Acura MDX vs Cadillac SRX - Lexus RX Killers In The Making?

Another year, another gold star for the Lexus RX, the midsize luxury SUV sales valedictorian. Solid interior. Solid reliability. Solid performance. Ho hum. Enough about Goody Two-shoes.

Let’s talk about the brash wannabes.

The Cadillac SRX and Acura MDX — Nos. 2 and 3 with 56,000 and 53,000 in sales, respectively — are rungs below the RX’s staggering 100,000-plus sales score. But with their distinct looks, earth-pawing power, and loaded interiors, these two outsiders are turning heads.

The wannabes can be quirky, sure — especially in the navigation screen department — but Lexus has also veered from plain Jane fashion with its polarizing, inverted-trapezoid upper and lower grilles (now that’s a mouthful). It has not dissuaded buyers, but the pinched-cheek look is an opening for the far prettier faces of Caddy and Acura, especially if their performance features rival the teacher’s pet. And often, they do.
 

Mason3Robert - 2/6/2014 4:15:38 PM

+6 Boost

Can someone PLEASE provide 009 with another topic, besides Lexus/Toyota? He's proven his ability to wear out and beat the hell out of a topic..Funny thing is ToyoLex isn't his favorite, just the opposite, but yet that's ALL he talks about....

Thanks,

Management

knowitall1985 - 2/6/2014 6:37:35 PM

+5 Boost

The caddy is a POS, the 50k people who bought one will change next time. The MDX is a good vehicle.....

MattDarringer - 2/6/2014 8:06:43 PM

-3 Boost

The MDX looks like it got in a wreck and was put back together haphazardly. While it hides the Honda Pilot better than the ILX hides the Civic and much better than the RLX hides the Accord, it simply is not that attractive. The SRX looks better in pictures than in person but I could not bring myself to buy a Cadillac Equinox. The Lexus is hard to beat, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee DOES and they ARE cross shopped. Now factor in the sales of the hot selling Cherokee which bookends the RX with the Grand Cherokee and Jeep is the success story in the near-premium/premium SUV/Crossover wars.

cidflekken - 2/7/2014 12:32:23 AM

+3 Boost

You really can't include the JGC in this category. The large majority of JGCs sold are the Laredos which start below $30k. That is NOT premium or even near-premium for an SUV.

That being said, the MDX isn't your mother's pick for a prom date, but it isn't ugly either. It certainly looks alot better than the Infiniti Qwhatever the JX is now.

The SRX needs an update, ASAP. Cadillac can only use the "best interior of any premium SUV in 2012" selling point for so long.

I think the RX is always going to be a tough one to beat. It's perfectly sized for empty-nest couples who want something luxurious and capacious with AWD, but not overly large. Its entry price is very attractive and its styling is actually my favorite of almost any luxury SUV today. It's really hard to argue its success.

MattDarringer - 2/7/2014 8:48:32 AM

-3 Boost

You ABSOLUTELY CAN include the Jeep Grand Cherokee AND the Cherokee because (1) American cross shop on PRICE much more than on type of vehicle and (2) Jeep has a huge premium owner base. Know your demographics before you give opinion as fact.

cidflekken - 2/7/2014 3:51:48 PM

+2 Boost

LOL. Your own rationale doesn't support your own argument. If Americans truly shopped on price, which they do, then they WOULDN'T cross shop a $30k JGC Laredo or a $20k Cherokee with a $45k SRX/RX/MDX. Maybe you need to understand your own (lack of) logic before telling ANYONE to "know (their) demographics". If YOU truly understood your demographics, you'd understand that buyers DO, in fact, cross shop based on vehicle type…and within a similar price range. Again, back to your (lack of) logic, your argument basically says that a family of 5 is going to cross shop a Corvette with an MDX (ode to aaronmmt for that). Stupid.

leej - 2/9/2014 4:36:46 PM

+4 Boost

I cannot imagine who would cross-shop any Jeep in with this group. Even the Caddy for that matter...an old design that needs updating desperately.