For those who love driving and others who just want to haul their six passengers in sporty luxury, Acura's 2007 MDX provides a single solution. How many vehicles can say that? Handling with a performance-loving driver in mind, the sport package on the MDX comes with Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). It keeps this vehicle stuck on the pavement while an active damper system helps the MDX straddle both handling and comfort. We stepped on the gas around corners and this full-size SUV seemed to just grip the road. Impressive.
Under the hood, Acura packs in a 300hp VTEC V-6 that delivers as much power as some V-8s on the market through the use of its electronic Drive-by-Wire Throttle System. The result is relatively great mileage for an SUV (18 on streets / 22 on highway), low emissions and plenty of power. On the outside the new model looks nothing like the previous iteration, with a wide, low stance and yacht-like styling cues. It looks like it's trying too hard to look aggressive and edgy, but the MDX got approving nods from friends and co-workers during our evaluation.
The vehicle is mechanically top-notch, but, of course, the electronics in the passenger compartment were what really caught our attention. The top of the line model with the Technology, Entertainment and Sport packages comes with almost everything you could ask for. The Acura navigation system with voice recognition and traffic information (via AcuraLink which uses XM's NavTraffic) displays mapping on an 8-inch screen, which pairs up with a backup camera. The housing for the camera on the trunk door is bulbous and on the unsightly side, but functions well enough. Overhead, a 9-inch monitor flips down to play DVDs from a player in the front console, though you can give rear passengers full control. They can listen via the entire system or the included wireless headphones. Obviously we recommend you take full advantage of the 410-watt Acura/ELS Surround Premium Sound System that provides discrete 5.1-audio through 10 new lightweight speakers in the cabin. You get CD/DVD-Audio/DTS playback, AM/FM, XM Satellite Radio and Acura's iPod link, not to mention the in-dash 6-disc changer. And finally, you also have the Bluetooth mobile phone interface for hands-free talking. In its price range, a little under $50,000, Acura just may have the best overall technology vehicle on the market.