Generation Gap: Ranking each and every version of the Acura MDX

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The Acura MDX is a luxury SUV you might not think a lot about. It’s been 20 years since the first version of the upscale people-mover appeared in North America, and with sport-utility vehicles now firmly ingrained in automotive culture, it’s easy to dismiss it as just one of the herd.

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And yet, this is the vehicle that introduced parent company Honda to legions of families shopping for a capacious, three-row daily driver, and one that served as a technology test-bed for the company for many of its prime years on sale in Canada and the United States.

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All of that makes it tough to decide which specific generations of the MDX are worthy of praise. We thought long and hard about the little details that set one of these crossovers apart from the other, and finally came up with our ranking of each and every version of the Acura MDX ever built.

2014-2020 Acura MDX YD3

What makes the third-generation Acura MDX the most compelling? Primarily it’s the unique combination of efficiency and performance. Rather than simply lean on hybrid technology as a way to squeeze a few more kilometres out of a tank of gas, when Acura released the Sport Hybrid version of the MDX, it made sure that the multi-motor setup (three electrics plus a single V6) pushed out more power than the standard gas-only model. With 321 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque on tap, combined with the instant-on nature of electric motor performance, the MDX was significantly quicker than it had ever been, while still sipping fuel at a rate respectable enough for its size.

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This was the first real step Acura took towards giving the MDX a sporty edge, and it paid dividends when comparing its character to more mild models from Lexus and Cadillac. Throw in an advanced all-wheel-drive system and adaptive suspension system, and Acura made the Sport Hybrid a legitimate enthusiast option compared to the perfectly practical – but not nearly as exciting – 290-horsepower base model.

2001-2006 Acura MDX YD1

The original Acura MDX enters our rankings at number two, with an asterisk. Yes, we’re aware that the original batch of automatic transmissions outfitted to the first MDX had a higher-than-average failure rate (as did many other Honda slushboxes of the same era) but a quick redesign limited most of the damage to the first couple of years of production.

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Moving on, the MDX was Honda’s first midsize SUV, beating the related Pilot by a couple of years. It offered an all-wheel-drive system that automatically activated when traction loss was detected or predicted (and was lockable for truly sticky situations), as well as V6 power and decent amounts of interior room. Later models saw a slight horsepower boost and mild styling changes, but overall, Acura’s hauler was a modest and comfortable entry point for families seeking a premium sport-utility vehicle.

2022 Acura MDX YD4

We know it’s not out yet, but we do have a surprising amount of information about the upcoming fourth-generation 2022 Acura MDX. Passing over the 2021 model year, the vehicle will introduce a new Type S model with a 355-horsepower turbocharged V6 on top of the base 290-horsepower 3.5L unit. There’s no word on whether the Sport Hybrid will continue after the redesign, but a simplified infotainment system, higher-quality materials, and a sophisticated all-wheel drive option are all present and accounted for.

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On the styling front, the MDX gets more chiseled without overdoing it, which should put it in good stead as compared to some of the extroverted luxury options pouring out of Germany of late.

2007-2013 Acura MDX YD2

Was the second-generation Acura MDX a particularly bad SUV? Not by any reasonable score, as it carried forward the general mission statement of the originator in terms of practicality and comfort.

Where things went a bit off of the rails was in the styling department. Acura’s decision to bulk up the MDX made it a little too large in the eyes of some loyal customers, but the real faux pas occurred in 2010 when the vehicle was bestowed with the unpopular ‘beak’ front end that made its way through the brand’s entire line-up. As the largest vehicle Acura offered, the MDX was outfitted with the biggest schnozzle, and it became a focal point for complaints that would overshadow the vehicle’s mighty 300 horsepower, up-sized V6 and strong Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive system.

It feels somewhat arbitrary to put the YD2 version of the MDX at the bottom of the list, especially considering how, from a modern perspective, the response to the SUV’s grille has mellowed considerably over the years. At the time, however, it was a big enough deal to briefly make the brand the laughing stock of the luxury set, and the MDX suffered for it.