Entered CNET Catalog: 01/26/2007
SKU: 100808338
Manufacturer: Acura
Product summary
The good: The 2007 Acura MDX benefits from excellent all-wheel drive and voice-command systems. The active suspension system contributes to a fairly smooth ride. An economical V-6 engine offers better economy than a V-8, but power-mad drivers won't be satisfied.
The bad: The control interface for the cabin systems is cleaned up a bit compared to the Acura RDX, but it's still messy. The automatic transmission could use an extra gear, just to keep up with the times, and the boatlike front-end design doesn't turn us on.
The bottom line: We would have been thrilled with this car two years ago, but the competition has caught up, and in some cases surpassed Acura. A lot of the tech comes straight from the 2005 Acura RL model with little improvement in the interceding two years.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 02/02/2007
Photo gallery:
2007 Acura MDX
The 2007 Acura MDX, a significant model upgrade over the previous year, reinforces the tech roadmap the company set forth in its RDX cars. The MDX is an SUV, complete with three rows of seating, yet it takes on Acura technologies such as Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and live traffic reporting used in the RL and the RDX. While there are some slight interface improvements for accessing the tech, the car drops behind the competition in some significant ways.
The MDX uses Acura's new pointed grill and raked front bumper design, giving it a boatlike appearance, a fairly unfortunate direction in Acura styling taken even further in the ridiculous looking concept shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It looks fairly compact from the outside, yet has a good amount of room for front- and middle-row passengers. Access to the rear seats requires some climbing around, which would prove difficult for people with bad backs or stiff joints. With the third row seats up, cargo space is virtually nonexistent.
The Acura MDX we tested came with the Sport and Entertainment packages, which is everything Acura offers. That means it includes navigation, Bluetooth cell phone integration, and a top stereo, all of our favorite cabin tech toys. It's a relatively big car, but it's only available powerplant is a 3.7-liter V-6. Honda just doesn't do V-8s. The automatic transmission only has five gears, which seems primitive compared to all the cars with six-plus automatics.
Test the tech: snow trip
Coincidentally, we got our hands on the Acura MDX the same week we had planned a trip to Lake Tahoe, a winter wonderland compared to never-below-freezing San Francisco. So, it was a pretty easy choice to take the MDX up and see how it handled on slippery roads, snow, and a long highway trip into the mountains. On the trip, we made significant use of the navigation system, entertainment, climate control, and SH-AWD.
To start off, we used the voice-command system to enter the address of our weekend getaway. Being somewhat experienced with Acura navigation systems, we sped through it fairly quickly: pushing the voice button on the steering wheel, saying a command, getting a result on the LCD, then cutting off the voice help by pushing the button again to say the next command. We could have probably done it faster by using the big knob on the center stack, but voice commands are so much cooler.
The route the car picked was exactly what we would have chosen on a map. Because we were smart enough to leave around noon on a Friday, the live traffic reporting showed green lines, meaning free-flowing traffic, all the way to Sacramento, where we had a small section of yellow, or 20 to 40mph traffic. In Tahoe, the navigation tried to lead us up a street that was closed due to snow and ice, but we checked the navigation map and saw we could get on our road from a different direction. As we proceeded around the closed road, the nav system recalculated our route promptly.
It hasn't been a particularly snowy season on the California/Nevada border, so we didn't have to contend with heavy snow on the roads. But we did want to, so we drove off the road to a snow-covered meadow and proceeded to try out the traction. Even with highway tires, the car did well. We could feel slip starting here and there, only to be compensated for by a combination of traction control and the SH-AWD. With temperatures around freezing, the car's heated seats and climate control came in handy. The front seats get dual climate control, while the middle-row seats have a single climate control zone. The front and middle row seats are also heated. During a "freeze-out" test where we had the windows down during a 20-minute drive in the evening, front- and middle-row occupants were kept comfortable, while the third-row passenger was subjected to a continuous blast of freezing cold air.
