Hey, finally took delivery, Mahogany with Touring Package w/o nav.
Whoa, awesome vehicle. Ride, handling, power, fit, finish.
Width of interior is very noticeable, comparing to mini Blazer etc.
Great engine.

Definite A-pillar wind noise on the highway, I would also like the
electric steering wheel off the 3.5RL as well, I'm 6'2" and could
use the entry exit room if it swung up automatically. Also if you have the seat way back, it is a stretch to the wheel even for me, ape arms.
5 speed tranny does hunt a little in top gears.
$1000 for the tow package?? I will put on an aftermarket hitch w/o the tranny or pwr steering cooler since I will not be pulling anything
larger than my 500 lb util trailer.

Get in line, these things will be hard to get for some time.
For $40k it better be/do/end all for me. My first house was
$52k in 1982, and I keep thinking I am an idiot for ever spending this much money on any vehicle. At least when I get in the thing I am not having any second thoughts about the vehicle itself, now I wonder how long the "new car infatuation" will last, probably about as long as the new car smell...

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Expedition - only seats one less, stowable rear seat is perfect, much more refined overall.

interior space is unbelievable. the fit & finish are what you would expect out of a honda product. and the drive feels secure; gas mileage better than any other suv. front seats offer good support. great luxury for the price in an suv

a/c controls without the nav system are a little strange; however, the system works quite well. auto up windows, auto on headlights & xenons would make it perfect

this suv could be recommended to anyone - the appeal really covers a broad cross section - from families because of the rear seats to snow birds who love the space for the trek to florida. so far, the quality is typical acura/honda - impeccable!!

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bmw x5 is $9,500 more when comparably equipped - that's nets out to $8,700 more when subtracting bmw's 3/36 included maintenance. the ride in the x5 is definitely sportier than the mdx but the mdx offers more of a luxurious feel.

240-hp Engine, Great head & Leg room, even in back seat. Delighted to get 22-23 MPG for an SUV w/ such an Cavernous Interior. The Navigation system is very user friendly, although possibly not for those in Palm Beach... Leather seating is very comfortable. Seems to be very solid and well put together. Good buy considering all the amenities on this which are standard.

Sound System is somewhat weak compared to a car, but this may be the result of such a large interior, which is why I have not really heard an outstanding sound system in an SUV.

The Honda engineering on this product is awesome: 1st. The magic seats for both rows 2 and 3 are amazing! They are very easy to access. Even though the 3ed seat is somewhat cramped, I am amazed that it even has one. Very good acceleration and a very precise feel in steering for a vehicle this size. Good sound isolation and the detail and quality of craftmanship is apparant. Very little wonder Motor Trend & Car + Driver have both listed this as their #1 SUV. Its all wheel drive, the ULEV emission system is one of the very few of any vehicle on the market today. Also its various computers and Navigation system are definately cutting edge state of the art technology for 2001.

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LX450... MDX feels far, far, more stable in turns.
Jeep Grand Cherokee.... No comparision, different league.
Chevrolet Suburban.... Far better ride. Obviously not as long.

Just about everything about this SUV is exceptional. The two things that stand out are the attention to detail and the absolute lack of any weaknesses whatsoever. The engine is phenomenal -- tons of power, but also tons of refinement. The handling is as good as my other car -- a Mercedes E320. This is a vehicle that can take corners and curves with abandon without worrying about whether you'll land on your side. The cargo room is something else, too. I was able to put a 7' couch in the back with 2nd and 3rd rows folded. Can't think of any other SUV other than the monsters where that would be possible (and on the monsters you'd have to remove the back seats from the vehicle!). The ergonomics set a standard as well -- I was able to figure out all the controls without referring to the car's manual. Even the navigation system is very intuitive.

The parking brake pedal sometimes rubs against the left foot when placed on the footrest.

The MDX is the type of SUV that the industry should have had a long time ago, but didn't. Seems like Acura learnt from all the mistakes made by other car makers, and put together a dynamite package that really does not have any close competitor at this point.

Acura has got the message that there are two large but hidden classes of buyers -- (a) those who want the utility and extra seating of a minivan, without having to bear the soccer mom image associated with minivans, and (b) those that want the utility of an SUV, without having to forego the handling and performance of a sports sedan. Most existing SUVs don't deliver on either (a) or (b). The BMW X5 delivers on (b) but comes up short on the utility/seating front for (a), and is overpriced, in addition. The Acura MDX is the only SUV on the market for the foreseeable future that delivers both.

Look for copycat designs from other manufacturers to start emerging in a year or two. In the meantime, Acura will be the beneficiary of the most impressive new vehicle on the market.

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I test drove the BMW X5 3.0, and the Mercedes ML320. The X5 probably a tad better at handling, but also has a much harsher ride that transmits every tar strip or pothole to the body. The MDX has a noticeably larger interior than the X5, and many, many more features standard. The ML320 does not compare well with the MDX in any respect. I'm a Mercedes owner (E320), and the ML320 would have been my first choice for an SUV, but just one test drive in each of them was enough to settle the matter. I've also driven the Ford Explorer and Chevy Blazer as rental cars, and neither comes close to the MDX in overall design and refinement.

Engine

Rough ride compared to other SUV's, Price a bit steep for features, Looks not the greatest.

Look to the Montero LTD or Landcruiser if you want a real 4wd. If you want an on road 4wd perhaps the 6 cyclinder subaru would have been a better choice.

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None

This car is loaded; even as a base model! Engine is well tuned to deliver good acceleration and passing power. Interior space/erognomics are excellent (first 2 rows at least, 3rd row better suited for people

Nothing on the side of this SUV to protect the vehicle from door dings. The dead pedal (left foot rest) should be further back. This is the widest of the mid-size SUVs, it could go for wider tires like mercedes uses, this should improve the handling, though its not bad (but not as good as the BMW X5 either). Difficult to get into 3rd row of seats (2nd row either folds down OR slides forward, but does not do both).

