I recently bought one of these for my wife. I thought her and her boyfriend would enjoy its motorsport inspired power, suspension, and chassis tuning; they just like all the space they have in the second row. Either way though, I feel good I could give them something they both like.
Lmao at all the people in the comments who don’t get the old school Savagegeese humor. Guys, it’s a joke, it’s been a running joke on this channel to make these kinds of jokes in the comments for a while now.
Thanks for covering the audio system comparison, this is an important aspect for choosing a luxury vehicle in this segment. Not sure why more channels aren't covering it.
@@savagegeese Thanks for taking the time to respond. For smaller channels it's understandable, it's quite surprising though no bigger channel does this either besides you. I'm going to Yuri and Jacob's car meet this Friday and I'm going to tell them the Goose will puck their eyes out if they don't start doing this.
@@savagegeese Are there specific songs that you play to test/benchmark an audio system? I get in and out of a lot of cars, as a part of my business and I use Dream Theater's Metropolitan Part 1. So far, I haven't seen an audio system that is better than last generation Jaguar XJ's 1800W Meridian system. The midrange speakers and internal acoustics is just phenomenal.
Ever since I found your channel I can’t help but watch videos even for cars I won’t be buying. Very intelligent and educational presentation. Each review has carry over knowledge
Drove mine from San Diego to LAX and back this past Saturday. Was traffic most of the way up, and pretty clear most of the way back. I never in my life have driven anything that smooth for an extended drive…. The seat massaging controls maintained my comfort, and the quiet cabin made conversation a breeze.. I didn’t get the best fuel economy but I hauled 5 people comfortably plus a ton of luggage and I had zero fatigue when we got home. Definitely satisfied with this big boat!
Savage geese has Acura’s pegged. A lot of those in the reviewer space were hopeful for much more aggressive, sporting Acura’s (in part thanks to Acura’s flawed marketing) and more so criticize the cars for what they didn’t do. Mark and Jack review them first as luxury marks, and it honestly has helped me see this latest generation of Acura car’s as much more appealing.
Based on seeing RX in person its nice but it does not feel like a Luxury car to me. While you could argue the 4 cylinder only problem (RX) it does address fuel economy concerns.
@@savagegeese please don’t drive the new RX. It already got destroyed by everything else without even trying. that’s how bad the RX is. I would much rather you drive the gv80 10 times over and over again because it’s so good to the point where Lexus can redesign the RX 15 times and still fail to compete with the current gv80
Long-time watcher here. The video quality of this one stood out! Great dive into the interior with comparisons to other SUVs (with pictures), beautiful drone shots and cinematography overall, and, of course, walking away with a ton of knowledge on the car that other channels don’t/can’t provide.
Agreed, I was marveling at how Mark addressed each point I was thinking about the car before I could formulate the question. One of the better reviews SG has done. Mad props.
I have a Type-S Ultra (same as Advance in the US), love it. I agree with your critiques, especially the piano black on the interior. I considered an X7 and other 7 passenger SUV's but I feel this is the best value for dollar out there and love Acura's reliability. Fuel economy isn't great but that wasn't a concern when considering a performance SUV. I have a sports car for the summer but need a big SUV for the family. Having to drive a big SUV, this gives me the performance that I want in a daily.
@Yes Sir Acura’s in general are know for reliability. I’ve owned 3 other MDX’s and 2 TL’s over the last 10 years and all of them were very reliable and I never had an issue with one of them.
@@nickns23659 The MDX isn't in the same class as an X7 M50i or the Alpina. Your talking 523 horsepower and 600 horsepower, respectively, not too mention, those 2 models are over 40k more. Not an apples to apples comparison. Keep dreaming.
@@speakingtruths4215 who said they were the same? If anything you’d compare the X7 40i, not the M50i or Alpina as they are significantly more money and better featured. Comparing the MDX Type-S to the X7 M50i is like comparing a TLX Type-S to an M3 Competition, there is no comparison but that M3 costs you 40% more. My point is that the MDX Type-S is one of the best values out there. It’s not a better vehicle than an X7 M50i but the X7 M50i premium price above the Type-S is not worth it unless you absolutely require that additional power.
@Yes Sir they’re one of the most reliable car manufacturers. Honda products are known for the dependability. I’m sure this car will be the same. They aren’t doing anything insane with design. It’s new for them but nothing crazy
I'm not sure if there is some disconnect here. The MDX S is a 3 row SUV with a usable 3 row. The Genesis GV80, Merc GLE and BMW X5 are not 3 Row vehicles, thats why they are not mentioned.
