Acura MDX battles for best all-around

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"MDX" might sound like something you fill at the pharmacy, but it's actually more likely to be filled at the sporting-goods store.The midsized crossover sport utility from Acura is designed to be all things to all people -- or at least all things to seven people, which is its official seating capacity.For the driver, it is a high-performance sports car with a 300-horsepower engine. For the front passenger, it is a great road car with extraordinary comfort. For the back passengers, it's an entertainment system on wheels, especially with the video package.For any and all, it can be a campground carrier, a tow vehicle, a town car or a cargo van with a level of luxury and safety comparable to BMW's X5 or Mercedes-Benz's ML-Class.Acura benchmarked the best at a starting price of $40,790, which is more than $5,000 less than the Mercedes and nearly $7,000 less than the BMW.Introduced in 2000 for model year 2001 as a successor to the Isuzu Trooper-based SLX, the MDX (Multi-Dimensional luXury) entered its second generation in 2006 as a 2007 model.The second generation has a wider track and longer wheelbase, but lost some rearward visibility, which is sacrificed to the tapered roofline. Engineers at Honda, which is Acura's parent, endowed the body structure with Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) to absorb energy from a collision, while the athletic suspension was tuned at Germany's Nurburgring race track for better performance. Yes, these guys are competitive.As a "crossover," the MDX is supposed to look somewhat like an SUV while riding on the chassis of a car. The ride and handling are very "carlike" because this is, in fact, a car, not a truck. The days when these pseudo-SUVs actually traveled off-road are fading fast.With sales falling, automakers are trying hard to convince buyers that crossovers are much more fuel-efficient than true SUVs, but consumers don't seem to be buying it. MDX sales in July were down 35 percent, twice the decline for the Acura brand overall.With an EPA fuel economy rating of 15 city miles per gallon, 20 highway and 17 combined, filling the empty 21-gallon tank at today's average price of $3.87 per gallon should cost you about $81.Here's what you tell yourself: "That's not bad for 2-ton vehicle with all-wheel drive and a 300-horsepower engine that can haul seven passengers, reconfigure like a Swiss army knife for any kind of cargo and still look sharp at the country club." Or, you could just buy a Mini Cooper instead.Of course, you might not be able to tow a 5,000-pound trailer with your Mini, so keep that in mind as you shop. The MDX comes with standard trailer pre-wiring, high-capacity radiator with twin cooling fans, transmission fluid cooler and Trailer Stability Assist. Just ask your dealer to install a hitch and some wiring and you're ready to tow.Acura deserves kudos for the elegant but highly intuitive interior design. The cockpit caters to the driver, whose standard luxury features include 10-way power seat with memory settings, electronic tilt and telescoping steering column and a Multi-Information Display that provides appropriate levels of data.The first two rows of seats accommodate four passengers, with room for three in the back. The front passenger has an eight-way power seat. The Tri-Zone automatic climate-control system should allow all passengers to find their comfort zones.One of the benefits of the rounded SUV design is excellent acoustics, made manifest by the optional 410-watt, 10-speaker Acura/ELS Surround Premium Sound System with six-disc CD/DVD-Audio and DTS changer, AM/FM tuner and XM Satellite Radio. The upgraded sound system comes in the $4,050 Technology Package that is hard to resist. Even if you stick with the standard, 253-watt, eight-speaker Acura Premium Sound System, you're in for a treat.Acura's marketing places a heavy emphasis on technology, and the MDX lives up to the pitch. Among the notable features are the Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition and AcuraLink Satellite Communication System with real-time traffic. This system advises you of actual congestion up ahead in case you want to take an alternate route.So far, 2008 has proven a cruel year for vehicles like the MDX, if not for the auto market in general. But with fuel prices falling, who knows? Maybe 2009 will mark a turnaround.WHAT'S NEW: New standard features, styling tweaks.PLUSES: Comfort, comparative pricing, safety, performance.MINUSES: Fuel economy, rearview visibility.BOTTOM LINE: Strong challenger to BMW X5.(E-mail Richard Williamson at motorfriend(at)sbcglobal.net)