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Why (Not) the Acura MDX?

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TrueDelta's "Why (Not) This Car?" reviews of the Acura MDX, posted by owners, focus on the information most sought by many car buyers: the reasons to buy (or not buy) the Acura MDX compared to other car models.

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Comparisons: Acura MDX Preferred

Toyota Highlander: Reasons not to buy
Interior styling: 3rd row seat is full bench seat and individual side can not be raised or lowered independently.
Cargo capacity & towing: 3rd row seat is full bench seat and individual side can not be raised or lowered independently. Limits cargo capacity when up.
Price or payments: Over priced because was new model at time I was looking. Configured with unwanted trim and features vs competition.
Available features: 3rd row seating.
Rear seat room & comfort: 3rd row seat is full bench seat and individual side can not be raised or lowered independently. Access and available room much less than MDX.
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Acura MDX: Reasons to buy
Price or payments: Yes, I did until they gave $4K incentive right now
Powertrain performance: It fits
Fuel economy: can be better
Reliability & durability: Initial fit is not there
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Audi Q7: Reasons not to buy
Reliability & durability: Not good based on reputation
Price or payments: Over priced
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Acura MDX: Reasons to buy
Price or payments: Good value for a mid-sized luxury SUV
Past personal experience: We've owned 6 Acuras between my wife and I, and all were dead-reliable, even up to 165K miles!
Cargo capacity & towing: Well thought out, convenient features
Quietness: Significantly quieter than the Q7, particularly under acceleration.
Powertrain performance: Powerful, refined, relaxed engine
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Audi Q7: Reasons not to buy
Price or payments: Pricey in comparison with the MDX and also the Mazda CX9, which we also considered
Quietness: Noisy powertrain, particularly under acceleration.
Insurance & depreciation: Audis have typically depreciated more than some other luxury brands. I don't think that this is justified, given the quality of the vehicles today, but it's reality.
Reliability & durability: More niggling problems with our Audis, though we love driving them.
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Acura MDX: Reasons to buy
Exterior styling: Has an agressive wide stance
Quietness: Very quiet cabin
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Comparisons: Acura MDX Not Preferred

Mazda CX-9: Reasons to buy
Exterior styling: It looks sporty and modern, but not too flashy
Handling: So smooth, No body roll into tight, fast corners. Handles like a smaller car. Responsive steering
Driving position & visibility: very comfortable. Seat is so adjustable, steering wheel tilts and telescopes. Rear pillars do not hinder rear visibility
Powertrain performance: Responsive transmission always keeps car in perfect gear. Excellent passing power, response at highway speeds. Smooth power uptake
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Acura MDX: Reasons not to buy
Exterior styling: Front grill is too busy
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Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: Reasons to buy
Exterior styling: Aggressive, bold styling
Handling: Superb handling and ride for such a large vehicle
Rear seat room & comfort: Excellent, usable 3rd row seating
Fuel economy: Diesel provides 25 MPG on the highway
Safety & braking: Excellent safety features
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Acura MDX: Reasons not to buy
Rear seat room & comfort: Claustrophic, unusable 3rd row, with immovable knee-wall
Fuel economy: Gas engine does not achieve excellent mileage diesels provide
Exterior styling: Bland, ho-hum styling
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Volkswagen Rabbit: Reasons to buy
Cargo capacity & towing: Folding the rear seats opens up over 40 cubic feet of rear space. The front passenger seat also folds down enabling me to put my 68" long road bike in whole.
Price or payments: You can't beat it for around $20,000.
Fuel economy: Not the best for a compact vehicle, but coming from a BMW 545i which got me 21 mpg using premium fuel, the Rabbit's 24 mpg using regular fuel sounds wonderful.
Available features: For $20,000 you get 10 speaker stereo, lumbar support(a bit weak, I admit)for both driver and front passenger, tiptronic transmission, engine immobilization security, 4 years free road side assistance, brake pad wear indicator and tire pressure monitor.
Handling: Has a 36 foot turning circle! Tight steering, great brakes. 5 cylinder engine is a lot of fun.
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Acura MDX: Reasons not to buy
Driving position & visibility: Too many blind spots.
Price or payments: They should make leases more affordable.
Fuel economy: Gets only 17-18 mpg.
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Acura RDX: Reasons to buy
Handling: Very firm, sports car like
Powertrain performance: More than enough power....impressive for a 4 cyl
Exterior styling: Very modern
Materials & workmanship: quiet, no rattles, nice materials
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Honda Pilot: Reasons to buy
Cargo capacity & towing: 3rd row split seats. Not available in Highlander.
Price or payments: with the knee jerk reaction against SUVs in US made many SUVs affordable. Pilot was unfairly clubbed clubbed with all the gas guzzlers and that made some very good deals possible.
Fuel economy: best in its class. Highlander gives better mileage buts its NOT a 8 seater.
Safety & braking: best in its class ( tahoe, subbarban , explorer , expadition , navigator etc)
Rear seat room & comfort: all 8 are comfortable.
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Acura MDX: Reasons not to buy
Fuel economy: MDX:lower mileage + premium fuel + Seven Seats Pilot: better milage + regular fuel +8 seats
Rear seat room & comfort: ver small rear seat compared to pilot.
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Single Vehicle Reviews: Acura MDX Pros and Cons

Acura MDX: Reasons to buy
Handling: Handles like a car, not an SUV
Powertrain performance: Powerful engine. Lots of reserve on tap when you need it.
Safety & braking: Handles well with SHAWD
Materials & workmanship: Good fit and finish.
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Acura MDX: Reasons to buy
Brand reputation & image: Bought MDX for its 4 wheel drive, especially the much touted super handling system. MDX provides good value for all the options which came with the vehicle. Acura name provides high end brand name.
Available features: All the safety features, including ABS, traction control, stability control, etc, etc
Exterior styling: Aggresive and macho loking look.
Interior styling: Great comfort with the heated seats, roof, well layout control buttons, etc
Safety & braking: Superb handling and great braking stops.
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Acura MDX: Reasons to buy
Handling: SH-AWD sticks to the road like glue, even when wet or snowy. Minimal body roll in turns, sporty suspension does a reasonable job soaking up the bumps without detaching you from the road.
Front seat comfort: It was the most comfortable of the vehicles we tested, including the Volvo XC90, Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited, and Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring. Soft leather, supportive seats.
Audio & nav systems: The tech package is full of features such as a 6-disc DVD MP3/WMV changer, solar GPS-linked temperature controls, 3 zone climate, and voice activation of many features.
Brand reputation & image: It's an excellent mix of reliability, performance, and luxury
Available features: There's a plethora of useful features, particularly focused around handling and technology.
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Acura MDX: Reasons not to buy
Fuel economy: I have yet to see 15 city/20 hwy, even with 12k on the odometer and not driving it hard. 13/18 is more like it.
Price or payments: A similarly equipped Mazda CX-9 was $4,500 less.
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Acura MDX: Reasons to buy
Reliability & durability: trouble free operation over time
Available features: technological tour de force
Brand reputation & image: top rated image for reliability and acura is a premium brand with great resale, comparatively speaking
Exterior styling: clean, modern and powerful
Handling: super handling all wheel drive
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Acura MDX: Reasons to buy
Handling: Rides on a rail.
Exterior styling: Smooth flowing liones, rear break light styling. Edgy.
Powertrain performance: Acceleration
Interior styling: Aggressive yet technical.
Audio & nav systems: Best in class
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Acura MDX: Reasons not to buy
Cargo capacity & towing: Little cargo room with three seats up
Rear seat room & comfort: Leg room in far back seat to little.
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