SPIED: Acura's Next-Gen MDX SPOTTED Testing With The BMW X5 - What Will It NEED To Stand A Chance Against The BMW?

@Senorgato

There's more to products than lousy comparison tests that award meaningless points for certain elements of a product. Not to mention you actually reference HANDLING as a key differentiator in the SUV/crossover class.

I am pretty sure that the folks purchasing an MDX are NOT concerned about HANDLING. Maybe the fact it is a reasonably priced product -- compared to other options in the market -- that is a part of the Honda family could have something to do with it.

I am glad you voiced your opinion.

But you're still wrong. :)

I work at a car dealership and we trade in MDX's all the time. The customers complain that after 10,000 miles, it just feels cheap. like a glorified honda. that is why they got "trapped" in to buying it. They thought it was a good deal, until they actually took it home for over 6 months. they said they couldnt wait to get out of it ASAP.
all cars are great brand new, but how about after 1 year? Ive driven the MDX to see what the fuss is about and it really does suck in every way. the nav stinks. you cant even operate everything while driving! so pathetic. the steering is too soft and it does not have super handling all wheel drive, more like average handling at best. its a point A to B vehicle. which means you will never love it.

@Senorgato

So?

We're not talking about a business case here. This is a discussion of philosophies of what makes a good product.

The Nissan Altima was one of the top selling products last year; however, strong sales figures DOES NOT make it a good car.

Don't wanna get in the middle of this pissing contest, but really, the MDX as 'an also ran' is just plain wrong. The MDX has a lot more going for it than latch connections (which it does), great handling (so SUV drivers can't appreciate SH-AWD? Which was and still is one of the best torque vectoring systems money can buy), a reasonable price (makes buying a BMW a ridiculous proposition, but then, most badge snobs ARE ridiculous)...

The MDX also is very reliable, pretty smart looking, reasonably roomy, and is filled with nifty little innovative touches through-out. Don't mistake Acura having an X5 along for testing purposes as a sign that it is a better overall vehicle. It might have certain advantages, but be sure to know they come with drawbacks and compromises.

In fact a good product can be identified by how well it can balance compromises - in this regard the MDX is best in class.

This is a dumb article again from Agent00R, no clue about cars. The MDX is an excellent car, in fact we chose it over the X5. The MDX has torque-vectoring AWD and has EXCELLENT handling for what it is, an SUV. A daily driver for my wife and weekend car for the family. I've always been a BMW driver (now a 535i) and prefer the road dynamics of german cars however, the MDX is a very capable and actually good looking car.

you had me up until you called the MDX good looking. I think it drives very well, very similar to the X5, and compared to the X5 has a third row you can actually use occasionally. As far as looks go, though, it looks like Darth Vader's SUV. It is a great value for what it is, but "good looking" isn't one of them.

It NEEDS to not feel Japanese and light weight and cheap in comparison to the BMW product... No denying that German engineered cars feel more substantial and this is something that cannot be said for the Japanese engineered products.

I did not know that both vehicles were aimed at the same market segment but just in case Acura has set it's sights at a higher level then this is what it needs to do;

More Powerful Engines. { Linear Power }
Thicker/ Higher Grade Steel for exterior skin.
Better quality plastics for interior.
Better Design of suspension/ exhaust layout {Should not be able to see the whole thing from the X5 behind}
Thicker Tyres {Width}

Oh year, last but not least.

60 years of german ingenuity, dedication, knowledge & Instinct.
The Japs do things a certain way, the Germans do things differently, we get the benefits of choosing which one we like.

Gutten Tag.................

'The Japs do things a certain way, the Germans do things differently, we get the benefits of choosing which one we like.'

Absolutely! And thank goodness....While I see some merit in some of the above suggestions, being 'more German, less Japanese' is not one of them...

Sayonara...

I bow to your superior wisdom Mr Myagee : )

The X-5 is an out dated POS....

Thank you for that insightful, thoroughly well articulated comment.

You have furthered the debate enormously.

Make the MDX a rear wheel layout SUV, give it wide tires, good breaks and aggressive look, while keeping it's price.

OK who here actually has driven the MDX??

Another 'lousy comparison'

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1204_2013_infiniti_jx35_2012_bmw_x5_2013_lincoln_mkt_and_2012_acura_mdx/features_and_usability.html

Wow! You think if you read enough of these comparisons and most say the same thing, it would mean something...

The Takeaway: Compromise Isn't Bad After All
A luxury crossover must be better than a crossover, and all four delivered luxury, sporting character, and convenience to levels neither the minivan nor the basic sport utility vehicle can reach. But the best luxury crossover must offer the greatest compromise of all three.
The Lincoln MKT is arguably the best car here for passengers, especially second-row passengers who can relax and enjoy the car's entertainment tech and soft ride. It's also an unsightly creature, and neither Lincoln's meager brand cachet nor the MKT's chic interior can outweigh the MKT's baroque styling.
The BMW X5 is a sports car with a cargo cover, and the driving experience gets better the harder you push it. It also has the best badge of the group, by a large margin. But the BMW's third-row seat is an expensive option, its low-speed ride is busy, and its steering is heavy. It is a fantastic sport utility vehicle, but it's not a good three-row luxury crossover.
Stepping out of the X5 and into the Infiniti JX is a journey from one school of thought to another. The X5's purchase price is an investment in enthusiastic driving and a blue-chip brand name; with the Infiniti you purchase top-tier technology and innovative design. But Infiniti clearly invested more capital in safety features and creature comforts than the driving experience, and the JX's techno-wizardry doesn't make up for an unengaging drive.
From the above link:

'Our choice of the four is the Acura MDX. It doesn't boast the prettiest exterior or the classiest interior, and isn't the quickest of the bunch, but it competes well in all categories and blends sportiness, usability, and panache. And that's what defines the three-row luxury crossover.'


Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1204_2013_infiniti_jx35_2012_bmw_x5_2013_lincoln_mkt_and_2012_acura_mdx/viewall.html#ixzz1wEcpaxDj

Disclaimer: My wife's daily driver is a 2011 MDX. My daily driver is a 335i. The current generation MDX is not supposed to be a sports car, but is does blend acceptable performance, an advanced AWD system, a plethora of luxury features, reasonable space/comfort for 1st and 2nd row passengers, a useful 3rd row for short trips, and adequate cargo room with the 3rd row folded down. Like any of the manufacturers, comparison testing with the competition keeps the design and capabilities up to date and sets the bar higher when it comes to meeting certain goals for improvement.

a new chassis. new engine. new transmission. better seats. a new design. handling. and a hell of lot more road presence.