In the cabin
Acura's Technology package for the MDX is very similar to the package in the RL and the RDX. With the MDX, it also comes as part of the Sport package and includes navigation with live traffic reporting, the exceptional ELS/Panasonic stereo, and Bluetooth cell phone integration. In our review of the RDX, we complained about the haphazard mess of buttons around the steering wheel and the stack. Acura cleaned it up a bit for the MDX, using a nice triangular design for the hub of the steering wheel that makes multiple buttons easily accessible. The center stack joystick/knob can be a bit difficult to figure out when trying to find satellite radio stations or tracks on an MP3 CD.
The cabin materials aren't as luxurious as what we've seen in the Lexus RX350. Strangely, the dashboard material looks cheaper than it feels. Ours had a pebbled light brown plastic-looking cover, which was ugly, but it also was soft to the touch. The wood grain accents are nice, and the switch gear has a quality feel to it, but the cabin comes off as midrange more than luxury.
Acura's voice-recognition system is the best in the business, easily recognizing our commands and offering good feedback on the LCD to let us know the next command options. At least, that's how the navigation, audio, and climate voice system works. The voice-recognition system for Bluetooth cell phone recognition is a completely different system. It's also good at recognizing commands, but it doesn't provide the same level of feedback on the screen. And because there are two voice systems, there also are two sets of buttons on the steering wheel for activating voice recognition. We would prefer to see a more integrated system, with one button to activate voice recognition and top-level voice commands for entering the phone system, navigation, climate control, or audio.
The navigation system itself works well. Setting a destination is easy, and its points-of-interest database includes just about anywhere you would need to go. We already covered how well its route guidance and live traffic reporting work above. Our only issues are it doesn't show a split-screen graphic and map for upcoming turns, and it doesn't read out the names of all streets. We don't see the latter text-to-speech functionality in very many cars, but good indications for upcoming turns are very important for a navigation system.
We were prepared to be blown away by the stereo, as we had liked the one in the RDX so much. This stereo has been specially tuned for the MDX and uses 10 speakers. The audio quality was great, but not as impressive as other systems we've heard. The speaker placement in the MDX is similar to the RDX, but it's a much bigger cabin to fill. We didn't feel quite the same surround effect as we did in the RDX. The audio quality was similarly crisp and, as in the RDX, we had to adjust the tuning to get a more satisfying bass note. An extra set of speakers would help this sound system fill the cabin and provide the surround effect this stereo is meant to have.
As for audio sources, this system won't let anyone down. Its six-disc changer can handle MP3 CDs, regular CDs, and DVD audio. You can plug in an MP3 player through RCA jacks in the rear of the console if the car comes equipped with the Entertainment package. XM radio also is included, along with a free three-month subscription.
The Entertainment package adds a rear-seat DVD screen and player, the latter mounted in the stack below the CD player. The screen is a nice, wide 9 inches, and the system includes a pair of wireless headphones and three headphone jacks. A remote for the system pops out of the ceiling screen module. The same RCA jacks that can be used for an MP3 player also can be used to plug in a PlayStation or other game console.
As mentioned above, we wish the phone system was better integrated with the rest of the car systems. It offers basic Bluetooth phone connectivity, and its voice-recognition system makes it easy to dial numbers. But it doesn't copy over address books, requiring you to build it up one entry at a time.
The LCD turns into a rear-view monitor when the MDX is put into reverse, but there are no animated overlays that show where the car is going. It's only useful for seeing if there are obstacles somewhere behind the car. The side mirrors tilt down whenever the car is in reverse, making it easier to see parking lot lines, but not helpful if you're looking for obstacles on the side of the car.
Under the hood
The powerplant in the MDX is a 300 horsepower 3.7-liter V-6, which makes for some underwhelming, though adequate, acceleration. This engine gets the MDX around all right, but it won't throw you back into the seat. The engine's power is channeled through a five-speed automatic. Considering Honda/Acura's tech leadership, not to mention the company's focus on fuel economy, we're surprised the MDX isn't fitted with a six speed.
The powertrain behaved as we would expect, giving us a good boost (as much as the engine could handle) when we wanted to pass someone. The car takes off without hesitation, rolls along well at 70mph on the freeway, and has a fairly responsive throttle for around-town driving. The MDX gets an EPA fuel economy rating of 17mpg city and 22mpg highway. The latter number could probably have been improved with a sixth gear. In our freeway-biased driving, we saw 17.8mpg. This is a very clean engine for an SUV, getting an Ultra Low Emissions II rating from the California Air Resources Board.
