With fall in the air, and slush on the road at Stevens Pass summit returning from Leavenworth Golf Course, what better time to be driving the 2020 Acura MDX AWD A-Spec, three-row sports utility vehicle.
I’ve been a fan for years, and I’m not alone. MDX is the bestselling, three-row luxury vehicle ever, selling just short of a million units in the U.S. alone.
The 2020 MDX offers a dynamic driving experience and an extensive list of standard premium features and high-tech appointments on all grades, including AcuraWatch safety and driver-assistive technologies.
And for those looking to ease their guilty conscience, Acura offers an MDX Sport Hybrid model that delivers exceptional gas mileage.
For the uninitiated, the A-Spec variant adds sporty touches to the mix: black chrome accents, enhanced wheels, A-Spec badging, Alcantara-trimmed, heated and ventilated seats, red illuminated gauges, LED fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel, sports pedals and more.
Taking nothing for granted, Acura makes incremental improvements each year, and the 2020 edition is no exception. It seats up to seven adults, and the third row folds flat when not needed, revealing a golf-lover’s delight. EPA estimates 21 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving.
MDX is powered by a responsive 3.5-liter direct-injected i-VTEC, 24-valve V6 engine with 290 peak horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. peak torque, mated to a quick-shifting, nine-speed automatic transmission.
Let’s just say the passing lanes were my friend when traversing the pass.
And with slush on the roadway, you could feel the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system delivering decisive power and control as well as instant torque. Mother Nature did defeat the vehicle’s radar sensors, however, as the idiot lights indicated automatic brake mitigation and cruise distance control were temporarily disabled.
My tester came equipped with an optional tech package that included navigation with voice recognition, ELS studio premium audio system with 10 speakers, remote engine start, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding side mirrors, rear cross-traffic monitor, and front/rear parking sensors.
Other creature comforts included tri-zone climate control, multi-view rear camera, pushbutton start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, power moon roof and power tailgate – to name a few.
Finally, AcuraWatch provides a suite of safety features to make life worry free: Adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, road-departure mitigation, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist system are all included.
And don’t worry, the Japanese automaker is keeping jobs in America.
Five of the six Acura models sold in North America are made in central Ohio, using domestic and globally sourced parts. That includes the MDX, as well as the ILX, TLX, RDX and NSX supercar.
Base Price: $55,895
Price As Driven: $56,295
Base price includes destination charge. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. List price may vary at local dealerships.
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