2020 Acura MDX

Most Acuras are more luxurious and higher-priced versions of vehicles made by Honda, its parent company, similar to Lexus and Toyota or Infiniti and Nissan. In Acura’s case, the formula usually works well. Its sedans and SUVs have earned Consumer Reports’ recommendations for cabin comfort, handling, above-average reliability, and engines with smooth power delivery. Like Honda, Acura’s lineup is mainly SUVs, but includes some sedans. The Integra is an upgraded version of the Honda Civic, and competes with the most affordable vehicles from manufacturers like Audi and BMW. The TLX is similar, but slightly larger and more expensive. Acura’s SUVs range from midsized and three-row down to compact and two-row. Across the lineup, fuel economy is usually average. Despite Honda’s success with the technology, Acura sells no hybrids. For both new and used, reliability can vary between models, but the better options often near the top of our rankings.

With its redesign for the 2014 model year, this generation of the Acura MDX lost its sporty edge and sharp steering, although it did make big strides in comfort. The ride became more absorbent and road noise was drastically reduced, which resulted in a quieter interior. Fuel economy from the 3.5-liter V6 was a big improvement over the previous 3.7-liter, jumping three mpg to 20 mpg overall. Inside, the seats are comfortable and the interior is roomy, but the controls can be overwhelming at first and Acura's dual-screen infotainment system can be confusing to navigate. The second row folds and slides forward with just the push of a button, a very clever feature. Various levels of the optional AcuraWatch safety package add forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot warning. A version with the Technology package will deliver the best combination of safety equipment and comfort features.

Acura continued to tweak the third generation of their popular three-row crossover SUV, with the 2016 model year bringing a new nine-speed automatic transmission. However, it didn’t always shift smoothly and the pushbutton gear selector is annoying to use. Still, we saw a small bump in our fuel-economy tests, up to 21 mpg overall. In 2017 the AcuraWatch suite of safety equipment, which included forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, was made standard. A hybrid model was also added. The MDX’s interior remained quiet and the absorbent ride makes the MDX a pleasant highway cruiser, but handling isn't particularly sharp. Note though that some desirable features, like second row bucket seats and a surround-view camera system, are reserved for the top-trim Advance model.