Acura MDX

Acura MDX: which version to buy, and why the numbers pick it

If the question is which Acura MDX to buy, the catalogue numbers pick three answers, not one. For the lowest mixed fuel use and the highest output in the 3 generation window, buy 3.0 DSG Hybrid AWD (321 hp, 8.7 L/100 km mixed, 6.5 s to 100 km/h). For the lowest kerb weight and the same 6.5 s sprint without AWD hardware, buy 3.5 AT Gasoline FWD in 3 generation, restyling 2 (1816 kg).

If the question is which Acura MDX to buy, the catalogue numbers pick three answers, not one. For the lowest mixed fuel use and the highest output in the 3 generation window, buy 3.0 DSG Hybrid AWD (321 hp, 8.7 L/100 km mixed, 6.5 s to 100 km/h). For the lowest kerb weight and the same 6.5 s sprint without AWD hardware, buy 3.5 AT Gasoline FWD in 3 generation, restyling 2 (1816 kg). For the highest horsepower and torque in the current 4 generation, buy 3.0 AT Gasoline Turbo AWD or 3.0 AT 4WD (355 hp, 481 Nm); 0–100 km/h for both is not measured. Production of the SUV 5-doors Acura MDX in this catalogue runs from 2000-10-01; 4 generation and 4 generation, restyling 1 have no stop date. Prices are not in the data.

Which generation to buy: what each restyling actually changed

Restylings sit inside a generation. The catalogue lists eight bodies; they are four generations with restylings, all SUV 5-doors.

1 generation (2000-10-01–2006-01-31) is four 3.5 AT Gasoline AWD cars. Power is 228, 240, 260, or 265 hp. The 228 hp 3.5 AT uses 3494 cm³; the other three use 3471 cm³. Specific output is 65.3 hp/L (228 hp), 69.1 hp/L (240 hp), 74.9 hp/L (260 hp), and 76.3 hp/L (265 hp). Weight per horsepower is 8.68 kg/hp (228 hp, 1980 kg), 8.25 kg/hp (240 hp, 1980 kg), 7.94 kg/hp (260 hp, 2065 kg), and 7.79 kg/hp (265 hp, 2065 kg). 0–100 km/h is 9.0 s (228 and 240 hp), 8.6 s (265 hp), and not measured (260 hp). Top speed is 180 km/h (228 hp) or 190 km/h (the other three). Fuel use city / highway / mixed is not measured on all four. Buy a first-generation MDX only if the job is AWD plus 92 fuel and a 73 L tank; it is the slowest group in the catalogue.

2 generation (2006-01-01–2009-12-31) and 2 generation, restyling (2010-01-01–2013-05-31) are both a single 3.7 AT Gasoline AWD, 300 hp, 3664 cm³, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), 92 fuel. Specific output is 81.9 hp/L — 5.6 hp/L above the strongest first-generation 3471 cm³ 3.5 AT. The original 3.7 AT has 373 Nm at 5000 rpm, 5 gears, 7.3 s to 100 km/h, 195 km/h top speed, 80 L tank, 2070 kg kerb, 2590 kg gross, 200 mm clearance; city / highway / mixed fuel and wheels are not measured. The restyled 3.7 AT has 366 Nm at 4500 rpm (−7 Nm), 6 gears (+1), 7.1 s to 100 km/h (−0.2 s), top speed not measured, 79 L tank (−1 L), 2084 kg kerb (+14 kg), 2600 kg gross (+10 kg), 208 mm clearance (+8 mm), mixed 13.1 L/100 km, city 14.7, highway 11.2, wheels 255/55 R18 and 255/50 R19. Weight per horsepower is 6.90 kg/hp (original) and 6.95 kg/hp (restyling). The restyling buys one extra gear, 0.2 s, and 8 mm of clearance; it does not buy more power.

