Acura’s MDX premium midsize SUV, completely remodeled for the 2014 model year, has been rejuvenated for 2017. Noticeable at first glance are some exterior alterations, including an attractive new diamond pentagon grille and a restyling of the hood, front fenders, side sills, and front and rear fascias. Those changes are bookended by new LED headlights and dual exhaust pipes with bright tips.
All 2017 MDX models have the automaker’s comprehensive AcuraWatch technology package of advanced safety features, previously standard equipment only on some of the higher-priced models. Among the AcuraWatch technology systems are forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow. In other words, a lot of sophisticated stuff to help keep inattentive drivers and their hapless possible victims out of danger; and also, to be precursors of the eventual autonomous (self-driving) cars of the nearer and nearer future.
There are three rows of seats in the MDX, with accommodating roominess and comfort in the first two rows but not so much in the third. Typical of midsize SUVs, the third row is suitable mostly for little kids, or for larger humans but only in a figurative and literal pinch. In the third row’s favor, the seats flip down easily and the outcome is a decent-sized cargo area that expands to generous proportions when the second-row seats are also disabled.
The 2017 Acura MDX is available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Acura calls its full-time, fully-automatic all-wheel drive system SH-AWD. It stands for Super Handling-All Wheel Drive. Human nature turns SH-AWD into one word, pronouncing it “shawd,” which can conjure up “schadenfreude,” which MDX owners might experience when they see someone else’s all-wheeler nosed into a snowbank — but only if there’s no damage or personal injury, of course.
MDX doesn’t have a lineup of trim levels with distinct badging, other than SH-AWD. Instead there’s a base model and three add-on packages (Technology, Advance and Entertainment) whose names appear on the window stickers at dealerships. The Entertainment package can be applied to Technology and Advance models.
A gas-electric hybrid MDX will be available at a later date.
All models have a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, and a nine-speed automatic transmission. During startup, acceleration and hill climbing, all six cylinders are in play. To improve fuel economy, half of them are benched when less power is required, such as during moderate cruising.
Engine acceleration is respectable at startup as well as cruising speeds, and the fuel economy rating of the AWD model I tested is 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway. The nine-speed transmission has a couple of issues: It isn’t rough, but it could be smoother, and the gear shifter could be more normal and less weird. Clustered in a small area of the center console, there’s push-button operation for Park and Drive, but pull-lever operation for Reverse.
Base pricing for a 2017 Acura MDX starts at $44,890 for a front-wheel-drive model without any package adornments. That price includes the $940 destination charge and an impressive list of standard features.
My tester was the MDX AWD Advance, the preferred model for special feature gluttons. It includes the impressive list of standard equipment on the base model plus everything on the Technology model, and tops it off with ventilated sport seats, heated second-row captain’s chairs, interior wood trim, a heated steering wheel, 10-way power adjustment for the front passenger seat, parking sensors, LED fog lights, rear door sunshades, and roof rails.
I want and expect an SUV to have a lot of useful bins and cubbies for stowing personal items, and the MDX really delivers. In a display of good taste, most of these compartments can be concealed with covers, not only keeping items secured but also giving the cabin a cleaner look. Dash design is on the busy side, with a lot going on, so the covered cubbies visually calm things down.
Another quality I admire in any vehicle is an infotainment system that doesn’t make me feel like an idiot. One that makes things easier, not harder; that even people like me, born without a patience gene, can figure out. An infotainment system for people who have better things to do than second-guess and struggle with an infotainment system. The MDX version is far from hopelessly complicated, but like the gear shifter mentioned above, it could be more normal.
On a more charitable note, the passenger cabin is exceedingly quiet and the MDX suspension is on the sporty side but handles rough spots in the road with minimum drama.
The 2017 Acura MDX is produced at the company’s manufacturing facility in Lincoln, Alabama. Beginning in early 2017, production will also take place at the Acura plant in East Liberty, Ohio.
2017 ACURA MDX AWD ADVANCE
Base price, including destination charge: $57,340
Price as driven: $57,340
Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a board member of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturers as a one-week loan for review purposes only. In no way do the manufacturers control the content of the reviews.
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