This posting is also on the MDX thread to get the other perspective.

I purchased a new MDX last week and thought that I would share some thoughts and comparisons to my 05 RL.
Very nice ride maybe even better than my RL, selectable norm/comfort. +1 MDX
MDX has red turn signals at the rear which are not as safe as amber. +1 RL
MDX console is busy, lots of buttons and not separated enough. I still have to read the button lables. BTW - while driving I inserted a CD into the DVD slot and wondered why I had no music!
Prefer the look of the MDX console. +1 MDX
Prefer the separate Climate controls on the MDX to the menu of the RL. +1 MDX
I find the buttons on the MDX steering wheel too far from my hands and they are not as easy to find. +1 RL
Prefer the Blue look dash lighting in the RL. +1RL
Prefer the LED interior lighting of the MDX. +1 MDX
Prefer the MID on the RL. MDX does not have instantainous MPG and you cannot see AWD + Temp + Trip A simultaneously. +1 RL
Rear A/C and Ent console is far superior in the MDX. +1 MDX
Prefer arm rest in RL it has a bottom compartment independantly accessible to the left and right compartments. The MDX has a left and a right opening which requires both of them to be open if you wish to get anything in the compartment. +1 RL
Prefer trip computer on the main display. +1RL
MDX 6 speed is smoother and the up/down paddles work all the time without requiring the selection of Manual on the shifter. +1 MDX
Prefer the Keyless system of the RL, I keep forgetting that I need a key for the MDX. +1 RL
Prefer the ELS audio with the USB interface and the HDD in the MDX. +1 MDX

In 05 I thought that the RL was intimidating with its menus and complexity but the MDX has even more and due to both cars being in the same family the transition is fairly smooth.

 

nice write up!
both different cars for different purposes

 

I think the comparison would have been very close if you were doing it with a newer RL where most of the items would be addressed, fyi

 

Yes, I purposely did not comment on the MDX ACC/CMBS, 3.7 V6, A/C controls etc.
I would like to add that the ACC is great when you are trying to navigate the menus and are creeping up on a car so it slows down for you.

MDX also has blind spot warning LED on both sides of the A pillar. +1 MDX

 

got cooled seats?

 

Great comparison, thank you!

My belief has been that the MDX is basically an RL on stilts and with extra cargo room. It drives on rails (or at least as close as you can come in an SUV)....and is par for the course for Honda/Acura SUVs. Very enjoyable to drive.

 

Yes - heated and cooled and the rear outside 2 are heated as well.

 

yes, it's a tall RL, approved.

 

While my 05 RL is in the shop my loaner is a 10 MDX, have to say that I always thought this would be my next SUV but not anymore.
Steering is very heavy and makes driving a chore. The controls for the radio are to far away to manually change the channel.
I do love the option to view different routes on the MDX NAV.
The MDX feels very underpowered compared to my Aviator, I know they have the same HP and the Aviator has about 25lbs more torque but man does that 25lbs make a difference.
I had the choice between this and the RDX and now I wish I had the RDX for the weekend.
Just my .02 and really missing my RL.

 

I don't know if MDX is underpowered compared to an Aviator. The thing I noticed with my 09 RL is that you have to really surprise it with the sudden gas pedal flooring for it to properly downshift and wake up.

Sport mode wakes it up faster and paddle shifts is the best way to be in the proper gear for proper acceleration.

Then it flies.

 

I agree with 037 on that remark.

Plus you have to factor in the weight.
Weight is a huge factor

 

Must we pain over the fact that they are different vehicles? Is it really necessary to find every detail as to why and how they do not perform exactly the same? Do I really need to know how to drive my RL so it behaves like (or better) than an MDX?

I agree with comparing features, as within a brand, packaging should reflect a brand resemblance. I too agree the MDX is feature familiar to an RL and if I wanted an SUV with RL-like attributes, the MDX it would be. But if you put every component, feature or option of an RL into an MDX (or vice verse) they will and should behave, perform and deliver different driving experiences. Is that a newsflash?

