2006 Acura MDX Model Update

Slick for an SUV

Acura's handsome midsize MDX blends stellar performance, ample luxury and genuine utility.

Introduced for the 2001 model year and based on the Honda Odyssey minivan, the MDX was Acura's first midsize sport utility vehicle. While not stylized like recently introduced competitors such as the Infiniti FX35 or Subaru B9 Tribeca, the MDX holds its own thanks to a superb blend of performance, comfort and utility.

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Minor changes for 2006 include an ebony-colored Zebra wood pattern on the center console and door switches, and satin chrome interior accents added to Touring Package-equipped models. Amazon Green Metallic has been added to the exterior color palette.

The MDX is built on a unibody structure, which is how cars are typically built, rather than with a truck-like ladder frame. This means it handles better on-road than truck-based SUVs. Read more about this in our 2006 SUV Buyer's Guide.

The MDX was the first SUV of any kind to offer a third-row passenger seat that folds completely into the floor to maximize cargo volume without having to physically remove the seat from the vehicle. This feature was carried over from the Odyssey and is fast becoming a must for minivans and SUVs.

The vehicle's only available engine remains a strong and smooth 3.5-liter V6 that produces 253 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque—plenty of gusto for fast acceleration from a traffic light and passing vehicles on the highway. The V6 is mated to a silky five-speed automatic transmission that includes grade-logic control to help provide better power and engine braking when negotiating steep downhill grades.

While the MDX isn't built to traverse rugged terrain, its fulltime all-wheel drive works in conjunction with a sophisticated stability-control system to direct power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip, making it a good choice for wet or snowy conditions. The rear axle can be "locked" at the touch of a button to provide constant power, which can be helpful if the vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow.

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Ride and handling feel more like a luxury sedan than an SUV, thanks to its car-based underpinnings and a sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension. Key safety features include four-wheel-disc antilock brakes and Honda's Vehicle Stability Assist system.

As befits a family-oriented model, the seven-passenger MDX offers standard front, front-side and side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor that will automatically inflate the latter as a precautionary measure if the driver loses control and the vehicle is about to roll over.

The MDX coddles passengers with a comfortable and well-trimmed cabin featuring a long list of standard comfort and convenience features that includes XM satellite radio. The Touring trim level gets wireless Bluetooth cell phone interface and an upscale Bose audio system with CD changer. The only factory options are a DVD entertainment system and a voice-activated navigation system that includes the OnStar communications/safety system and a rearview video camera to aid parking.

The MDX likely won't see a complete revision until the 2008 model year.

Acura launches a second, smaller SUV called the RDX in 2006. Honda's Pilot is a more basic version of the MDX.