2019 Acura MDX

The Acura MDX is one of the best choices for a luxury SUV. The cabin is spacious, offers three rows of seating space, and comes with loads of features as standard. The Acura MDX serves well as a family hauler. It faces steep competition from the likes of Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, Infiniti QX60, and other similar luxury SUVs in the market. According to the company, the MDX is the best-selling three-row luxury SUV of all time, which is a bold claim for its segment.

The trim level for the Acura MDX is a bit complicated, to say the least. The 2019 MDX is broadly available in four different trim levels to choose from, viz. Standard, Technology, A-Spec, and Advance, which are known as packages in the Acura lineup. You get a gradually increasing number of advanced tech features, creature comforts, and driving aids, as you go up the trim levels. And that’s not all. There is another trim of the MDX called the Sport Hybrid, which can only be had with the Technology and Advance packages. As the name suggests, the Sport Hybrid gets a smaller engine than the standard powertrain, which is paired with three electric motors.

The powertrain choice comes first, followed by the Package depending on needs and budget. The new A-Spec package includes an all-wheel drive and is available with exclusive exterior bits such as a dark trim, and wider rims with low-profile tires to give a sportier appearance. You can also spec it with the optional Entertainment package, which can be specified with either the Technology or Advance package, and it adds a rear entertainment system. The Technology package adds a 9” display and an 11 speaker setup for the music, along with the standard second-row bench seating being replaced with heated captain's chairs. The Advance package is better equipped and comes with a massive 16.2” screen with an HDMI input, and 12 audio speakers.

Which Trim should you buy?

With features like power-adjustable front seats with heating, a power liftgate, and a sunroof, the base model of the MDX itself is very well loaded. However, the completely loaded Advance trim is the preferred choice to get the full experience of what the SUV has to offer. As for the powertrain, the hybrid powertrain might have the advantage on paper in terms of power and fuel economy, but the standard MDX with the standard engine feels more responsive and more fun to drive during a regular commute.

Under the hood of the 2019 Acura MDX is a 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 producing a maximum of 290 HP and 267 lb-ft of torque, which is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission with the choice of a front or all-wheel drive. The Sport Hybrid variant comes with a smaller 3.0-liter V6 in conjunction with three electric motors with a combined power output of 321 HP and 289 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a 7-speed automatic gearbox and is available only with an all-wheel-drive drivetrain. The hybrid powertrain is not only more powerful than the standard engine, but it is also more economical as well.

The power output figures of the 2019 MDX and the Infiniti QX60 are similar, whereas the Audi Q7 and the Volvo XC90 make 40 horses less. The 2019 Acura MDX has a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.9 seconds, and surprisingly, shares this time with the Audi Q7. The same story goes for the quarter-mile as well. The Infiniti is the slower one, at 7.6 seconds for 0-60 mph. The Acura and the Volvo share the same top speed at 130 mph, whereas the Audi has the highest top speed at 145 mph. 

How well does the 2019 Acura MDX handle?

The MDX gets a Strut setup for the front suspension, along with a multi-link setup at the back. The front-wheel-drive variants might not be very suitable in slippery conditions, but the Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system in the AWD variants does tend to change the game, especially due to its torque-vectoring system. SH-AWD system delivers up to 70 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels. The system also has the ability to distribute up to 100 percent of that torque between the left and right rear wheels to optimize available traction and sharpen steering and handling response. It reduces understeer quite significantly and makes it easier for the driver to go around tight bends and corners, especially on mountain roads. In all these regards, the standard powertrain is more responsive and is more fun to drive during your regular commute than the hybrid one.

Braking Performance

This is one department where the Acura MDX fails to impress. Although the brakes are easy to use due to its relatively consistent performance, it is not as powerful as it should be. The Acura underperforms than most of its competitors and takes 131 feet to stop from 60 mph to standstill. This comes quite as a surprise, considering the fact that the MDX is one of the lighter SUVs in the competition.