3 generation (2013-06-01–2016-05-31), restyling 1 (2015-01-01–2016-12-31), restyling 2 (2016-01-01–2020-11-30) is where most used-MDX decisions sit. Every gasoline 3.5 AT here is 290 hp from 3471 cm³ (83.5 hp/L). The original AWD 3.5 AT is Front, longitudinal, Direct injection (direct), 6-speed Automatic, 355 Nm, 6.7 s, 220 km/h, 15.0 / 8.0 / 10.0 L/100 km, 244 g/km CO2, Euro 5, 2039 kg, 2575 kg gross, 200 mm, 73 L. The original FWD 3.5 AT is Distributed injection (multi-point), engine layout not measured, 362 Nm, 6.7 s, 220 km/h, 14.1 / 10.0 / 12.3 L/100 km, CO2 not measured, Euro 5, 1826 kg, gross not measured, 208 mm. Restyling 1’s only 3.5 AT is AWD, 9-speed Automatic, 355 Nm, 6.5 s (−0.2 s vs original AWD), 220 km/h, 14.2 / 7.7 / 10.1 L/100 km, 236 g/km CO2 (−8 g/km), 1999 kg (−40 kg vs original AWD), 2575 kg gross, 200 mm. Restyling 2 adds FWD 3.5 AT, AWD 3.5 AT, and 3.0 DSG Hybrid; all are Front, transverse, 6.5 s, top speed not measured, 185 mm (−15 mm vs restyling 1), 73 L, wheels 245/60 R18 and 245/50 R20. Rear brakes become Disc ventilated.

4 generation (from 2020-12-01) and 4 generation, restyling 1 (from 2024-04-01) keep 290 hp on 3.5 AT / 3.5 AT 4WD and add 355 hp on 3.0 AT / 3.0 AT 4WD. The 10-speed Automatic is new. 0–100 km/h on every 290 hp 4 generation 3.5 AT is 7.0 s — 0.5 s slower than restyling 2’s 6.5 s. Tank is 70 L (−3 L vs 73 L on generation 3). Fuel on 4 generation is 98; restyling 1 is 92. Clearance on 4 generation 3.5 AT (FWD and AWD) is not measured; 3.0 AT is 170 mm.

Engine options, horsepower, and torque: the buy table

The 355 hp 3.0 AT / 3.0 AT 4WD is 118.5 hp/L and 65 hp above any 290 hp 3.5 AT. Torque 481 Nm is 88 Nm above 3.0 DSG (393 Nm) and 119 Nm above restyling 2 3.5 AT (362 Nm). Peak torque sits from 1400–5000 rpm; 3.0 DSG peaks at 5000 rpm. Boost on 4 generation 3.0 AT is Turbo; boost on restyling 1 3.0 AT 4WD is not measured. Hybrid exists only as 3.0 DSG in restyling 2.

Performance and mpg: 0–100, top speed, fuel

Measured 0–100 km/h clusters at 6.5 s on restyling 1 3.5 AT and all three restyling 2 versions, including 3.0 DSG and both 3.5 AT. Original 3 generation 3.5 AT (FWD and AWD) is 6.7 s. 4 generation 3.5 AT (FWD and AWD) and restyling 1 3.5 AT / 3.5 AT 4WD are 7.0 s. 3.7 AT is 7.1 s (restyling) and 7.3 s (original). First generation is 8.6–9.0 s where measured. 3.0 AT and 3.0 AT 4WD 0–100 is not measured, so the 355 hp cars cannot be ranked on sprint.

Top speed is 220 km/h on original 3 generation 3.5 AT (both drives) and restyling 1 3.5 AT. It is 195 km/h on original 2 generation 3.7 AT, 190 km/h on first-generation 240 / 260 / 265 hp 3.5 AT, 180 km/h on 228 hp 3.5 AT. Top speed is not measured on restyling 2, both 4 generation bodies, and restyled 3.7 AT.

