“Powerful and agile, the 2018 Acura MDX is one of the more athletic 3-row SUVs out there. The Acura’s big V6 is more than strong enough for most buyers and its 9-speed automatic transmission is responsive and smooth.” – Kelley Blue Book
2018 Acura MDX Engine and Transmission
The 2018 Acura MDX is powered by a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine which is mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox. The setup sends around 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque to either the FWD or AWD. The engine in higher trims gets Start/Stop system along with cylinder deactivation. The former switches off the engine in case of idling while the latter deactivates three-cylinder while cruising and decelerating.
.The nine-speed gearbox is smooth shifting and quick to respond to throttle inputs while delivering fuel efficiency near to what you get with a CVT gearbox. The engine on the other hand is a strong puller and you won't need to work the engine on the freeway to keep up with the speed. While around town the start/stop system might get irritating otherwise it has plenty of power to close quick gaps and launch you with wheelspin from a stop signal.
Model
|
2018 Acura MDX
|
2018 Lexus RX 350
|
2018 Volvo XC90
|
2018 Infiniti QX60
|
MSRP
|
$44,200
|
$43,470
|
$46,900
|
$43,300
|
Engine
|
3.5-liter V6
|
3.5-liter V6
|
2.0-liter Turbo Inline-4
|
3.5-liter V6
|
Transmission
|
9-speed automatic
|
8-speed automatic
|
8-speed automatic
|
CVT
|
Power
|
290 hp @ 6200 rpm
|
295 hp @ 6300 rpm
|
250 hp @ 5500 rpm
|
295 hp @ 6400 rpm
|
Torque
|
267 ft-lbs. @ 4700 rpm
|
268 ft-lbs. @ 4700 rpm
|
258 ft-lbs. @ 1500 rpm
|
270 ft-lbs. @ 4800 rpm
|
Except for the Volvo XC90, all the rivals are less expensive than the MDX while the Volvo commands a hefty four grand premium and is the only one with a turbo-four engine. As for power and torque, the Infiniti QX60 puts out the highest numbers, and compared to the MDX the power is more by 5 hp and torque is more by 3 lb-ft.
2018 Acura MDX Acceleration
“Acceleration is quick enough to be thrilling, and there’s plenty of passing power.” – Kelley Blue Book
The 2018 Acura MDX sprints from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 14.7 seconds. The MDX thanks to the nine-speed gearbox and lower curb weight accelerates smoothly and picks up the pace with ease.
Model
|
2018 Acura MDX
|
2018 Lexus RX 350
|
2018 Volvo XC90
|
2018 Infiniti QX60
|
0-60 MPH
|
6.1 sec
|
6.9 sec |
6.2 sec |
7.2 sec |
Quarter mile
|
14.7 sec
|
15.3 sec |
14.8 sec |
15.6 sec |
Engine
|
3.5-liter V6
|
3.5-liter V6
|
2.0-liter Turbo Inline-4
|
3.5-liter V6
|
Among the rivals, the turbo-four powered Volvo XC90 is the quickest got beaten by the MDX by one-tenth of a second in both the runs.
2018 Acura MDX Ride and Handling
The ride and handling of the 2018 Acura MDX are very polished and are in the league of luxury three-row SUVs. Although the MDX isn't sporty at all from the pulling power point-of-view the handling of the MDX is sure in the leagues of sporty SUVs. The SH-AWD-equipped MDX is another game that gets mechanically torque vectoring a system that ensures the MDX takes tighter turns around a corner without unsettling.
The adaptive dampers equipped MDX ensures the ride quality is supple but slapping on the bigger 20-inch wheels robs away that suppleness. The steering of the MDX is also good and can be adjusted in three modes. The lowest setting is for the lightest steering but feels disconnected while the mid and high are the ones that offer nice heft with proper feedback. On the higher setting, the steering weighs up a bit and is well-suited for highways only.
2018 Acura MDX Braking
The 2018 Acura MDX took 168 feet to stop from 60-0 mph. The MDX gets a 12.6-inch rotor at the front and 13.0-inch rotor at the rear which feels sufficient to stop this 4,001 pound SUV. The brake pedal is easy to modulate and feels light thus needs a little bit of time to get accustomed to it.
Model
|
2018 Acura MDX
|
2018 Lexus RX 350
|
2018 Volvo XC90
|
2018 Infiniti QX60
|
Brake Front (in)
|
12.6
|
12.9
|
13.2
|
12.6
|
Brake Rear (in)
|
13.0
|
13.3
|
12.1
|
12.1
|
Curb weight (lbs.)
|
4,001
|
4,222
|
4,394
|
4,390
|
70-0 MPH (ft.)
|
168 |
165 |
167 |
177 |
In this comparison, the Lexus RX 350 took the least 165 feet to stop from 60-0 mph which is 3 feet less than what the MDX took.
2018 Acura MDX Towing capacity
The 2018 Acura MDX has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds which is not the best in the segment.
Model
|
2018 Acura MDX
|
2018 Lexus RX 350
|
2018 Volvo XC90
|
2018 Infiniti QX60
|
Towing Capacity (lbs.)
|
3,500
|
N/A
|
4,000
|
5,000
|
In comparison to that, the Infiniti QX60 can tow the highest 5,000 pounds, 1,500 pounds more than what the MDX can tow.