Back in 2001 Acura introduced the MDX mid-size luxury crossover, long before such things were the norm. In fact, most other automakers were (and still are) concentrating on off-road capable SUVs in this segment. Fast forward to 2010 and the MDX has surpassed all other Acura models to become the volume leader in the Japanese automaker's luxury lineup.
We'd say that Acura's gamble to build a crossover while the rest of the market was focused on more traditional SUVs has paid off, but it wasn't a gamble. Rather, Acura followed its business plan to build models like the MDX that forego unnecessary off-road capability for functional real-world practicality.
The reality is, the vast majority of buyers in this segment will never take their vehicle to the beach, let alone up the side of a mountain, and so the underlying car architecture works perfectly. In fact, since the beginning Acura made no secret of the fact that the MDX has no off-road ambitions. Instead it was designed to deliver added ride height, a luxury drive with high-end features, a stylish look, good passenger and cargo room, plus the value of Honda reliability and a lower price point when stacked up against the German competition.
More:
2010 Acura MDX Review on AutoGuide.com
06-25-2010, 12:03 PM