Mixed fuel, lowest to highest where measured: 3.0 DSG 8.7; restyling 1 3.5 AT 10.1; original 3 generation AWD 3.5 AT 10.0; restyling 2 FWD 3.5 AT and 4 generation FWD 3.5 AT / restyling 1 3.5 AT 10.7; restyling 2 AWD 3.5 AT, 4 generation AWD 3.5 AT, and 3.5 AT 4WD 11.2; original 3 generation FWD 3.5 AT 12.3; restyled 3.7 AT 13.1. Mixed is not measured on 3.0 AT, 3.0 AT 4WD, original 3.7 AT, and all first-generation 3.5 AT. City on 3.0 DSG is 9.1 versus 12.4 on restyling 2 FWD 3.5 AT (−3.3 L/100 km) and 13.1 on restyling 2 AWD 3.5 AT (−4.0). Highway on 3.0 DSG is 8.7, matching restyling 2 FWD 3.5 AT highway and 0.3 below restyling 2 AWD 3.5 AT (9). Restyling 1 AWD 3.5 AT highway 7.7 is the lowest highway figure in the catalogue. CO2 is 236 g/km (restyling 1) and 244 g/km (original 3 generation AWD); otherwise not measured. Eco class is Euro 5 on original 3 generation and restyling 1; otherwise not measured.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Lightest kerb: restyling 2 FWD 3.5 AT 1816 kg (6.26 kg/hp). Next: original 3 generation FWD 3.5 AT 1826 kg. Restyling 2 AWD 3.5 AT 1914 kg is +98 kg for AWD versus the 1816 kg FWD in the same restyling, with identical 6.5 s. 3.0 DSG 2028 kg is +114 kg versus that AWD 3.5 AT and +212 kg versus the FWD 3.5 AT. 4 generation FWD 3.5 AT and restyling 1 3.5 AT / 3.5 AT 4WD are 1949 kg — restyling 1 lists the same 1949 kg on FWD and AWD. 4 generation AWD 3.5 AT kerb is not measured. Heaviest measured kerb is 3.0 AT / 3.0 AT 4WD 2172 kg; at 355 hp that is 6.12 kg/hp, the lowest kg/hp in the catalogue. Gross weight is 2575 kg (original 3 generation AWD and restyling 1), 2600 kg (restyled 3.7 AT, first-generation 260 and 265 hp), 2590 kg (original 3.7 AT), 2580 kg (first-generation 228 and 240 hp); otherwise not measured.

Clearance: 208 mm on original 3 generation FWD 3.5 AT and restyled 3.7 AT; 200 mm on original 3 generation AWD, restyling 1, original 3.7 AT, and all first-generation 3.5 AT; 185 mm on restyling 2; 170 mm on 4 generation 3.0 AT; not measured on 4 generation 3.5 AT (both drives) and all restyling 1 versions. Tank: 80 L (original 3.7 AT), 79 L (restyled 3.7 AT), 73 L (generations 1 and 3 including 3.0 DSG), 70 L (generation 4). Wheels: restyling 2 245/60 R18 and 245/50 R20; restyled 3.7 AT 255/55 R18 and 255/50 R19; 4 generation 3.5 AT 255/55 R19 and 255/50 R20; 4 generation 3.0 AT 255/55 R19 and 275/40 R21; other generations not measured.

Front brakes are Ventilated disc on every version. Rear brakes are Disc ventilated only on restyling 2; all other catalogue versions are Disc. Front and rear suspension is Independent, spring on every version.

Which version to choose

Buy restyling 2 FWD 3.5 AT (290 hp) if the goal is the lightest MDX that still does 6.5 s: 1816 kg, 9-speed Automatic, mixed 10.7, city 12.4, highway 8.7, 95 fuel, 185 mm. You give up AWD.

Buy restyling 2 AWD 3.5 AT (290 hp) if AWD is required in that window: +98 kg, mixed +0.5 L/100 km (11.2 vs 10.7), city +0.7, highway +0.3 versus the FWD twin; 0–100 stays 6.5 s. Versus restyling 1 AWD 3.5 AT, you lose 15 mm clearance (185 vs 200), lose a measured 220 km/h top speed, lose Euro 5 and 236 g/km CO2 figures (not measured on restyling 2), and spend 1.1 L/100 km more mixed (11.2 vs 10.1), but you gain 7 Nm (362 vs 355), Front, transverse instead of Front, longitudinal, and Disc ventilated rear brakes.