While we think the powertrain could use some improvement, the combination of Acura's SH-AWD system and traction control worked very well. In fairly hard cornering, the MDX didn't feel top-heavy at all, but its understeer meant our arms were twisted around on particularly tight corners. The ride quality felt a bit lighter than a typical SUV, and the road is smoothed over by Acura's Active Damper System. The system, which can be turned on with a button labeled Comfort on the console, adjusts the suspension response in milliseconds depending on the current road conditions. It's designed to keep the ride smooth during performance driving, something we felt and appreciated. While jamming down a twisty highway, the ride felt as comfortable as if we were on a flat road.
In sum
Our 2007 Acura MDX came with the Entertainment and Sport packages, putting its price at $48,465 with its $670 destination charge. These packages included just about everything you can get in the MDX, including all the dashboard technology.
The only technology in the MDX that we thought really made it over the bar was the SH-AWD. The handling on the MDX felt very good, although the steering could have been tightened up. The voice-command system for the navigation, audio, and climate control is also impressive. We didn't feel the stereo quality came up to the same level as the ELS system in the RDX, although it still is very good. With a similar level of technology, the Lexus RX 350 is a worthwhile competitor to the MDX. On the high side, the Infiniti FX45 also is a solid choice compared to the Acura MDX.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19out of 19 user reviews
Excellent luxurious SUV in it's class !!!!
Pros: Excellent road handling capability in any kind of road condition, specially the way it handles curves, hills, outstanding!
Cons: I don't like the backup camera, it takes too long to come on, and doesn't have wide area view.
out of 19 user reviews
Solid design
Pros: Powerful engine, great features, incredible AWD system
Cons: Thirsty, getting expensive
As impressive as the handling is on this one, I almost wish I'd gone for the sport model with the adjustable suspension. SH-AWD is every bit as good as Acura would have you believe. It track smooth, and provides very good foul weather traction.
I've heard complaints about the layout of the dash. At first, it can seem a little overwhelming. However, there is a redundancy that allows up to three different ways to do most things (voice command, menu dial, and hard buttons) Either way, this never bothered me much, and I far prefer it to BMW approach that ties everything to iDrive and leaves no other options.
out of 19 user reviews
Buetooth sound is CRAP - and the new law is coming.
Pros: tight, great handling, great DVD for kids, Airbags in 3rd row & decent 50mph crash rating in rear.
Cons: Bluetooth is garbage and unusable at highway speeds.
out of 19 user reviews
Best in class
Pros: Wider than competitors, allowing more shoulder and hip room
Cons: Could have more torque/power at lower rpm
out of 19 user reviews
Pretty bad review by CNET
Pros: Tons of tech for a great price, great handling, lots of space.
Cons: Backup camera take time to come on, pretty big blind spot in the back, extra gear would have been nice.
We test drove the X5, RDX, MDX, Mazda CX9, and others. For your money, you only need to find the nearest Acura dealer (especially with the 2.9% financing they have going on for a limited time). Only the CX9 seemed to have better room for third row occupants compared to the MDX. In the CNET review, they said that the storage in back of third row was almost non existent. Well, go look at the fully-equipped, $70,000 X5 and you'll see it actually has half the cargo space in back of it's third row when compared to the MDX! Let me give you the comparisons between the MDX and X5 for cargo space:
Third row up (X5 - 7.1 Cubic Feet, MDX 15.0 Cubic Feet)
Third row down (X5 - 21.9, MDX 42.9)
Second row down (X5 - 61.8, MDX 83.5)
Driving it is awesome. We really hit the speed bumps and corners on our test drive and were really impressed. Comfort wise, I'd give the nod to the MDX, driving wise, I'd give the nod to the X5. Both are great in either situation. I do love the brakes in the MDX though, they are the best I've ever experienced in a car, especially for an SUV.
Second row passengers get spoiled. You have theater seating so that they see higher than the front passenger and driver. Also, the dvd screen is up on the ceiling instead of the floor as in the X5. When driving with the dvd screen down, I can still easily see through the back window with the review mirror (the dvd screen gives only a slight obstruction). On the other hand, with the dvd screen on the center console as in the X5, third row occupants will have to lean and look over the the second row to see the screen. Not only that, but you better watch your knees or you'll smash that screen right off!
