Vehicle: 2006 Acura MDX with Tech Pkg
Price as tested: CDN$58630

Performance: The MDX is powered by only one engine. A superb 3.5L SOHC VTEC V6 that is good for 253hp. Power is never an issue with this motor as it has equally impressive torque: 250 lb/ft of torque at 3500rpm. Since this engine is designed for a soft-roader, you won’t feel any of the VTEC kicks-in aura as in other Honda VTEC engines. The result is any engine that is silky smooth and extremely refined at every rev range. Throttle response is quick and linear. Just like the rest of the car, throttle has substantial feel that is more in-line with European car than other Japanese rivals. The standard 5-speed automatic works flawlessly with this motor. The gear ratios are smart and well-spaced. It runs at 100 km/h just at barely 2500rpm which would help the fuel economy enomously in the long journey.

Handling: If you find RX too softly sprung and FX has too much roughes around the edges, MDX has to be the best compromise. While it handling is solid and sporty, its ride quality is sublime and supple. It all begins with an excellent chassis and VTM-4 AWD system, which has to be considered as one of the better ones standard in soft-roaders. The steering feels firm and has surprisingly amount of road feel. Combined with the right level of precision on path tracking and responsiveness, MDX’s dynamic abilities really set the benchmark of all Japanese soft-roaders. Given the vehicle of this size and weight, MDX has surprisingly controllable body rolls and understeer. Honda engineers were smart enough to engineered a soft-roader that has a sense of low center of gravity, in order to give driver a great sense of control and feedback through the chassis. There is also an European substantial feel through the steering, chassis and seat that set other Japanese soft-roaders apart; the overall dynamics can easily matched those of the BMW X5.

Brakes: Considered MDX’s close to 2100 kg gloss vehicle weight, its braking performance is another delightful surprise. The stopping distance is surprisingly short. On the other hand, brake pedal feels firm and easily modulated. The best aspect is the ABS never kicks-in unnecessarily even under our frosty traffic condition.

Interior: Slip behind the wheel of an MDX, it got everything you would expect from an Acura. To begin with a nice sets of leather seats, tasteful wood trim and controls that you don’t need to read owner’s manual before figuring out.

Both the 2nd and 3rd row of seats have surprisingly amount of head and legrooms. The 3rd row is easily folded down to carry more cargoes at the back. After you fold down the 3rd row, the amount of cargo space is large enough to carry groceries day-in and day-out. That’s impressive because MDX can be use as both a 7-seater or a 5-seater with plenty of cargo space while on the go.

Conclusion: There are still lots to going for in the Acura MDX even its already been on sale in the market for a couple of years. It got excellent powerplant, handles crisply without losing Acura’s trademark fun-to-drive character with a hints of European substantial feel, comfortable and good value. It remains a standard for others to judged in the soft-roader segment.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2006 ACURA MDX
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Performance: 4.5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4.5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4.5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4.5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 4/5

Overall rating: 4.5/5