I respectfully disagree the mdx is an emergency 3 row vehicle. That last row is not tahoe or sienna big. It is for small kids under 5 years old. However kids dont stay 5.
@@bigcjm X7, Telluride, Q7, Sienna, MDX are not truck based body on frame vehicles, Tahoe, Escalade etc are different segments. The Luxury 3 Row SUV unibody segment is a compromised but skewed to add luxury car ride and isolation and in more extreme cases like SQ7 and X7 m50/60 crazy performance. With tow packages you are also adding 7500lb plus which Sienna, etc cant do because its not on a RWD platform.
I have to say, I really enjoy your videos. You guys and maybe Alex on Autos are the only ones giving real, practical information. I love the sound system testing y’all do. No one else seems to be doing that. Watching you guys makes me feel like I’m watching a show on TV with the production value and not a RU-vid video. Keep it up!
An Acura owner of a 2007 RDX who has been contemplating of getting an X5. Your video made me look at an MDX Type-S in earnest. Bravo. Greatly appreciate this video.
Just keep your current car. There's a lot of economic uncertainty ahead; invest your money instead of pissing it down the drain on something that offers only superficial benefits over your current car.
@@MrVuTran Looks like he appreciates reliability. It's a car, not a shirt so trying a $70K car just because, it's not wise. If he's happy with the old RDX, should love the new one without having to worry if it's gonna break down in 4 or 5 years and losing resale value like a mf, like the other option he's contemplating.
our family has an expedition platinum for the very same reason. the massaging quilted leather and brushed aluminum trim pieces make it a very classy experience, and we never run out of room
Great review. I really do agree with the interior space. Spending $70k on something and getting exposed cheap plastics on the top of the door cards and the dash is really a downer. It could be a $1000 package and well worth it. However, knowing how Honda works with not really offering packages and a get what you get model line is how they play. The fact that you get a pretty much loaded car and don't have to play the options game like the Germans do is a pro in my opinion. So this could be the sacrifice for that. Regarding the gas mileage, it is a bit of a bummer, but if you're spending $5k-$20K less than the competition the gas savings could be the the upfront costs. Because unless you are a traveling salesperson it will take quite a bit of time to make up the cost difference compared to the Germans. Also another huge factor is the expected reliability. Let's face it I know the X5 and the GLE have had some really trash reliable models. Not sure about the X7 or the GLS, but again German brands are known to be disposable shit boxes after a few years. If you're going to buy something, I think this is the luxury SUV to buy right now; unless the turbo 6 turns out to be a mess.
They're wrong about the X5 price. For 72k you can get an X5 45e plug in hybrid with the executive, m sport and cold climate package, upgraded leather seats and 7500 federal tax credit. MDX should be cheaper.
Acura - to me- is the modern Buick. It’s the brand sensible-minded people choose when they want a luxury car, but don’t value advertising success like German brands do.
@@pnourani You are incorporating the 7500 tax credit into the price of the vehicle. That is a temporary credit that is going away. Sure it can factor into your buying decision, but I wouldn't factor it into the selling price from BMW. If that makes sense.
Kudos to Acura for having physical switches! One thing people don't seem to know about Acura is they're never as good as they're competition (they haven't been since the '90s), but they'll be good at not being the best for many years. Most Volvo and BMW owners are going to hop to the next next flashy thing after a few years, but many Acura owners will keep this for a long time. Acura is for those people that still have some personality. If they didn't, they would have just bought a Lexus instead.