Also, the second row seats are as comfortable as the front row driver/passenger seats. They are huge and give you tons of leg/shoulder room. Get the entertainment package and you even get heated seats back there. They really do get spoiled.
Other tech like GPS navigation, bluetooth hands free calling, XM radio and traffic, and tons of voice commands just add to such a good buy. I heard cons about the GPS screen not being touch screen. Let me help clear this point. The GPS navigation screen is out of hands reach anyways. The screen is put up on the dash for very easy viewing. Look at the review for the 2008 Subaru Tribeca on CNET and you'll see why a touch screen in this case would be unusable anyways. Not only that, most touch screen models limit your use of the touch screen when driving.
Just use the voice commands though and you will be more than happy about not having a touch screen - and yes, you can use all commands even when driving. Instead of plotting a course to go home, I just say "Go Home" and the damn thing will route me home. Need to find a restaurant, just say "Find Restaurant". Let's say it gives you 5 choices, just look at the number next to the restaurant you want and say the number. It is really that easy. Keep your fingers on the wheel and off of the screen!
So to finish this mini-review off, you get so much for your money compared to other vehicles while still attaining that luxury feel. Go test this baby out and see for yourself. Oh, and CNET, go work on your scaling when it comes to reviewing cars. You're all over the map!!!
out of 19 user reviews
This Wayne editor seems to have a bias against Acura
Pros: value, material, look
Cons: we got a biased editor here
Anyway, 6.9 is a shame on CNET even though they have freedom of speech, though a biased one.
out of 19 user reviews
ACURA IS NOT PERFECT
Pros: GREAT NAV SYSTEM AND DVD WITH LARGE SCREEN
Cons: WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM YOU WILL HAVE IT A LONG TIME
out of 19 user reviews
EXCELLENT SUV
Pros: handling,comfort, sound system, technology, roominess
Cons: Console needs some time to get used to. More power?
out of 19 user reviews
This is my second 2007 MDX..
Pros: Great handling, nice ride, technology
Cons: gas milleage
What a great car!! For months I tested drove the Audi Q7, Lexus GX470,BMW X5 and Volvo XC90, I kept comparing them to my wife MDX, as a whole, no contest! this is the most complete SUV in the market. I ended buying my own in a beautiful black on black Sport/enter model.
Acceleration 0-60, only the BMW is better here.
Passign Acceleration: MDX hold its own in passing acceleration, BMW and the V8 Audi may have a small edge.
Drive on highways: MDX and Volvo and Lexus are great here, altough I see an edge on MDX.
Comfort: MDX and BMW, The Sport MDX comes with a very nice leather upgrade.
Driving country roads: WOW, great experience when in the Sport mode, BMW is very good but the ride goes in favor of the MDX. The MDX is fun to drive.
Third seat, The Audi Q7 was the best,MDX was average, the others terrible.
Cargo: MDX and Audi Q7, I did not like Lexus GX470 at all.
Technology, MDX by far!! I don't know what the Cnet reveiwer was thinking, the NAV is the best I have ever seen! It requieres some learning curve, but not bad. It is simpler than the also impressive technology in the BMW but more reliable for what I was told by other BMW owners.
Price: Here the MDX killed the others, with all the goodies, the MDX came ahead of everybody, sometimes for as much as $20,000 LESS (BMW and Audi)
Reliability: MDX is too new, but Acura has always had a very good track record, only compared by Lexus.
IMO MDX is the best buy! No competition, it is why I have a second one now!
out of 19 user reviews
Competition dosent come close
Pros: Everything
Cons: Must be Tech Savy
Inf FX 35, The minute we sat in this beauty it was sold. The Conbo of, comfort, tech, entertainment, and performance, coumponded with a $42k price made this a no brainer. Please check out the REAL reviews Car and Driver, and Road and track. They love the suv as well. Good luck! We laughed at the BMW X5 for 14k more!
out of 19 user reviews
2007 Acura MDX PROBLEM
Pros: 2007 Acura MDX PROBLEM
Cons: 2007 Acura MDX PROBLEM
Come and See...
http://2007mdx.blogspot.com
Recalls can vary widely in nature and importance, and whether it comes down to paint chipping, faulty seats, or wheels that fall off, we¡¯ll know. It¡¯s free to fix, so there¡¯s nothing to lose, and since recalls can give some indication of quality, it¡¯s not a bad idea to look up 2007 Acura MDX recall data on cars you¡¯re thinking of buying.
