2014 Acura MDX

I seen the mdx in person for the 1st time last night, I thought it was a bad ass SUV.. What do you guys think?

http://www.acura.com/MDX/2014/Videos#2014-mdx-video-the-handoff

I saw it at the dealer last week. It looks lkme a Toyota Venza to me.
miner

no way. I don't see a comparison.

the style language is bland...kinda like a toyota highlander.

Its boring, what more can be said. Very sad when the previous model looks more interesting. Buy an RDX instead.

Another silly move from Acura..

i think its their best iteration, and they tackled the biggest issue of prev generations.... fuel milage. now if only it ran 87 gas like the 2013 lexus rx350....

Chu_Viet said:

I seen the mdx in person for the 1st time last night, I thought it was a bad ass SUV.. What do you guys think?

http://www.acura.com/MDX/2014/Videos#2014-mdx-video-the-handoff

Click to expand...

I'm with docjohn on this one. It is design is quite bland. I saw one at the dealership when I had my car worked on. Nothing about the car captured my attention or made me want to open my wallet. Sure it is likely going to be reliable, but it is no looker.

As a current MDX owner looking to update, I was extremely disappointed with the styling direction Acura went with the new MDX. To me the MDX was easily the best all-around balanced SUV in it's class but clearly they dropped the ball with the new looks. While the redesign stayed very similar to the previous gen, the changes they did make were for the worse. Compare the old with the new.





They stretched the MDX out longer, making it look more station wagon/crossover, a trend I dislike. They also took the CR-V design cue where the rear window tapers more aggressively to a point but doesn't match the slope of the rear glass. To me this is not only very ugly (I detest it in the CR-V) but less functional (more blind spots). They increased the overhangs, especially in the rear. Again, making it look more like a crossover and soccer mom-mobile. And they squared out the front fascia, especially towards the bottom, making it look more car-like and less SUV like.

The second major change is in the interior where, again they took the CR-V design cues and really simplified the layout. However, in my opinion it just made it look cheap. Why they would take design cues from the lower cost variant CR-V instead of the other way around is beyond me. Compare the old interior vs. new.





Gauges now look cheap. Cup holders look cheap. And look at that sea of plastic on the passenger side dash. Why does the vent overlap the wood grain that way?

Having said that, all of the actual "guts" improvements (engine, fuel economy, electronics etc.) are actually very good. If only there were a way to take the new 2014 guts and put it in a 2013 body.

Boring. Conservative and evolutionary but nothing revolutionary. Btw - I still like it but wouldn't buy one unless they have a spectacular lease going for it. I need something to be over 6000 lbs GVWR for tax benefits.

This was the best MDX styling wise (exterior). It still had an aggressive "SUV-like" stance, wherein it looked like it could climb a hill (not that it could/couldn't, but it just looked masculine and tough).

Since then, it's gotten soft. The very next version looked like a minivan to me despite improvements elsewhere. I just couldn't get into the styling.

It seems like the interiors of MDXs keep getting better and better, but the exterior is getting worse/staying the same.

Yes yes yes yes


Yes yes yes yes



Wawaaaaaa

Best version of the MDX by far.



Pretty beastly for a Mommy-mobile!

wow the interior did downgrade... never notice the inside. but i still think the exterior still looks beasty/evil like a decepticon. maybe because of the led headlights. lol

Vega$ NSX said:

As a current MDX owner looking to update, I was extremely disappointed with the styling direction Acura went with the new MDX. To me the MDX was easily the best all-around balanced SUV in it's class but clearly they dropped the ball with the new looks. While the redesign stayed very similar to the previous gen, the changes they did make were for the worse. Compare the old with the new.

They stretched the MDX out longer, making it look more station wagon/crossover, a trend I dislike. They also took the CR-V design cue where the rear window tapers more aggressively to a point but doesn't match the slope of the rear glass. To me this is not only very ugly (I detest it in the CR-V) but less functional (more blind spots). They increased the overhangs, especially in the rear. Again, making it look more like a crossover and soccer mom-mobile. And they squared out the front fascia, especially towards the bottom, making it look more car-like and less SUV like.

