2007 Acura MDX
A Sporty Crossover SUV 

Just in case you haven't noticed, the 2007 MDX, Acura's seven-seat luxury SUV, has been completely re-engineered and redesigned for the first time since its 2001 debut. The new styling is sharp and angular and adds dramatically to the sporting flair of this high-performance midsize SUV. The MDX was ahead of many other competitors in this size in offering seven seats as standard equipment. And it was successful in luring buyers away from the Lexus RX (which still has only five). The 2007 model revealed that the MDX retains all the positive attributes for which Acuras are known for and adds some more.

Acura makes the MDX is a single trim level, leaving only a few option packages to distinguish one from another. And is priced between $41,000 to $48,000.

Exterior & Styling

The MDX is built on a new unibody truck platform, the slightly longer MDX has lost only fractions of an inch in height, but this is still a fairly large vehicle, a low-slung sports car it is not. What it is can be summed up as an SUV for folks who still like sports car handling, and some style in the bigger package. The front end design is particularly aggressive looking. It is also a little polarizing, not because it is unattractive, but because it is a bit mean looking to some folks.

The look softens quite a bit around the flanks and rear, but there is no mistaking that this a vehicle designed for spirited driving, both on and for light offroading.

Inside

The interior is also new and has as gee-wiz type of styling that I liked. The gauge cluster is easy to see and the dash sweeps across the interior in a very artistic way. My problem was the center console that was filled with 50 buttons of various sizes and close placement. The buttons are hard to interpret quickly even after spending a lot of time on this vehicle. The seats are large and comfortable in front and in the back seat, but the third row is truly a place for children, and even then, as a place for punishment as the space is very limited.

On the Road

On the road is where the MDX shines. We can credit the performance to its  Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. That name is theirs, not mine. But it seems to help keep the MDX surefooted, both on pavement and loose terrain. The system differs from most AWD in its ability to apportion torque not just between front and rear axles but among the different wheels. And compared to the MDX's previous system, it can send more power to the rear wheels than the front and can drive the outside rear wheel faster than the inside wheel when in a turn.

Normally the SH-AWD sends 90 percent of the torque to the front wheels. Acura says it designed the system that way to maximize gas mileage. But when the going gets slippery, up to 70 percent or the torque can be transferred to the rear and as much as all of that can go to one rear wheel or the other.

Steering is very precise and offers excellent feedback on road conditions, but it is a bit on the heavy side among this class of vehicles. Visibility is generally good except to the extreme rear sides where some of the bodywork gets in the way.

Power is never a problem with the MDXX. With 300 horsepower on tap and 275 ft.lbs of torque on hand, the MDX is easily a quick drive on the street. It also handles and brakes firmly. Actually, the MDX would be a better choice than some other sporting SUVs, such as the BMW X5. Mileage is EPA rated at 17 city 22 highway. The engine is a joy to listen to. It is extremely smooth and offers a nice growl when you get on the pedal. It has no trouble winding to redline, which means you will enjoy the use of the manumatic feature to hold the gears longer than with some other vehicles.

 The MDX comes standard with a high capacity cooling system as well as a cooling radiator for the transmission and power steering unit. Towing capacity is a stout (for a sporting SUV) 5,000 lbs.