The top of the range, it can be seen

Photo courtesy Honda
The Acura MDX, a rival to direct the Lexus RX, also offers now a hybrid powertrain attractive.

Jacques Welcome

Sunday, 10 December 2017 21:17

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Sunday, 10 December 2017 21:17

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Sophisticated and discreet, these are two qualities that stick well to the Acura MDX, a utility luxury mid-size available with a choice of powertrains : a regular and a hybrid, which is new.

It is often said of Acura, the banner of the luxury vehicles of Honda, it is a brand name of trucks. This assertion is confirmed again this year by the sales of its two utilities, the MDX and the RDX, that, alone, attracted almost 70 % of the customers who opted for this brand in the country.

These utilities enjoy a high popularity that it assures them a dominant position in their respective categories. For example, the MDX, the vehicle we tested, was among the five luxury utility mid-size sold in Canada, with the Audi Q7, the BMW X5, the Cadillac SRX and the Lexus RX, the undisputed champion.

Indeed, it is enough to take a place aboard the largest vehicle from Acura in order to understand what leads to this success : it “feels” the luxury ! Very spacious, the interior of the MDX benefits from an assembly neat, the materials used are of high quality and the staffing is complete. In the Face of its rivals, european or asian, this Acura can easily support the comparison.

The 2017 model has received a few cosmetic changes designed to align its appearance with the rest of the range. It is recognizable by its new front grille pentagonal prettier than before, his hood and front wings redesigned, and its optical blocks with LED spotlights multiple called Jewel Eye. Compared to the 2016 model, there is also a new rocker in chrome, a rear bumper repainted, and the exhaust dual tips polished.

All the versions listed in the catalogue of 2017 now have an electric parking brake, high-beam with automatic and a filling port of the fuel tank without cap. Available with an inner of 6 or 7 seats, the Elite version, for its part, has fog lamps, LED, interior trim real wood (limba, black or olive wood ash), and a set of cameras giving a choice of six display types of the perimeter of the vehicle.

All versions, except, of course, the Sport Hybrid, are animated by a variant of the V6 3.5 L, which is also used in the Honda Pilot and Odyssey. For the Acura, it produces 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque, so that it delivers 280 hp and 262 lb-ft to the other two vehicles. In addition, as for the Pilot Touring, this engine is paired to an automatic transmission 9 reports.

Photo courtesy Honda

The interior of the MDX stands out by the quality of workmanship and materials.

NEW HYBRID VERSION

Beyond some cosmetic changes and staffing additions, the big news of 2017 is the appearance of the MDX Sport Hybrid, a version with a powertrain joint (gas/electric). Designed to delight with Lexus buyers attracted to its RX 450 h, this new MDX becomes at once the most powerful and the most fuel efficient of the range. With a base price of close to 70 000 $, it is also the most expensive.

Its mechanics differs from that of the other MDX. Similar to that used for the Acura RLX, a luxurious sedan, it is made up of a V6 naturally aspirated 3.0 L mated to three electric motors and a 7-speed automatic transmission with double clutch.

This engine delivers a net power of 321 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque. Its gearbox, which has no torque converter, can be used in automatic mode or using the paddle shifters fixed to the steering wheel, in manual mode. In addition, a system of management of the power gives the driver the choice of four operating modes : comfort, normal, sport and sport+.

This hybrid system allows the MDX to perform exciting, since it can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 6 s, without, however, be a glutton. It is, however, in city driving that excels this utility ” green “. Compared to the MDX ordinary, its rating of city fuel consumption is 25 % lower. However, its rating consumption on the highway is the same. Nevertheless, based on figures from the manufacturer, it would be possible to make this hybrid an average fuel consumption 20 % lower. At the end of our test, this resulted in an average of 10 L/100 km, a rating that is respectable for a behemoth four-wheel drive, plus 2 t.

Photo courtesy Honda

The useful volume of the trunk of the MDX Sport Hybrid is as important as that of an MDX equipped with the powertrain ordinary.

POWERED SUPER

It is good to note, however, that both petrol engines of the MDX use premium fuel. In addition, only the engine of 3.5 L can be used to task of towing. The manufacturer announces a capacity of up to 2 268 kg (5 000 lb) for the MDX ordinary, recommend this type of use in the case of the MDX hybrid.

