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My sister thinks of herself as a trend-setter. And when she bought a brand new, first model year Acura MDX in 2000, she proved her point: she was the first on her block to own the angular SUV. She loved her new ride and the admiring glances it earned.

Fast-forward 8 years, and she now hauls her six-year old son around in her MDX… but her Acura’s getting a little long in the tooth.


Would the 2008 Acura MDX, which starts at $40,195, gets 15 mpg city/ 20 mpg highway, and comes with a 4 year/50,000 mile warranty suit her growing needs? Read on to find out.

First Glance

Equipped with a Sport and Entertainment package bringing the grand total to $48,755, our fully loaded 2008 Acura MDX test car was trimmed in sharp looking black paint and a crème, premium Milano leather interior.

Sheetmetal is styled with hulky haunches and sleek, flat surfaces. A muscular grille is consistent with Acura’s new design language, and the chiseled linear edges and rounded wheel wells complement each other nicely with an interplay of geometric and organic shapes. Eighteen inch aluminum alloy wheels are discreet and tasteful.

The MDX, especially in this top trim level, comes equipped with almost every amenity an SUV buyer could want or need. The XM satellite radio-equipped 410 watt stereo system is a 10-speaker, 6-disc in-dash unit that’s DVD-Audio, MP3, WMA and DTS compatible, and the entire audio visual system, from navigation to audio to climate control, can be operated using voice recognition.

Also included is a hands-free Bluetooth system that accesses your phone’s contact list. Instrumentation includes clear gauges rimmed in a hue of phosphorescent blue.

Under the hood is a 3.7 liter V6 that pumps out 300 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. Power is laid down via Acura’s so-called Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, which directs torque not only front to back, but side to side. The Sport package adds an Active Damper System that uses magneto-rheological fluid dampers that stiffen or soften the shocks in as little as .005 seconds. Sport and comfort settings can be selected with a switch.

In the Driver's Seat

MDX is graced with supple leather and simulated but convincing Koa wood grain that complements the techy interior touches. The button-intensive center stack reflects the staggering amount of gizmos available on the MDX. The 8” screen is home base for many of those features, which include a rearview camera-equipped navigation system that offers Zagat Survey information and color-coded real-time traffic.

Though it’s rated for seven passengers, the third row seating is only appropriate for the vertically challenged. But the main cabin is spacious, balancing contemporary design with comfort, and the seats are supportive during hard cornering, with 10-way adjustability for the driver and 8-way adjustability for the passenger.

Cool storage options include a bin on the right side of the transmission tunnel, and a neat rollaway aluminum piece next to the shifter that reveals cupholders. Though interior materials are generally plush, there are a few small plasticky bits that detract from the otherwise high quality cockpit. The third row seating folds down to enable up to 83.5 cubic feet of storage, and a total of 10 cupholders round out the MDX’s road trip-friendly interior.

The Entertainment package includes a 9”, flip-down screen for rear passengers. The system includes Dolby Digital audio, two wireless headphones, three audio jacks, and a rear 110-volt AC power outlet. Rounding out this package is a power liftgate and heated second row seats, with controls on the rear center console, which also feature climate control buttons.

On the Road

The 2008 Acura MDX sits lower and wider than the previous generation, and boasts the most powerful Acura engine ever—though that claim has since been eclipsed by the 2009 Acura TL, which bests the MDX’s horsepower figure by five.

Though the MDX feels large and imposing from the driver’s seat (and quite a bit heftier than the original MDX, which debuted as a 2001 model year vehicle), that doesn’t prevent it from feeling sleek at speed. Even though this sport ute tips the scales at over 4,500 lbs, bury the pedal and the MDX hustles eagerly down the road—which I experienced when I drove it on a 772 mile roundtrip excursion from Los Angeles to Half Moon Bay.

On the road, that low, wide stance gave it a sense of authority and excellent grip as it traversed the twisting sections of Highway 1 and the high-speed stretches of the 101. Ride quality was smooth, especially when “comfort” was selected, which gave it an almost wallowy cushiness. The five-speed transmission did a commendable job of choosing the right gear, and the cabin was quiet and comfortable—exactly the types of qualities you look for long distance hauls. With light luggage laid out on the rear seats, there was enough room behind the third row for two large boxes of books and motorcycle boots.

Journey's End

If there was any disappointment to the road tripping experience, it was the fact that our 2008 Acura MDX shared the highway with lots of other MDXs, hardly making it the unique motoring statement once enjoyed by early adopters like my sister.

The MDX is Acura’s best-selling model, and for good reason; it strikes a solid balance between SUV utility and sedan-inspired driving qualities, lending it crossover-like characteristics that don’t skimp on functionality. Wider than the BMW X5 and longer than the Porsche Cayenne, the MDX may have lost some of the lithe proportions that characterized its first iteration, but for growing families this sport ute delivers a satisfying combination of luxury and utility—enough to keep it at the top of any premium SUV buyer’s shopping list.

WHO SHOULD BUY THIS SUV?

Progressive, style-savvy drivers who crave decent performance and techy features but don’t want to spend Porsche bucks on a premium SUV.