Wassup people! Just wana point out that you can in fact drive the MDX Type S in manual mode. I have a 21' TLX Type S and it works the same... To drive in manual mode you need to press the drive (D/S) button a 2nd time to put it in S. You can confirm it in the digital cluster when the "D" changes to "S". As long as you leave the transmission in "S" you can start changing gears using the paddle shifters. It will only upshift if you rev past 6k rpm, and it will downshift if rpm drops to ~1k, but it still remains in manual mode. The meaty powerband is around 4-6k rpm. Savagegeese awesome work as always 🤙🏼
Here for anyone all hurt about GV80 not being included. Much Like Lexus RX-L they were designed as two row SUVs first. Review the sized of each model and space compiled below. The BMW X7 has 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, 48.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and 90.4 cubic feet with all the rear seats folded. Xc90 There’s 15.8 cubic feet of space behind the available third row, 41.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 85.7 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Audi Q7 has 14.2 cubic feet of space behind the third row. Folding down the third-row seats reveals 35.7 cubic feet. Fold down the second row too, and you’ll find a total of 69.6 cubic feet of space. The MDX provides 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, 39.1 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down, and 71.4 cubes with the second and third rows folded down. Mercedes GLS 450 has 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Behind the second row, there's between 42.7 and 48.7 cubic feet, depending on the position of the second-row seats. Folding down both the second and third rows will give you 84.7 cubic feet. Gv80 Has 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, Behind the secone row is 33.9. Folding down all seats gets 84 cubic feet of space. The Kia Telluride has 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind its third row, 46 cubic feet with those seats folded down, and 87 cubic feet with all the rear seats folded. Highlander There's 16 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row, and 84.3 cubic feet behind the first row. Durango There's 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.3 cubic feet with these seats folded, and 85.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. Honda Pilot has up to 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind its third-row seats. There's up to 55.9 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 109.2 cubic feet behind the front seats. The Carnival provides 40.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, 86.9 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and 145.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded down.
So that's your justification...that this was designed from the ground up as a 3rd row? You think shoppers are going to say, "I want a 3-row luxury SUV...let me know what's out there for $70k. Oh, the Genesis wasn't designed from the ground up as a 3-row, let's not look at that as an option". That's such a cop out answer...
It's kinda pointless as you well know yourself that the 3rd row in these SUVs is a joke, regardless of whichever you take. Unless it's a barn on wheels or a minivan, the only ones that can fit there would be small kids and you don't want your kids sitting there when getting rear-ended by a truck. It's all a marketing fluff, pretending to be more usable while 98.7% won't ever use the 3rd row.
@@rosgoncharuk2403 So true...but of course Geezer would never admit this...has to try and save face. Absolutely disgusting and I expected way better...
I just had this car on demo last week (review coming soon) and I 100% agree with you on the suspension. The new air ride is by far one of the best features of this new MDX Type-S.
Great package by Acura. I had a 2007 (Gen 2) MDX for 7 years and it was the most reliable car I've ever owned, and also the cheapest to own given that I paid very low cost for it (Tech Package) and got an insane amount 7 years and 100k plus miles later. The Gen 3 MDX was a disappointment to me is that it went in Acura's "Luxury" focus and took a lot of what I loved about the Gen 2 and removed it. Ride got softer, SHAWD wasn't as aggressive, transmission got lazier. The engine got even lazier. It looks like the Type S heads back in the direction of the original MDX and Gen 2 did. The Turbo engine likely makes the car a bit more "around town" friendly given it gives you torque without having to rev the hell out of it. I'm sure SHAWD really rocks now. It was good 10 years ago, can't imagine it now. The infotainment is a killer. I spent a week with an RDX last year and man, it is just horrible. And this is someone who owned a Lexus with the mouse pad tracker. UGH. Get rid of it, Acura, and get rid of that huge driving mode switch in the middle of everything.
Always happy to see a video from you guys. They are always gold, the amount if work that goes into it is noticeable and appreciated. No idea how you pump these out.
I am new to this Chanel. I usually don't watch american car reviews and test drives due to lack of information and weak attention to details especially to a technical data. I am amazed with this detailed professional review. Simply the best on US RU-vid. 10 out of 10. Subscribed.
My wife gets about 16mpg in her A-Spec, which is a lot of around town stuff. Yes, gas is expensive, but so it time and with the small tank we are spending too much time at the pump. We barely get 250 miles out of a tank. Besides this, we dumped our 2020 XC90 due to all the issues and while this MDX has been better in 8000 miles, we have still had a few issues (new trans at 3k miles) and various warning lights that tell us to stop driving the car or reduce speed. We took it to the dealer, no stored codes… How can I keep my family in a car that has issues like this that cannot be resolved. Pro’s - we do like the lay out and functionality far better than our Volvo. That AWD system is pretty impressive as well. Great video guys and loved the little updates to your graphics. Nice and subtle way to keep your videos fresh. All the best
@@ranmas2004 yep @ 3300 miles. Then this last April my wife was going 80 on the highway on a 65 degree day the car said the trans was overheating and to slow down. Did it twice that day. No stored codes so the dealer could not find anything. Ridiculous.
