Home » Car Reviews » Acura » Acura MDX » 2005 Acura MDX Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
2005 Acura MDX Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
MDX combines quality, comfort, and value
Jump to page: 1 | 2
New Car Overview of the 2005 Acura MDX Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
Base MSRP Range: $36,900-$43,975
Base Invoice Range: $33,242-$39,610
Options & Features
Price Quote
New Car Prices
Used Car Prices
Payment Calculator
Rebates & Incentives
Trade In Values
Find A Dealer
Financing
Insurance Rates
Sell Your Car
MSRP As Tested: Not Available
Versions: MDX
Vehicle Category: Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: All-Wheel Drive.
Standard Engine: 3.5-liter , Single Overhead Cam,VTEC 60-degree, 24-valves, V-6 265 -horsepower at 5800 rpm and 253 lb-ft torque at 3500 rpm.
Transmission: 5-speed automatic, with Grade Logic Control.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 17/23 MPG.
Standard Safety Features: Driver and passenger airbags, Front side airbags, Tire pressure monitoring system, Curtain side airbags, Dynamic stability control , Four-wheel anti-lock brake system, Tire-pressure monitor, Antiskid system.
Competition: BMW X5, Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Lexus RX, Linclon Aviator, Murcury Mountaineer, Nissan Murano, Saab 9-7, Volvo XC90
Review
I've always liked driving Acuras. There's something about the way they mix precision, comfort and value that makes them a perfect compromise â€' a step above ordinary cars, but not so expensive and outlandish as to make you feel guilty.
Of course, some people say Acuras are nothing but overpriced Hondas. I say that's rubbish. It's like calling a Porsche an overpriced Volkswagen or a Mercedes an overpriced taxicab with leather seats. Anybody who's driven the two knows there's a big difference.
Case in point: the Acura MDX.
Acura's mid-size SUV has all the plebian trappings of an ordinary SUV, at least on the surface. It's got seven seats, a healthy size cargo area, good-looking body and smooth ride -- the same basic features families have demanded for a decade. There's nothing particularly groundbreaking here, as a zillion other SUVs offer a similar look and layout.
But what hides just beneath the surface makes the Acura more appealing than its competition.
For starters, the way it drives inspires more confidence on the road than almost any SUV, except for the hyper-performing Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5, both of which cost a whole lot more than the Acura.
Like the German super-haulers, the MDX was clearly designed more for high-speed performance than off-road toughness. It hugs the road in corners, sticking to the asphalt better than its beefy size and tall profile would suggest, and its independent suspension seems almost sporty in its quick response and car-like manners. It's very predictable, lacking the bounciness and uncomfortable swaying that make many SUVs feel awkward in highway traffic.
It's really fun -- at least as much fun as you could expect an SUV to be -- thanks to its good, solid brakes and precise steering, both of which build the driver's confidence. You're tempted to push it harder than most SUVs, relying on later braking and more nimble lane changes than you ever would in, say, a Ford Explorer.
In fact, the entire vehicle has a feeling of solidity and quality that's hard to find in the competition. It's built like a tank, but it's still light on its feet.
This sense of quality and precision is also evident in the cabin, where tight fitting panels, solid-feeling knobs and soft, supple materials emphasize the fact that this SUV is engineered and built to a higher standard. There's nothing too flashy or ostentatious -- no huge swathes of chrome or Bentley-like expanses of wood trim -- but it seems upscale at the same time, just enough to make you feel comfortable without getting that "I pitty the little people" sensation of a super-high-end luxury car. It's a good, reasonable balance between practicality and opulance.
After improving the MDX's styling in 2004, Acura focused its attention on the interior for 2005. Changes include making XM Satellite Radio standard on all models and making the optional navigation system faster and more comprehensive. Also, models equipped with the rear-seat DVD player now come with an in-dash, six-disc CD changer as opposed to the under-seat changer with 2004 models.
Jump to page: 1 | 2
