealership because of the quantity and complexity of buttons on the dash. Couldn’t figure out how to change the radio without pulling over.
Did not buy. Went with TDi Audi Q7 instead. She loves that and we intend to keep for quite a while. Don’t know if this opinion is of any help, but that is our experience.

Thanks for the responses

It's going to be a daily work car and take it on trips 15-20K miles / year. I like station wagons as well but the last few VW, BMW, Volvo have had issues and have been expensive, the VW being the worse with thousands in warranty work. I sold it prior to the warranty being up and bought a Honda CRV as a temporary measure. It will go to a kid in school.

The reliability of the Honda is the big draw We have a 2013 Pilot it is the wife's car it's rock solid and not expensive to maintain. I have not driven the MDX however on paper it looks like the right car. My driving expectations are low, the Lexus has good reviews but i'm not hot on the styling.

I will drive it for 5 years and find something else.

Station wagons-
If not too down scale, try out an Outback.
I’m on #3, and have been quite happy with ride quality, efficiency and durability.
I think overall cost of ownership is about the best I have had.
I’ve always had the 4cylinder, but there is a 3 liter six. Other car makers have been successful with a horizontally opposed 3.0 six, if memory serves.