@@clubracer6 sad to hear I'm a huge honda fan because of thier reliability. Hopefully its nothing major. Im surprised especially the trans was built in house.
These don't seem out of the ordinary for post-2016 Hondas. I was hoping the 10 speed would be better than the ZF pile, especially since it should have gotten early build issues out of the way in the completely facepalm quality current Odyssey (body leaks, major infotainment fails, keyless start fails... why not use it as a new trans testbed?), but it seems to have its own non-build issues. Honda is becoming just as lease-queen as the Germans.
Disclaimer, I presently have a 2020 MDX Advanced, I have had eight Acura's with three being the MDX model. MDX is truly a great value for the consumer in my opinion. Thanks for a great review.
Road & Track and Edmunds got it wrong and you guys nailed it. Type S 1,000% best trim to buy value wise. What you get for the extra money is well worth it. I suspect resale will also be much better too as many dealers don’t even have 1, but have a 30+ other trims! Supply vs demand. Thanks for convincing me via your video to get this trim!
I've had a 40i x5 since 2019 and it still blows me away at its handling capabilities for a 5000lb machine. But that comes at a price, in comfort mode it's still stiff. If this car can do both well then it's worth every cent.
Test drove an X5 on a company race track, and liked it a lot. Surprising to hear that it is stiff even in comfort modes. Thanks for sharing- def. gonna check out the MDX Type-S alongside the X5 45e.
I love German cars for their ride but for a daily no thanks. Years ago I jumped from an X5 4.4 which was incredible to drive but was a POS into a Honda Pilot. I just sold it w over 200k flawless miles. During that time I had a 650 convertible then a 911 as my toy. Picked up a Type S recently for my daily and it mixes enough of the boy racer and reliability that I can more than live with. The blue reminds me of my father’s old Alfa Romeo spider. All in all the Type S checks off almost every box and gives you Honda reliability along w easy on the pocket maintenance.
I challenge some of your comments as opinion, and not fact. Both X5 and X7 22 and 23 custom build all box checked only offers up to 12 way seats. The type S is standard 16 way adjustable. The non upgraded bmw seats x7 at $90k+ is 10 way. To not turn this into a book there were five other examples that were this off as this is fact. You guys do make top content though. Full disclosure I have use access to a 22 Q7 my dad has a 22 x5 max build order and I have 23 type s advance.
Just recently bought a 2023 MDX with technology, and I’m not gonna beat around the bush the type S model was incredibly uncomfortable. If you want your SUV to feel like you’re driving around in a sports car and this is the vehicle for you. My wife and I ended up going with the standard MDX and it’s incredibly comfortable and I think that’s what most people want.
@@savagegeese Damn, that's irritating on Audi's part. If I lived closer to Chicagoland, I'd loan you my '21 SQ7 for a couple days to drive like a hooligan and make fun of... But alas, your in the mid west and I'm in the north east.
One thing is certain, it will be much much, much, much more reliable than crappy BMW or Audi! Ride quality and the directness of the steering are superb! Kudos to Acura!
This is a very good vehicle. My wife and I each have them. Very nice ride with air suspension. Enough acceleration for us. Our previous German SUVs best us up because of the stiff suspensions. They are expensive, but we negotiated good discounts. We hope the reliability and durability leave us with less maintenance expense.
I seriously thought about ordering one of these when they announced them but didn't - partially due to the piano black everywhere. I ended up with a Duramax Yukon cottage and while it's not as sporty I really love it, the controls are fantastic, hard buttons for almost everything you'd use day-to-day. Nothing is perfect, but no piano black, so there is that.
I feel if they cram that Turbo V6 engine in the RDX, they would basically make the MDX and even the TLX type S models obsolete. You get the best of both worlds with that and Acura is in business to sell cars, not cancel out there own cars. Its possible they create a RDX Type S using a tuned up version of the Civic Type R engine. I know it already has a variant of the Type R engine, but using the same exact Type R engine and tune it to like 320-330hp.
Small performance SUV is a very crowded segment and Acura can't compete in (it can't compete in performance sedan or midsize performance SUV segments either, but that's besides the point). Extrapolating Acura's strategy, who will buy an RDX Type S that's priced like X3 M40i and performs slower than the 4-cylinder base Q5?
