You know that sad feeling you get when it’s time to head home after a wonderful vacation? Well that’s how we felt when we said good-bye to our long-term 2016 Acura MDX. It didn’t seem that long ago when it was delivered on a warm, sunny day looking shiny and smelling new. As a member of the KBB fleet for the better part of a year the MDX went on multiple road trips and hauled out of town family members to and from touristy destinations throughout Southern California.
Our MDX, optioned with Acura’s SH-AWD (Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive) had a sticker price of $58,000 which included a $920 destination fee. Also included in the price was the Tech Package with lane departure warning, forward collision warning and lane keeping assist, along with the Advance Package which bundles collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, ventilated front seats, and heated second row seats, as well as an Entertainment Package consisting of a 16.2-inch DVD rear entertainment system and 115-volt power outlet.
Comfortable Cruiser
It’s no surprise that the Acura MDX was chosen frequently as a road trip partner. With the driver’s 10-way power seat, spacious leg and hip room, decent cargo space and a serenely quiet cabin, the MDX made long trips tolerable. Equally important was the robust 290-horsepower V6 which as one staffer summed up: “Out on the open road, the 2016 Acura MDX makes an ideal mount for mixing it up with semis and civilian traffic.”
Also: Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards of 2016
If there were two features that will be missed with the departure of the Acura MDX, it will be the console with the lower door fitted with non-skid ribs and the selector wheels located on the steering wheel. The non-skid ribs allowed for secure placement of a smart phone, or tablet, which would be kept in place by the stickiness of the ribs thus preventing the device from sliding around. Now if you were into some very spirited driving, then all bets were off on your device staying put. Also noteworthy were Acura’s selector wheels which actually looked like little tires with tread and all. They were conveniently placed within thumbs reach and made adjusting the volume, changing a radio station or scrolling through vehicle information extremely easy. Simply roll the wheel up or down or toggle left or right. No need to look for a button to push just touch it with your thumb, it was almost sensory.
Also: Class of 2017 – New Cars Ready to Roll
The Acura MDX is a driving partner that will be missed, especially on those long road trips. We found it very capable whether on the daily commute, a drive up the coast or shuttling family members around town. We even liked it enough to name it the Luxury SUV winner of Kelley Blue Book’s inaugural Best Buy Awards of 2015, and also named it one of the 10 Best Luxury SUVs. With those accolades it’s easy to understand why the Acura MDX is an admired and serious contender within its field.
See past reports for our long-term 2016 Acura MDX…
Long-Term Update: Road Trip Lite
Long-Term Update: Road Trip II
More 2016 Acura MDX…
See full review and pricing information for the 2016 Acura MDX or build and price your own to unlock its Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more.