I got my vehicle 2 weeks after dropping $1000 for the deposit... most people are waiting much longer (dealership hooked me up). I bought the "base" model for $34,850 (sticker): navigation system is $2000, touring option $3000 (includes different style but same size rims, power passenger seat, bose system, power fold-in side mirrors, memory seating). Didn't feel the touring option is worth $3000, especially since the rims are the same size and the stock stereo is a 7 speaker cd/cassete w/subwoofer. Navigation system is nice but I couldn't justify spending $2000 on a map - especially since you have to buy updates.

This SUV delivers plenty of punch with a smooth quiet ride and good handling. Very good road visability. Firm seating delivers comfort and support . I haven't gone through every nook and cranny, but I haven't found any defects yet (hopefully never). I would only purchase a first year production vehicle from less than a handful of manufactures, Acura being one of them. I'll let you folks know how the vehicle handles off-road and inclimate weather along with a follow up review in 4-6 months. Email me if you need specifics before then or need direction on buying the most balanced SUV on the market right now!

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BMW X5, Lexus RX300, Mercedes ML320, Mitsubishi Montero (2001)

We had a 93 Ford Explorer and have been looking long and hard for a replacement. We wanted better handling, much better gas mileage and seating for more than five for our family.
After much research we put a deposit on an MDX in July, test drove one on the Oct. 5, introduction date and took delivery last week at just over list for touring package and navigator (very cool and lots of fun).
The saleman, Bill White, was knowledgeable and patient!
It is an outstanding automobile, not a truck like the explorer, yet spacious, with luxury and handling and impressive gas mileage.
And even though its an SUV it still draws admiring looks. We sort of wanted Mahogany, but didn't want to wait till Spring, and the black is really sharp.
It beats Lexus, Mercedes and BMW (which a friend has with the V-8) hands down.

Fit and finish outside impecible. Inside a few miscues on the leather upholstery which the dealer will fix. IT IS WIDE! Park in the outfield at the mall to save the paint (no door guards!), but the walk will do you and the rig good.

$40000 and yes we love it!

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86 Chevy Blazer - no comparison (teenager has it and we still luv it!)
93 Explorer - functional, but lots of problems and certainly not in the same class an an MDX.

Everything! Good build, nice wide stance, great handling. Extremely intelligent engineering of seat, space and cargo area. Strong motor with automatic 4 wheel drive capability. Incredible stereo system in the To

As stated in the review above, the expensive accessories that should have been included in a vehicle of this caliber. Wheel flares? Side Steps? Rear Splash guards? The addition of these alone adds another 2K to the list price. That in itself is a downer.

Mine is going to be right at 40K out the door. I'm on the waiting list, like many others. I am sure I am going to love the car, since I had already ordered a Pathfinder and then canceled to pay an extra 10K for this one. I love the space. It is the right size and still gives me the feeling of having a personal space inside the car. The drive was powerful with good brakes. I am going to love this vehicle... I am trading a 3series BMW in for it, so I'd better.

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Nissan Pathfinder, Lexus RX300, Chevy Tahoe

Seating posibilities, great engine, brilliant navigation system, good all around visibility, firm but comfortable seats, interior finish, feels very safe.

High accessory pricing. High demand combined with initial weak supply results in tough pricing choices. Fake wood looks ok, but why?

I have owned the car (mahagony, navigation and touring package) for several days now, and this is only an initial impression. To my taste, the car is very appealing and the outside and inside finish is outstanding. Ride is pretty firm, but much less truck'ish than other SUVs I test drove, with very little internal noise (just the occasional pleasing sound of the engine). The car handles and accelerates extremely well (within the limitations of the 600 mile break-in period), and offers lots of power when you need it.

Seating possibilities is definitely a highlight. Comparing to our minivan it is much more flexible in terms of trading off seats for cargo. Rear seats are only for emergencies and small kids. In the touring package, both front seats are 8 way adjustable, and these seats deliver a good mixture of comfort and firmness. Interior storage space is excellent.

I expected more out of the Bose stereo in the touring package. Quite possibly, the amps need some tuning to allow the subwoofer to stand out better. Overall, the upgraded stereo in the touring package with the in-dash changer is a great package.

I especially like the intelligent navigation system. Though relatively expensive, it is easy to use and well integrated. If you can afford it - get it. My days of driving around to find an ATM are over.

Reasons for choosing the MDX over the competition: Read lot of pre-release reviews, and after owning it for several days I tend to agree this car is a good value for the money, even after adding all the options.

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None - My first SUV

Build quality is very high. Fit and finish first rate, does not feel or drive like a new model. Kyle (salesman) at Tonkin in West Slope was first ever car guy who knew more about the vehicle than i did, very nice.

Would be nice to have a power hatch like the new Dodge minivans. Accessories are expensive, $720+ for the glue on flares? Oh yeah, this is a luxo cruiser....

Drove one today and bought a mahogany touring w/o the navigation, should be here on 11/15, now the wait. Liked the MDX better than the RX300 for the same money, RX has just a wee bit better ride, MDX should blow it away if you have to get farther from the road than the shoulder. The 3rd row flip up seats are kid only, but fold completely into the floor so I don't have this huge 3rd seat sitting in my garage ala my expigition when I want to haul more than 3 bags of groceries. Overall Acura engineers should feel very good about hitting a sweet spot in the market on the first shot, they only planned on selling 40k units, I bet they sell out easily. I will be pissed if I can get a HONDA version at $25k next year....

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Expedition - can you say nimble "not!!"