Maybe they will. That 3L turbo V6 in its current form/tuning is pretty awful tho, I've tried the TLX Type S and was so ridiculously disappointed by its lack of response (lag) and lack of competitiveness in terms of feel/performance/weight with other cars in the segment, it heavy like a pack of bricks doesn't even come remotely close to a BMW M340i in terms of everything except maybe the sweet design. And the fuel economy for something that is inferior in terms of feel and response to the outgoing 3.5L V6 is abysmal
@@JTMoodie2 I’m really hoping they do, nothing has been confirmed yet and they’ve been pretty tight-lipped. It’s such an easy formula to make the RDX Type S as the base RDX is already a lot of fun.
@@JTMoodie2 that should be a no brainer for Acura, but you just never know, they might disappoint. An RDX Type S with the 3.0t would be the best Type S model they make, they would be foolish not to
@@drivescene6747 You're right, considering that the RDX is right between the totally opposite TLX and MDX in terms of class and size.. you would think they'd go the distance with the RDX Type-S.. but I suppose only time will tell
I appreciate how savagegeese treats adapts to the new times. The old tech vs the new tech... They just do what they do. 😅 Much love from Texas. Yeehaw!
Would have liked to test the S-type Thang, as I only demoed the MDX non-sport. In the end, your XC90 videos lead me to the Volvo and I can’t believe I’d be happier with the MDX at any trim level because my spandex road biking ego wouldn’t fit inside the diminishing cargo area of the Acura
Mark. Thank you for finally pronouncing Burmester correctly. I believe it was my comment from many videos back that you may have read that caused this change. Please respond to my comment if that's the case. Love your videos!
@@savagegeese haha. I'm glad to have made such a positive impact in your life! you have made the German people all very happy. I'm just a dude from Canada and wish you all the best with your channel.
Really looking for this because I need more space than my GV70 offers. I hate the piano black interior and the fuel economy but it's checking just about all the other boxes. Tough decision. I like the X5 but driving 20k miles a year kind of puts me off from BMW. Great video thanks. Update: Pulled the trigger on one. Love it (minus the fuel economy). Would love to see a long term update if you all kept this for a bit. Thanks!
I would have bought one of these, but I don’t like the center stack area…….much too busy for me. I like a more clean design……..and obviously too much gloss black plastic.
Great review... I own a 2022 A Spec MDX... love everything about it... BUT... the body roll is unfortunate... the gloss black sucks... and the gas mileage with all seasons is 17.8... snow tires here in Buffalo and I get 15 MPG... fortunately as you mention I can afford the gas... BUT it's not the price that bothers me as much as stopping at the station twice a week to fill up... that's actually worse than the mileage for me as I drive close to 20k miles a year. All in all I'm pleased with it... love the cushy highway ride, space, stereo, the looks... and VALUE. Keep up the great reviews!
Good perspective on interior quality. We had an MDX from two generations ago and loved it, but the next gen jumped up a price level and the interior quality/ design was not great. We went BMW instead. This one looks much more interesting, but you get spoiled by BMW driving dynamics. And hooey to anyone that says BMW reliability is poor. Oil, tires and brakes are all we’ve done. Still looks new inside and out.
My individual anecdotal experience is just that, but JD Power gives a 2016 x3 a 4/5 rating for reliability and a 2016 Acura MDX a 3/5 rating. Look it up. So your own opinion is just that… legit research says otherwise.
Was waiting for this video comparaison. I bought the RDX premium based your video suggesting to go premium. Was so true. Now I know that the same thing will be true for the the MDX type S vs MDX. Thanks for the review.
MDX type S vs. GV80 3.5T all the way down to RDX Advanced vs. GV70 2.5T.... IMO Acura and Genny make 4 of the most compelling options in the market. I would love to see a Rdx type S to compete against the GV70 3.5T. The prices are starting to get a bit insane but that is for all new cars.
I have a type s (not the advance version). It’s been pretty good. Enough power for me, although the power delivery is not great. Comfortable, although not the quietest car I’ve been in. Seats are OK, wish it had better side bolsters. Brakes are grabby for sure but stopping power is good. Lights are great. Infotainment is a pain in the ass. Maybe I’m missing something but every time I have to switch between my wife’s iPhone and mine there’s a ton of menus I need to naviagate. The safety systems are kind of glitchy. The parking sensors seem to have a bit of lag and the lane departure triggers when it shouldn’t.