Buy 3.0 DSG (321 hp) Hybrid AWD if mixed mpg is the ranking: 8.7 mixed is 2.5 L/100 km under restyling 2 AWD 3.5 AT and 2.0 under the FWD 3.5 AT. Power is +31 hp and +31 Nm versus those 3.5 AT. Specific output 107 hp/L beats every naturally aspirated 3.5 AT (83.5 hp/L) and the 3.7 AT (81.9 hp/L). 0–100 is the same 6.5 s as the gasoline restyling 2 cars, so the extra 31 hp is spent on the extra 114 kg versus AWD 3.5 AT. Compression 10.5 versus 11.5; stroke/bore not measured; Robotic 7 versus Automatic 9. This is the only Hybrid in the catalogue.

Buy 4 generation 3.0 AT or restyling 1 3.0 AT 4WD (355 hp) if horsepower and torque are the ranking: 355 hp, 481 Nm, Turbo on 4 generation 3.0 AT, 10-speed Automatic, AWD, 2172 kg, 170 mm on 3.0 AT (clearance not measured on 3.0 AT 4WD). City 13.8 and highway 11.2; mixed not measured; 0–100 not measured; top speed not measured. Versus 3.0 DSG, you gain 34 hp and 88 Nm and lose the Hybrid mixed 8.7 figure. Restyling 1 3.0 AT 4WD uses 92 fuel; 4 generation 3.0 AT uses 98. Boost on 3.0 AT 4WD is not measured.

Buy 4 generation 3.5 AT FWD or restyling 1 3.5 AT (290 hp) if you want the current 10-speed Automatic without the 355 hp engine. Mixed 10.7 matches restyling 2 FWD 3.5 AT, but 0–100 is 7.0 s not 6.5, kerb is 1949 kg not 1816 (+133 kg), tank is 70 L not 73. 4 generation 3.5 AT FWD needs 98 fuel; restyling 1 3.5 AT needs 92. Highway on restyling 1 FWD 3.5 AT is not measured; 4 generation FWD highway is 9. AWD twins: 4 generation 3.5 AT AWD mixed 11.2, kerb not measured, 363 Nm; restyling 1 3.5 AT 4WD mixed 11.2, 1949 kg, 362 Nm, highway 9.4.

Do not buy first-generation 3.5 AT 228 hp if any later AWD 3.5 AT is available: 228 hp, 4-speed Automatic, 9.0 s, 180 km/h, 8.68 kg/hp. The 265 hp 3.5 AT is the first-generation pick: 8.6 s, 7.79 kg/hp, still 5-speed Automatic, fuel not measured.

Buy restyled 3.7 AT (300 hp) only for 92 fuel, 208 mm clearance, 79 L tank, and AWD in 2010–2013: mixed 13.1 is the worst measured mixed figure, 0.6 L/100 km above original 3 generation FWD 3.5 AT (12.3) and 4.4 above 3.0 DSG. The extra 10 hp versus a 290 hp 3.5 AT does not recover the 7.1 s sprint.

AWD versus FWD, same generation, is almost never a sprint buy: restyling 2 both do 6.5 s; original 3 generation both do 6.7 s; 4 generation both 290 hp 3.5 AT do 7.0 s. AWD is a weight and fuel buy: +98 kg and +0.5 L/100 km mixed in restyling 2. The 4 generation restyling 1 listing that puts 3.5 AT and 3.5 AT 4WD at the same 1949 kg does not show an AWD weight penalty in the data.

What the extra output buys, in arithmetic only: 355 versus 290 hp is +65 hp and +118–119 Nm for 223 kg extra versus restyling 1 3.5 AT 4WD (2172 − 1949). 321 versus 290 hp on restyling 2 is +31 hp for +114 kg versus AWD 3.5 AT, with no 0–100 gain. 300 versus 290 hp on 3.7 AT versus later 3.5 AT is +10 hp with a slower 7.1–7.3 s versus 6.5–7.0 s.

No prices, reliability claims, or engine layouts beyond 6 cylinders, V-shaped, and the Front, transverse / Front, longitudinal / not measured labels above are in this catalogue. If the next filter is “newest 10-speed Automatic, 92 fuel, AWD,” the data name is 3.5 AT 4WD in 4 generation, restyling 1. If the filter is “fastest measured 0–100 and lowest mixed,” the data name is 3.0 DSG.