The second major change is in the interior where, again they took the CR-V design cues and really simplified the layout. However, in my opinion it just made it look cheap. Why they would take design cues from the lower cost variant CR-V instead of the other way around is beyond me. Compare the old interior vs. new.

Gauges now look cheap. Cup holders look cheap. And look at that sea of plastic on the passenger side dash. Why does the vent overlap the wood grain that way?

Having said that, all of the actual "guts" improvements (engine, fuel economy, electronics etc.) are actually very good. If only there were a way to take the new 2014 guts and put it in a 2013 body.

Click to expand...

Aa an owner of a previous iteration MDX and having seen the new in person and on the road: I think Acura bettered it almost every way.

Re: the exterior - it's more polished and has a "presence" that the Gen 2 doesn't. I realize that some will call it bland. Maybe b/c I saw it w/ some aftermarket wheels but it gave of an understated sophistication. The mdx desperately needed to be lengthened as the short wheel base gives it some sharp ride characteristics - even on comfort mode. Plus, it's quicker on the Nurburgring.

Re: the interior - the mdx interior has always been called too complicated and button crazy. I think it's a fair criticism. It's simpler now and the materials (specifically the leather) better. Fit and finish is about the same.

The only issues I have with it are insignificant: the steering wheel dials take some getting used to and the start button seems out of place.

It still looks like another Dave Marek's ugly Acura.
Steve

Miner said:

I saw it at the dealer last week. It looks lkme a Toyota Venza to me.
miner

Click to expand...

I agree, it's morphing into one.

As I mentioned earlier, since I'm in the market to update my '04 MDX, got to check out one in a little more detail the other day. In person, the MDX looks much better. The back end is brilliant and a a vast improvement over the previous gen. The front end is marginally better, but mostly because the "shield" has been significantly reduced. Still not sold on the side profile. I'm also not sold on the interior visually. However, functionally, it's really good and intuitive. I can understand the change to get away from so many buttons.

Overall the feel, features and functionality are great under the skin, I think they made some great improvements especially with the gas mileage and seats. Much more on the fence about it now having seeing it in person and getting to fiddle around with it a bit more.

I love the new MDX, finally they put light piping in the taillights and the LED headlights look sick. This is the most modern looking car in acura's line up. This model might be the model that makes me want to buy one even knowing it has a timing belt, and the transmissions durability is suspect.

s14_tat said:

I love the new MDX, finally they put light piping in the taillights and the LED headlights look sick. This is the most modern looking car in acura's line up. This model might be the model that makes me want to buy one even knowing it has a timing belt, and the transmissions durability is suspect.

Click to expand...

What's wrong with a timing belt?

Miner

timing belts suck since they require routine replacement as oppose to timing chain....

...which increases parasitic loss which degrades hp and fuel economy. Not to mention noisier and more expensive to replace. The fair response is that they both have their pros and cons.

And the routine replacement of timing belt on a 2014 MDX is at the 100,000 mile interval.

What I would like to know is: Can a 4x8 sheet of "x" can be laid down in the back now?

I have a G1 MDX and I use it like a truck should be used from time to time. The space between the wheel well arches measures a proper 4' across, but the hatch opening is slightly smaller at the floor making it useless for loading construction supplies. This is where lift gates make so much more sense.

Anyone know?

Juice said:

What I would like to know is: Can a 4x8 sheet of "x" can be laid down in the back now?

I have a G1 MDX and I use it like a truck should be used from time to time. The space between the wheel well arches measures a proper 4' across, but the hatch opening is slightly smaller at the floor making it useless for loading construction supplies. This is where lift gates make so much more sense.

Anyone know?

Click to expand...

Juice, from narrowest point to narrowest point, the cargo area in the 2014 is about 45 inches across. I used an Acura brand foot long ruler and my finger to measure, so leave a little room for error.

- - - Updated - - -

The 2014 MDX has been selling very, very well for us since it came out. I have only had two complaints about it, one is that the distance from the outer edge of the door sill to the rear seat is slightly too far for the elderly to stand outside the car and fall into their seats. The other is that there is not enough space for elderly, disturbed women to put their feet up behind the dash board. I don't know why anyone would want to do this as it would require you to hold your legs up off the seat and ground to get your feet high enough to go behind the dash, but it was a complaint that stopped the purchase of the vehicle.