My husband bought one of these for me to take to work and my boyfriend loves taking it out on the weekend. My bf especially appreciates the sporty stance and ride that causes some jiggles inside the cabin.
In my eyes this competes more with a Genesis GV80. Between the two I would take the Genesis. Get rid of the gloss black interior and I'll reconsider. I get the Acura MDX has air suspension and the Genesis doesn't. But if we are talking subjectively they are nearly identical in suspension comfort. Acura has the lead with the adjustable dampers however.
I believe the GV80 is faster, with better interior. I dont understand why he didnt mention it. Did he simply "forget" the GV80 is available in three rows and is a direct competitor? I feel with his reviews the Koreans ALWAYS take a back seat. I know he has a long history with Honda but still...
You know, I bought a 4runner at the end of February. I really like it. But if I knew gas was gonna be this expensive forever, I would've bought a Ford Maverick loaded, reliability be damned
reliability be damned? I think you'll save more on maintenance owning a 4runner than owning a Maverick. A Maverick will be more expensive as the miles add up due to wear and tear and poor vehicle quality. The Toyota will last far longer and it will last until gas prices start to come down. Gas prices are high, but I guarantee that it will cost more to operate than Ford when it reaches 90-160,000 miles than a Toyota at 90-160,000 miles. The costs would be about the same. Sacraficing reliability for better fuel isn't really a great idea I think. If you are leasing, then own the Ford. If you are buying and plan on keeping it for ten years, then get the Toyota and don't worry about gas prices, because in the long run, your reliability will save you money time and time again
@@colechapman6976 here's the thing, I can buy 2 of them for 1 4runner if they are base models. The gap is too large. That with gas will easily overcome the problems it could have
It’s funny when I first started watching your video I thought you got paid by saying “bowers&Wilkins” Until my mom bought a V90CC with the system. Absolutely astonishing, I took her car for my road-trip to Boston and left her with the explorer. (Branded Sony sucks)
Great review. I am not their profile customer so I would never but this vehicle. If I was going to spend big bucks on an SUV it would be the Macan GTS and have it all.
Good choice. I have a 2017 Macan GTS and love it. I got it with full leather interior with red leather seats. It makes all difference over boring black or tan.
I just completed 1000 mile trip in 2 days with 2020 mdx SH 23mpg with spirited driving and mountain passes in national park. Sound insulation could be better and a high pitch vibration on rough roads. SH is awesome in mountain driving.
@@samuelorellana2603 Yeah, they're trying that with that Passport now. But Honda is simply being stingy by keeping their best motors in the Acura lineup, with the exception of the Civic Type R. I guess if people are willing to pay close to 50k for a Passport Trail Sport they figure they're making enough money without needing to add new engine to complicate things. If nothing else, the Japanese are masters at pragmatism.
@@jeffr6280 right. I'm sure they're testing the waters with that silly decal package and tuff, bronze wheel set for the Ridgeline. Corporate will determine no one wants a Ridgeline Trail Sport based off the 4 sales of that "off-road" themed aesthetic package
I drove one of these in an suv search for the wife. Then I immediately bought an SQ7. FYI the Acura was scratching 80k. Plus with the Audi you get the gorgeous 4L V8. Worth the extra $.
Appreciate the video. I have a jaundiced view of Acura. Way back in 2003 my Dad bought a 1st generation MDX… huge mistake to buy anything the 1st year of production. For the 60,000 miles he drove it: One of the seat heaters died, all the control tabs on the vents broke one by one, the rear AC died, the engine pinged on any grade of fuel, and the steering was so numb that it was worse than a funhouse bumper car. The worst thing all was the subpar dealership experience which made me wonder that a Lexus or Toyota was a better value.
Interestingly, my father STILL has his '03 MDX with 395,000 miles. He's had virtually no problems with it. It's been bulletproof. You better believe he's headed straight to the Acura dealership to pick up a new MDX when the time is right.
I have an 03 MDX and the ONLY thing I can say sucked about it was the trans. Its been replaced ONCE and REBUILT once. The rebuilt one was done 2015 with an external trans cooler and its been fine ever since. STILL it shifts goofy but its a reliable car. All my vent tabs broke off you can buy aftermarket ones to replace. The REAR AC thing is just the little resistor thing for the rear that you need to replace because I've done that. Also my seat heater is dead but I dont care because I live in Atlanta and who cares about heated seats. I never had pinging on gas I put premium in it. I've owned the vehicle since 2006 and its got 174,000 miles on it and still keeps going. Ive replaced maintenance stuff on it; brakes, pads, timing belt, starter, tensioner pulley, battery, change fluids, oil, trans, diff, transfer case on normal intervals and you'll be good. Just got finished driving the thing nearly 3,000 miles 2 round trips to Ohio NO ISSUES and 24mpg on the highway.