In terms of rotor dimensions, the Acura MDX and its competitors are more or less in a similar ballpark. But the calipers in the MDX aren’t probably powerful enough to provide satisfactory braking performance. The Infiniti Qx60 has the least stopping distance among these four, at 120 feet.

As mentioned earlier, the 2019 Acura MDX comes with two engine options. The 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 in the non-hybrid variants is capable of delivering 20 mpg, 27 mpg, and 23 mpg in city, highway, and combined respectively in the front-wheel-drive variants. The rear-wheel-drive variants return 19 mpg, 26 mpg, and 22 mpg in the city, highway, and combined respectively.

If you aren’t happy with these returns, you can get yourself the Sport Hybrid trim which comes with a hybrid powertrain, which on top of delivering more power, is more economical than the standard engine. Its fuel economy figures in city, highway and combined are 26 mpg, 27 mpg, and 27 mpg respectively. For the people who spend most of their time in tight city traffic during a commute, it is a huge plus.

In terms of fuel economy and range, the Acura MDX and its competitors are more or less in a similar ballpark. Although the Audi Q7 benefits with the most range on offer, at 462.5 miles combined thanks to its large 22.5-gallon tank capacity. The Infiniti has the least range at 429 miles combined. The Acura offers a range of 448.5 miles combined.

For the 2019 model, the MDX boasts an upgraded interior refinement, but it still lacks a bit in this department, especially when we compare it with what the competitors have to offer. That being said, new features include available authentic Desert Olive Ash wood trim, high-contrast seat and door panel stitching, and contrasting front seat side garnishes. Driver and front passenger seats now feature standard 4-way power lumbar adjustments, while the Technology and Entertainment packages receive an updated second-row seat configuration, allowing easy passage to the third row. Being a mid-size crossover SUV, the MDX is decently spacious, but its competitors are even roomier, especially in the 3rd row. Speaking about 3rd row, the MDX is a bit of a squeeze, especially for tall adults, but is not a deal-breaker in any way.

With the decent build quality and satisfactory quality of materials, it is the design of the interior where it is a bit of a stretch, especially the funky-looking dashboard. Although it might look pretty unique, the design might not be for everyone. One such example is the dual-screen setup of the infotainment, which is pretty unintuitive and difficult to use as well.

The interior dimensions of the four cars are very similar in the first and second rows. The Infiniti is taller and offers more legroom and headroom upfront. In the second row, however, one cannot tell the difference between these four cars. The third row is where Volvo and Infiniti shine, which is larger comparatively. The 2019 Acura MDX is the least impressive in the competition, especially the legroom in the 3rd row. In the cargo area, the Volvo XC90 offers the most space at 41.8 cu-ft, whereas the other three are very similar. The maximum cargo space is seen on the Volvo again, and the Acura has the least maximum cargo space. Some of the noteworthy interior features are:

• Sports seats with premium leather and trim
• Power adjustable front seats with power-adjustable lumbar support
• Front and 2nd-row heated seats
• Ventilated front seats
• Driver seat memory functionality
• Heated steering wheel

 What’s there to keep you entertained?

The base 2019 MDX starts with a humble set-up for the infotainment system with an 8-speaker sound system. It does get that gimmicky dual 7” touchscreen display setup as standard. It has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration as standard, along with all your necessary connectivity features like Bluetooth, USB ports, and AUX ports. The Technology trim upgrades the music system to a more premium 10-speaker setup with HD radio. It remains mostly the same for the top-spec Advance trim, which adds two additional USB ports for the 3rd row. The center console does not have a very button-heavy layout, which might be an issue due to the fact that the UI of the infotainment system is not very intuitive to learn and use. Unfortunately, it does not come with a Wi-Fi hotspot, or even wireless phone charging, which is a bit of a miss, especially for a 2019 luxury SUV. Some of the highlight features of the infotainment system include:

• Dual 7” touchscreen infotainment display
• Bluetooth connectivity
• USB connectivity
• AUX connectivity
• 8-speaker / 10-speaker music system
• In-built navigation
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Smartphone integration
• Rear entertainment system available with the Entertainment package