It should be noted, finally, that the MDX hybrid features a transmission-integral of a different kind. It uses two of its three electric motors to drive the rear wheels. As effective as all-wheel drive and traditional mechanical, this system allows to limit the mass of the vehicle, since it does not need a driveshaft and rear differential.

Thanks to the compact dimensions and the location of the lithium-ion battery of 1.3 kWh, which powers the electric motors (it is located under the front seats), the MDX hybrid has a safe as practical as the other versions. Its useful volume (minimum and maximum) and remains among the most important of its class.

The same goes for the comfort of the occupants. This MDX provides the same comfort of the prince, to the occupants of the front seats, thanks to the bucket seats detailed with many adjustments. The occupants of the central places will also appreciate the bucket seats offered by the manufacturer. As for the rear bench, it is used to troubleshoot without more. The clearance for the feet and legs is almost non-existent, so only the young and small children will use it.

The MDX hybrid has a smooth ride and power steering calibrated in an exemplary manner. Its endowment brings together several features aid driving and safety, which prove to be safer on the american highways, where drivers drive fast, very fast. Accustomed to motorways are limited to 100 km/h, the “Snowbirds” that we meet in Florida no longer have all the reflexes necessary for driving on expressways where the vehicles spin to 135 or 140 km/h. A day of driving in these conditions can become exhausting, tell us some of them. These devices help make driving more safe, avoiding some unpleasant surprises and reducing the voltage generated by the driving.

Acura has already 30 years of age

Photo courtesy Honda

Acura Legend 1987.

In February 1987, Honda Canada launches Acura. It is the first brand of luxury cars of japanese who made her debut with us. In 1989, in turn Nissan launches Infiniti followed the next year, Toyota with Lexus. At the time, Acura is only offering two models : the large sedan Legend and the Integra, a compact car popular. These cars are sold through a small network of only 20 dealers. Today, Acura has a network of 51 dealers spread to the four corners of the country and its range of six vehicles : two utilities to RDX and MDX, and four cars : the compact ILX, the intermediate TLX, the large luxury sedan RLX and the NSX, a hybrid sports car. Canadians have purchased more than 500,000 Acura and our neighbors the u.s. more than 4.2 million. More than 50 % of the vehicles were assembled in North America. Alone, the plants ontario Honda have produced over 800 000, including MDX original, ZDX and compact EL and CSX. Today, Honda produces the majority of products Acura in the United States : the ILX and the TLX, the sedan the most popular, the RDX and MDX, its biggest sellers, and the prestigious NSX.

Acura MDX

Base price

54 090 $ (base); 57 590 $ (Navi); 60 590 $ (Tech); 66 190 $ (Elite); 69 990 $ (Sport Hybrid).

Transport and preparation

2 165 $

Powertrain

(MDX) V6 SOHC, 3.5 L, 290 hp at 6,200 rpm, 267 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm; automatic transmission 9 reports. (MDX hybrid) V6 SOHC, 3.0 L, electric motors, battery Li-ion 1.3 kWh, 321 hp (net power), 289 lb-ft torque (net torque); gearbox 7-speed automatic. All-wheel drive.

Features

Four-wheel independent Suspension. Disc brakes to all four wheels. Anti-lock braking system series. Tires : P245/60 R18 (base); P245/50 R20 (other versions).

Ratings

Wheelbase : 2 820 mm; length : 4 984 mm; width : 1 975 mm; height : 1 713 mm. Weight : 1 915-2 033 kg. Volume of fuel tank : 74 liters. Trunk Volume : 447-2 575 L. average Consumption (test, hybrid) : 10,0 L/100 km.

Competition

Audi Q7, BMW X5, BMW X6, Cadillac XTS, Infiniti QX60, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKX, Lexus GX, Lexus RX, Maserati Levante, Mazda CX-9 Signature, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover, Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Sport, Volvo XC90

Strengths

• Careful Construction
• Safety deposit box large
• Hybrid powertrain performance

Weak Points

• Back seat useless
• Engines requiring super
• Rear visibility reduced