2009 Acura MDX Sport Package and Entertainment Package

Pros

Great handling, lots of amenities, plenty of power

Cons

2rd row & 3rd row access

Purchased As New

Came from a toyota/lexus family & had driven Rx350 & Gx470 before ... also test drove X5, Fx35/50 .. MDX overall came out as the winner with great handling, lots of standard features, plenty of HP if you need them ... the only complaint I have is that you can't adjust the 2nd row seat (forward) and you can only access the 3rd row from the curb side .. now I'm wishing for a sliding door on both sides .. LOL ......read morehide

Pros

Nice handling for a large vehicle, tons of features

Cons

Finish, road noise

Purchased As New

I struggled between this and an Audi Q5. The Q5 was sportier, sexier and nicer IMO but about 5K more comparably loaded and 2 fewer seats. I have had it for about 500 miles now and am satisfied but not thrilled. The engine is smooth, powerful enough with about 17.5 mpg but you ain't going to get to 60 mph in any remarkable manner. Handling is superb for a vehicle of this size, crisp, confident in turns, grips the road. I have the active damping suspension and it handles body roll well, comfort setting on the highways gives a nice floaty ride with no road bumps but does make the vehicle feel a bit like a boat (earlier Town Cars).

The BT phone system works very nicely, crisp and clear. Voice recognition is a beauty. Center console would make a space shuttle pilot proud! I have not felt any engine braking that others have commented on but I have noticed if you are at a speed just above a downshift and you ease off the gas, it shifts down - this may cause the engine braking sensation experienced by others.

For a fully loaded 'luxury' vehicle to not have adaptive headlights, smart keyless ignition or unlocking or even rain sensing wipers is dumbfounded. I am not sure if this is just mine, but the finish in some places is not what I expected of Acura - gap between footstep and the door, slightly unaligned front vent with dash, wipers jerk across the windshield instead of smoothly wiping - I am going to have the dealer look at these.

The ELS sound system is very very nice but to me the subwoofer sounds a bit removed and underpowered - I am comparing it to the Integra receiver and Definitive Technology speakers/woofer I have at home.

It certainly does not make me feel like I am driving a truck, just a largish car with sportish handling....read morehide

Pros

Comfort/handling, fuel economy for the size.

Cons

Confusing controls.

Purchased As New

Make no mistake - it does not handle like a sports car, but considering the size it is impressive. The transmission gears are tuned to save gas and it does a great job delivering the mileage as promised on the sticker, unlike some other cars. When quick acceleration is required the manual shift comes handy.
Controls are kind of busy and take some getting used to. Not only the number of buttons on the console, and especially the steering wheel is ridiculous, the buttons are too flat and very difficult to recognize without looking. To be fair the voice recognition is excellent.
Seats and front visibility are very good; you can drive all day and feel relaxed. Driving at night is easy thanks to the xenon lights. Instruments and info display are easy to read at all conditions but main display could be hard to read on a sunny day. Automatic climate control works well and has a separate panel for the rear passengers.
Nice sound system, kids love rear video with wireless headphones. The second row seats are quite comfortable for two passengers with a nice middle armrest. The third row seats are useful but not easy to access for some people.
There are clearly not enough storage compartments for the driver, there is nowhere to put a cell phone or stuff like coins, the little cubby behind the shifter is ridiculously small and hard to use with the 12v power outlet inside. Luggage space is generous with the third row seats folded, although it is a little bit high to load. Towing capacity is decent at 5000 lbs.
This is a great family vehicle for the families with 2-3 children for the people who doesn?t like minivans and appreciates good handling and towing ability. Also these days it is easy to get a good discount at the dealership....read morehide

Pros

Comfort and safety

Cons

Mileage

Purchased As New

Love this car having traded in a Mercedes SUV to get it. Very roomy and comfortable for long trips. Added a beeper to the rear to help out with the rear blind spots -- makes all the difference and should be standard. Otherwise -- would buy the car again and hope our kids will also choose it for their young family....read morehide

Pros

Handling, agility, and 7 seats.

Cons

Busy dashboard control;

The handling is much better than I thought. In my personal opinion, better than Acua TL and Mercedes ML350. However, busy dashboard control makes it hard to locate the right button to set up the function you want. We love the entertainment package because of our young kids. We were consdiering Lexus GX470, RX350, Mercedes ML350, GL 450. After test drives, we settled to Acura MDX. I was not a fan of Acura. Still not. However, ACura MDX is really a good buy. Overall, we like this car....read morehide

Pros

Good fuel economy

Cons

Brakes sometimes clank

Horsepower is too low comparing with old models. The MDX has good handling for a heavy, midsize SUV, although it is larger than the 2001-2006 model it replaces. It is several inches longer, lower and wider and feels bulkier under some driving conditions.New suspension geometry and calibrations help roadability, as does Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, which is new and standard for the MDX.Working with an anti-skid system, SH-AWD enhances cornering ability because it distributes the optimum amount of engine torque between front and rear axles and also between left and right rear wheels....read morehide

noisy brakes,poor visibility(blind spots)terribe gas mileage and premium required,not very peppy for the rated horsepower if its real. honda has been known to embellish their ratings. outside mirrors too small.rear seats a joke for real people.this vehicle is overated and over priced not to mention basically butt ugly. i will get rid of mine very soon.it has not been enjoyable....read morehide