Savagegeese, an excellent review of this SUV. I leased a 2022 Acura MDX Advance Non Type S last August. It is a terrific Vehicle - love the exterior / interior redesign, enhanced handling/suspension, the interior Light Show, the new Headlights and rear tailights, and a fantastic ELS Stereo system. MPGs are a disappointment however. The Type S was not avaialbale at that time, and MAYBE I would have Opted in that direction. I am a Shopper !!. Always was for most items I'm looking to purchase. I wen to 3 Acura Dealers (after doing all my homework in advance - reading all the reviews on Line, etc.) and consistent with all the cars that I have leased or purchased in the past 15 years, got 3 different deals!! I was invited by my original dealer for my 2019 MDX Advance to take advantage of an early lease termination "program" which included a $1K Loyalty $$$ form Acura toward a new vehicle. Once I test drove the new MDX (and also the 2021 RDX for comparison), I was Hooked. After goping to the 3rd dealer, who had the best deal and the Fathom Blue Pearl with Gray Leather interior that Caught my eye on a Acura Forum on his lot, I did the deal for a new lease. The made deal - at Curry Acura in Scarsdale NY was the best deal saving me $50 per month on the lease payment AND they threw in 3 Free Oil Changes - which became 4 Free chnages Because the 1st one was on the House as a New Curry Customer. But overall I do agree with your final assessment that This is an excellent choice and value compared to the competiton comparable equipped. I'm 70 yo, retired on a fixed income now, so the gasoline prices are a Killer. As is INFLATION in general.
Great to hear your experience. These are big purchases and you rightly did your due diligence. The thing with economy is, if the vehicle runs great with no issues I don't mind if it uses a little extra fuel. I've got friends buying 3 cylinder motors with good power to save fuel but they have endless issues. I will never drop to engine below 4 cylinders.
You seem to really rave over the air suspension in this video. I once thought that it was great as well, when we bought our 2006 E55 that had the airmatic option. It sure was great at first. After three years, we would enter the garage with the car 'wonky', with one corner lower than the rest, later that year the car would be tilted to one side. After several warranty repairs, and then it being cash out of pocket, the Mercedes sales manager commented to me that "We never recommend that people select the airmatic option unless they are leasing the vehicle". Are you claiming that Acura is going to 'do it better'? Like communism that they just didn't do it right all the other times they tried? Facts are is that quality of components is not going up, they are moving from durability to disposability, and regardless of how well the stereo sounds, its nothing that a competent car stereo shop couldn't beat with that $4000 upgrade budget. Too much praise in this review, too little critique. My $.02
By the way, I have the E55 still, 98K miles, hail damage, new transmission, half-new air suspension for sale if anyone is interested. Boring champagne silver color. No mods ever.
I’ve got the air suspension in my X5, one side failed at 80k miles, took me an hour to replace. New airbags have lifetime warranty. Overall, I can’t complain about the air ride with the X5. Sorry to hear about the Benz, that would become frustrating after a while, especially if you’re not hauling heavy stuff like I do with the X5.
Being able to satisfy my Fiancé/passengers is the definition of Luxury IMO. Things like Duel Climate control. The fact that I can program the sound system to have heavy bass for me, my finance can have something different, and my newborn in the back can have something else is so dope to me
We got an Advance model when they first came out last year, largely based on your review. After a year I still hate the infotainment with a passion, although the wireless android auto makes it a bit better. Cat piss yellow is a good description for that color....WTF? I'm thinking about seeing if they got one at the local dealership and check it out. We just went through the long and drawn out search and the MDX was just the best overall package if you can't bring yourself to spending $70-80K on a 4 wheeled boat.
Can anyone explain why manufacturers are ignoring us when we say we hate gloss black? Is it purely because it looks good when it's brand new without dust or is it mainly to get away with cost savings while pretending it's a good thing? And it's not just Acura doing it. After looking at X3, X5, Q7 and GLE, the GLE is the only interior I can recall that had little or no gloss black.
