The 2018 Acura MDX’s impressive driving experience delivers excitement, performance and comfort through its 290hp V6 engine. Evolving from the original NSX supercar, the 2018 MDX takes some inspiration to deliver a great handling performance through the SH-AWD powertrain as well as using the NSX’s twin motor and battery pack setup to inspire a hybrid model offering.
The 2017 Acura MDX was amongst the best SUVs of that year. While, it may have fallen behind in certain characteristics, that’s where the 2018 MDX improves on last year’s offering. Instead of a full redesign, the 2018 MDX adds Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to the infotainment as well as two new exterior colours – San Marino Red and Basque Red Pearl II.
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR
The handsome exterior of the 2018 Acura MDX offers stylish cues to delight the eyes, with an overall shape that’s pleasing and functional. On the front side, a big bold Acura logo on the diamond speckled grille, along with the LED jewel eye headlights and chrome trim all come together to complete the modern exterior look. Around the back, the shark fin antenna, chrome strips and dual exhaust showcase the potential for sporty performance.
Swing on over to the inside of the 2018 MDX and the cabin catches your eye with a sharp yet futuristic angular design, with two display screens, some wood grain and chrome highlights and plush leather seating. Complete versatility for the interior with 3rd row seating and extra storage up front made available by the electronic gear shifting, which frees up a ton of space in the center console area.
The dual displays are handy to have the navigation constantly in view on the upper display, while controlling audio, climate and other features on the lower display. Overall, the 2018 MDX offers a luxurious interior with beautiful, high quality material finishes and comfortable yet supportive seats for long trips.
PERFORMANCE AND DRIVE
The 2018 Acura MDX maintains the well known 3.5L six cylinder engine, which comes straight from the Honda lineup but has a bit more of a performance tweaking to be able to output 290hp at 6,200 rpm and 267 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. The powerful engine is paired with a 9 speed automatic transmission and the renowned SH-AWD system.
The 9 speed automatic pairs well with the powerful 290hp engine and despite having so many gears, the transmission is great at deciding which gear is best, whether upshifting or downshifting. For those who want more control, there’s always the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters for manual control. The 2018 MDX does the 0-60 sprint in just 6 seconds (5.7 seconds for the hybrid model). Quite an impressive stat considering the full-sized nature of this SUV!
The Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD for short) system provides superior handling and doesn’t just prevent wheel slip, but also uses clever torque vectoring to guide the vehicle into corners using power to speed up the outside wheel, while at the same time always diverting power to the wheels that need it most.
The overall driving feel of the 2018 MDX is refined and reassured, resulting in a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride both in the city and on the highway. The 2018 Acura MDX is listed with a 12.2 L/100km fuel economy in the city, which is quite in line with our real world test drive yielding 13.1 L/100km over about 150km of mostly city driving.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The 2018 Acura MDX more than lives up to its reputation and buyers can rest assured that they are getting a premium vehicle with great performance and exquisite luxury when they opt for the 2018 MDX! Having undergone its major update in 2017, the 2018 MDX builds upon the successful launch of the 2017 MDX. A smooth and comfortable ride, a quiet and supple interior paired with sporty handling and aggressive yet refined power all come together to deliver an amazing driving experience.