Come and See...
http://2007mdx.blogspot.com/
out of 19 user reviews
Exceeded all Expectations - it is unbelievable
Pros: UNBELIEVABLE for the price and against competition! I am moving from a 2002 BMW M3 Coupe and still consider this a very sporty vehicle. Great layout/cockpit, seats, software/nav, handling, quality!
Cons: default steering wheel, lack of a good place to put my cell phone/change in center console, BT Handsfree not as feature rich as my $60 plantronics BT headset, wish it had 6 speed transmission
I have no idea what cnet was thinking giving this the rating they did...I would like to see what vehicle they would give a higher rating to that can haul 6+ people while also hauling 5000 lbs, includes AWD, has reasonable gas mileage (for a 4600 lb vehicle) and handles like a big (luxery) wagon for on road commutes! The only other vehicle that I would think is close is the new X5 (which I would also rate high) but the price difference is significant when similarly loaded.
Get this car, get sport package (at least) and get the custom acura leather steering wheel and shift knob (they are great!!!).
out of 19 user reviews
Edmunds 2007 SUV Editor's Pick=MDX
Pros: DVD Navigation, Voice Recognition, Usable third Row!
Cons: Should have rain sensing wipers
out of 19 user reviews
Best SUV in its Class
Pros: Great combination of performance and comfort
Cons: Front grill styling may be too bold for some
It has a great ride, terrific handling, and very good performance (if you want to go faster, get something other than an SUV).
Its technology is top notch. I strongly disagree with the CNET reviewer, who complained about the technolgy being old. The MDX's tech is as good or better than the other cars in its class (voice recognition is second to none), and is well tested technology from the RL and RDX. If the reviewer is right, how can the RL and RDX get recent high reviews from CNET for the same technology?
Comparing this model to the Lexus RX350 and the Infiniti FX35 is a waste of time if one of your requirements is third row seating, since neither of those cars have a third row.
Every car has its shortcomings, and every owner has his or her pet peeves that can cause a car to be disfavored, but the MDX should stack up well to any mid-sized luxury SUV with a third row of seating.
out of 19 user reviews
Best SUV type I've owned
Pros: balanced performance, great car like performance
Cons: headrest to close to head
great comfortable ride, and seating
GPS nav is the best yet
out of 19 user reviews
Performance style and technology.
Pros: Styling, Handling, Room
Cons: Gearing, Fuel economy
out of 19 user reviews
Nice Sporty/Plush Combo
Pros: Tech features, Sportiness, Exterior
Cons: Fuel Economy
Pros:
Sound system is really nice! Tech features work better than the Lexus I owned previously. Loving the HandsFree Bluetooth. Navigation is the best I've used ... not having a touch screen is no big deal at I ... I was worried it would be. The interior room is just right ... I appreciate that it's noticeably wider than the RX, but not much longer. The cargo area is substantially larger. Nice to have the otherwise unnoticeable 3rd Row seat available just in case although I doubt I'll ever use it. Overall feels the perfect size. Overall I am really enjoying the car! It is the perfect match of plush, yet sporty imho. The Lexus just felt too "grocery getter"-like for me ... I am 31. I bought the black/black Sport model and love the looks of it all around. Keep in mind most of the pics you see aren't with available accessories ... more on that in a bit.
Cons:
Tough to step down a little in fuel economy vs the RX (17-22mpg vs 18-24mpg in the RX), plus the added fact that premium is required rather than "recommended". Not a huge deal though. The accessories -- the car looks plain w/o them, so they don't really feel like accessories. I guess on one hand it's nice that they allow you to pick and choose moreso, but it's also a ploy to make the car seem cheaper than it is ... these accessories are HUGE profit centers for the dealers. Even an auto-dim mirror is an option! Anyhow, I put on the body side moldings (trim along bottom 1/3 of the doors), sport running boards, day/night mirror, and front/rear garnishes (go along bottom of bumper and are a dull metallic color). I left off the roof rack b/c I liked the sleek look.
