MSRP: $40,195 - $47,995
Invoice: $36,531 - $43,604
MPG: 15 City / 20 Hwy
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U.S.News Scores

Overall:9.2
Performance:8.7
Exterior:7.0
Interior:8.0
Safety:9.8
Reliability:9.0
Research we analyzed for this review
Pros and Cons
  • Refined interior with stylish design
  • Ample cargo space with rear seats down
  • Excellent safety scores
  • Driving dynamics on par with the best European competitors
  • Cramped third row is suitable for children only
  • Some find the edgy exterior off-putting

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Acura MDX - What the Auto Press Says

The MDX's ranking is based on its excellent combination of spaciousness, stellar safety and smooth handling. One of its few shortcomings is the redesigned exterior, which features a front grille that is disliked by several reviewers. Still, the MDX ranks very highly within its class.

The 2008 Acura MDX is a luxurious and performance-minded family vehicle. Introduced in 2001, the SUV received a major exterior redesign in 2007 that positions it against upscale competition like the BMW X5 and the Porsche Cayenne. "A good price, great handling, and plenty of seating makes Acura's redesigned midsize SUV a smart alternative to the BMW X5," says BusinessWeek. Reviewers are generally impressed with the interior and performance improvements. In a head-to-head test of seven luxury SUVS over $50,000, Car and Driver ranks the 2008 Acura MDX Sport first, saying it "was victorious almost everywhere it poked its gaudy grille." 

The MDX comes in only one trim, but there are three option packages available -- the Technology Package, the Sport Package, and the Entertainment Package (which requires one or both of the other packages) -- which all tack on a few thousand dollars.

  • "The MDX Sport isn't cheap at nearly $50,000, but it is a comprehensively equipped, superbly performing illustration of just what a sports-luxury SUV ought to be." -- The Examiner
  • "Good use of technology and traditional luxury combine in the second-generation Acura MDX." -- The Auto Channel
  • "Acura's redesigned SUV offers hip styling, inspiring performance and enviable versatility." -- Chicago Tribune
  • "The MDX is still a best buy, but no longer such an overwhelming deal." -- New York Times

MDX Performance - 8.7 (Very Good)

The MDX ranks near the top of its class for performance thanks in large part to sporty touches implemented last year, including a new V6 engine and Super-Handling All Wheel Drive. The Examiner says that the MDX is "quite capable of tearing around on twisting pieces of asphalt in the company of other seriously drivable SUVs like Porsche's Cayenne and the BMW X5. That is good company to be in and in many respects the MDX not only holds its own, it bests those two European thoroughbreds." Read More

MDX Exterior - 7.0 (Good)

Reviews are mixed on the 2008 Acura MDX's styling, which changed as part of the 2007 redesign, leaving the MDX in the bottom half of its class for exterior. Some find it pleasing and even innovative, but several think it's off-putting, especially with a new larger grille. "By unanimous agreement, the grille on the Acura MDX Sport is ugly and needs to be redone," says the Washington Post. Read More

MDX Interior - 8.0 (Very Good)

The consensus on the 2008 Acura MDX's interior, restyled last year, is that designers got it right with comfortable seating and a stylish appearance -- but the control layout still continues to disappoint some. Regardless, the MDX's interior ranks within the top five in its class. While The Examiner calls the cockpit "a passenger cabin that may well be the most beautiful in any SUV," but AutoWeek finds it's "tough to decipher where everything is" on the center stack. The Acura's three seating rows can hold seven passengers, but most find the three seats in back suitable only for children. Read More

MDX Safety - 9.8 (Excellent)

The 2008 Acura MDX does extremely well in federal government crash tests. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety also named it a "Top Safety Pick" for its good performance in front, side and rear tests and for its standard electronic stability control. Read More

MDX Reliability - 9.0 (Excellent)

The 2008 Acura MDX reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2008 Acura MDX comes with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty. Read More

Review Last Updated: 2/17/09