Although looks might be subjective, the Acura MDX is arguable a pretty handsome-looking SUV. Nonetheless, it does not have a very striking road presence, unlike the Volvo XC90 or the Audi Q7. The 2019 MDX expands its color palette to a total of nine options, including a rich new Gunmetal Metallic and four new available premium colors. If you want to stand out, you should definitely get yourself the A-Spec sport appearance package. It features a more athletic stance highlighted by exclusive half-inch wider 20-inch Shark Grey aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile 265/45-series tires. An aggressive new front fascia, body-color lower sills, larger-diameter exhaust finishers, as well as gloss-black and dark chrome trim for the headlights, grille, window surround, and rear tailgate spoiler further distinguish the MDX A-Spec.

In terms of exterior dimensions, the Acura MDX and most of its competitors are more or less in a similar ballpark, but the MDX does have a relatively shorter wheelbase among the competitors and is one of the lighter SUVs in the competition as well. The Q7 has the longest wheelbase, and the Infiniti is the longest car in the segment. The Volvo XC90 weighs the most out of these four. Some of the key exterior features are:

• Automatic LED headlights
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Front and rear stabilizer bars
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Automatic wipers
• 18-inch/20-inch wheels

All 2019 MDX trims will come standard with what Acura calls the AcuraWatch suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies. The MDX shares its platform with the Honda Pilot. With Acura’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure design, which uses a network of front frame structures to absorb and deflect the energy from a frontal collision, it also includes front, side, and side-curtain airbags, along with front pre-tensioning seatbelts to keep the occupants as safe as possible during the event of a crash. But to avoid accidents from happening in the first place, it comes with advanced active driving aids such as:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System (CBMS) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with low-speed follow
• Road Departure Mitigation(RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (RDW)
• 4-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with traction control
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

So the 2019 Acura MDX comes with a plethora of active and passive safety features as standard, and it shows in its crash test results as well. It got a full 5-star rating in NHTSA’s crash test report with 5 starts in almost all of the individual tests except the rollover test, where it received 4-stars with a roll-over risk of 16.40%.

2019 Acura MDX vs 2019 Audi Q7

Although falling in the same segment, the 2019 Audi Q7 and the 2019 Acura MDX is a bit hard to compare. The MDX is considerably less expensive than the Audi Q7, to the extent that a fully loaded MDX costs just a few thousand dollars more than a base Q7. As a result, the Q7 is considerably more premium, more refined, and more luxurious than the Acura. On top of having a more upscale interior, the infotainment system of the Audi Q7 is significantly easier to use than the one you get in the Acura MDX.

2019 Acura MDX vs 2019 Volvo XC90

Both the SUVs have their own pros and cons, but the 2019 Volvo XC90 might be the better choice overall between the two. The Volvo has a more elegant and comparatively more luxurious interior than the MDX, along with a significantly better infotainment system as well. The MDX might have cramped 3rd-row seating, but it is easier to get in and out of compared to the Volvo.

2019 Acura MDX vs 2019 Infiniti QX60

Both these SUVs are pretty evenly matched, but with a stiffer suspension and larger wheels, the MDX is on the sportier side of the spectrum, especially when compared to the 2019 Infinti QX60. The Infiniti on the other hand is roomier than the Acura with more legroom, especially in the 2nd and 3rd-row seats. The softer ride of the QX60 along with the comfortable seats makes it feel more luxurious than the Acura MDX.

With an impressive list of standard tech features and creature comfort, along with a plethora of advanced safety tech and driving aids as standard in all the trims, it is a pretty compelling SUV in its segment. But it does have its own pros and cons with respect to the competition. For instance, it has a stiffer ride in order to be more sporty, which might be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the situation. It might be a good thing if you are on a race track, but the fact that it will be used mostly in the city streets might be a bit of a nuisance, especially compared to most of its more luxurious competitors. And other than the unintuitive infotainment setup and the cramped 3rd-row seating might put off some people, regardless, the 2019 Acura MDX is still one of the best in its segment, especially for its price. With some pretty impressive competitors in the market, it all boils down to personal preference at the end of the day.