Conclusion:
The MDX and RX work out to cost about the same (MSRP wise), but I feel you get more car in the Acura (little larger, sportier, 3rd row). Lexus has really marketed the brand well though and people seem to think Acura is practically akin to Chevy. For my age the Acura really suits me with the aggressive look and more power (300hp) ... I like that they kept it as a V-6 too for fuel economy purposes. Overall I've been incredibly pleased with the 2007 Acura MDX.
out of 19 user reviews
A step up from the previous generation.
Pros: Nicely weighed steering wheel, confident inspiring AWD and suspension, feels agile and smaller
Cons: Being luxury makes it heavy.
There's a reason why Honda/Acura can make such good cars at bargain prices compared to their competitors, keep in mind that they're one of the very few independent car makers in the world now.
On to the review. SH-AWD is a great system. It doesn't just brake the slipping wheel, cutting back the power using the brake, but also redirect it actively front to rear, then to the outer rear wheel creating a 'push' effect toward the turning direction. It's an ingenious system that I haven't seen in any other new cars even today.
The active dampening system is based on Delphi's magna ride, the same one that's used in Corvette. I haven't driven it, I'm happy enough with the regular setup I got. It's sporty enough with very little body roll, yet not too punishing and harsh.
The steering wheel is the first for Honda/Acura. It's nicely weighed like a German car, making it so much easier to drive, requiring less effort to maintain a direction. My wife has an 05 TL. It has light steering wheel like a Honda Accord and the rest of them. I find I have to hold on it more when I drive because it's just too light.
Buttons. I personally like them, not having to go through sub menus just to change stationsor AC settings is a blessing. Granted there are many of them, but if you drive the car every day, you'll get used to them. Put your right hand on the gear lever, you'll find that most of them are well within reach with a quick glance. Besides, the voice command can do most of them and take about 2 days to get used to.
I love the DVD-A. I've been buying them since the TL. It is too bad indeed there aren't many selections available. And on the MDX, it plays MP3 too! Even better.
It's an agile SUV with 7 seating. It's agile and feel small, yet have enough space. Powerful V6 engine, still good on mileage for its class.
A diesel engine perhaps?
out of 19 user reviews
Deep with tech features, needs a little more zip
Pros: Really grabs the road, audio system, comfortable
Cons: Price, a little busy, takes some studying to learn all the features.
The MDX is so rich with features, that you really have to remember that you're driving, and concentrate on the road. It's very tempting to fiddle with the audio system, or change the drive displays between the guages to check your mileage, or average speed, or AWD power distribution.
The audio system with DVD Audio is spectacular. I just wish more DVD-A choices were available. The new Beatles "Love" disc is a great start and is very impressive. Once you hear the 5.1 surround, you're reluctant to "just" listen to CD's.
Sticking with the audio, the Acura Music Link system which allows you directly hook up an Ipod has been a major disappointment for me so far. The thought of being able to control my Ipod with the steering wheel controls and see the readout on the radio from the Ipod was a consideration in choosing the MDX. So far I can't really get the IPod to function properly with the system. It plays the music, but it won't seem to break the playlists down as I have them, and the Ipod overdrives the sound system on many songs no matter what level I have on the Ipod itself. There is no readout of songs, just the running time of the songs.
The MDX has a bigger engine, and it's an improvement. It's just not all it could be. It's made up for though by the AWD system. It handles corners and curves with the greatest of ease. Almost like it forgets that it's a 7 seat SUV.
The transmission is smooth and I feel very much in control of the road. I find Acuras to be somewhat road noisy and this one has a little of that problem for me. Although it's a major improvement over my '02.
The MDX seems smaller on the outside, but much larger on the inside.
Getting a great deal on the new MDX is a challenge since they sell as soon as they arrive on the lot, but it's a very nice automobile so your sticker shock will fade quickly as you play with all the gadgets. Just remember that you're driving!