What benefit does bragging an RL will be .035 seconds faster (oooo, wow) if you use the paddle shifters, drive with atmospheric conditions of 40% humidity, each a light lunch, recently lost 20lbs and wait for the harmonic convergence of Jupiter, Mars and Venus to occur? What is the point? Self affirmation that any vehicle other than your own must be measured (and beaten) by any metric most will never validate in real world driving? You cannot enjoy your vehicle unless your proclaim total domination? Have your tried using 'spirit fingers'?

If the automobile industry bowed to this singularity mentality that every vehicle must be just like the next in every conceivable attribute we would have so little choice as to what we can purchase and drive. We would have a market of people's cars, none different, none smoother, none faster, none more purposeful, none more indulgent, none more appliance, none more emotion inducing, etc, etc, etc.

I agree with and enjoy comparisons of vehicles and features, especially within the same brand or market segment. But these painful, tedious justifications of why an unlike vehicle is better or worse than your own car is just self affirmation and has little to do with the attributes of the vehicle itself.

They should be different. Embrace that.

 

+1

 

sounds like you're writing a book not talking to real people with real questions.

if the question came up, I guess someone cared enough. No need to write a novel blah blah blah about how useless this comparison is.

To be precise, my car does 0-60 in sports mode .5-1 second faster than full auto.

 

For those of us who have actually read a book, one not peppered with pictures of your RL, you posting speaks for itself.

But to help you out with your very first book report, I was not 'blah, blah, blah' on how useless the comparison was. In fact I said it was welcomed and I agree with it. What I was commenting on was using that comparison to further affirm yourself how you and your RL is the reason for which the planet revolves.

Don't think too hard, you could hurt yourself.

 

thanks for addressing the facts posted.

 

My initial posting was to casually remark on my findings during the first week of ownership of the MDX. My thoughts over the years have frequently been about a manufacturer taking the best ideas from numerous examples and putting them into one car. We have all owned cars that have had features that we now no longer have and it's a pity that someone doesn't put it all together. The RL and the MDX have two distinct roles so I'm not comparing the body shape and size but it would be better to improve a product. For example, I like the 2 sun visor option so that one is left and one is in front of you. (Explorer) I would like the software to make selectable the tilt down mirror option when you are in reverse without parking the switch in the middle. (Tahoe) Very little cost involved but enhancements none the less.
One other observation that smells of corporate mis-communication: the "joy"knob cluster has the cancel button bottom left on the RL and middle left on the MDX! (just to piss me off).

 

happy to report that cancel button is left bottom on the RL

 

db22 - I like your taste in cars...

I have an 06 Rl AND 07 MDX....

I'll chime in briefly... my opinion is that the RL is a nicer and better made car than the MDX...but k eep in mind, I'm comapring a *slightly* newer RL to an older MDX with fewer options than yours... My MDX is a tech model - so it has the nav system, but not the newer HDD one you have. I don't have the entertainment or sport packages, so my suspension is not adjustable and I don't have the rear heated seats, nor do any seats cool...

were I to compare my RL to a loaded top of the line MDX, maybe I"dl iek the MDX more. i've n ever driven that suspension system you have to see how soft / firm it can get. i honestly liike how mine drives with the standard setup..it's firmer than the RL, but very sporty. my SUV handles better than many cars...

we bought the MDX first, and liked it so much we wnated to get another Acura..and looked at TL and RL. newer TLs vs CPO RLs. ultimately we got the RL.

Obviously the MDX is the most practical. it is larger in the rear than the RL and the rear cargo capacity is huge. We have roof racks - so if we needed to - we coudl load up cargo on top and fit 6-7 people in the car... RL will never do that. for big family trips were we are taking lots of luggage, the dog, the dog carrier, hiking stuff - we just did a trip to YOsemite... we take the MDX.

but for quiet, smooth, comfort - the RL is hands down better. For our shorter famliy tirps - where we aren't hauling tons of stuff, we take hte RL.

my MDX and RL are on par in terms of tech as they are closer in model year - versus yours.

I'm sure the MDX you have is much like mine, only newer, nicer, with more options..when mine is due for replacement, i'll look into a new one. at the tiem we bought our MDX it had just come out and was easily the best bang for the buck SUV in it's segment. we'll see how it does in a few years.. i've only got 45k miles on mine and plan to keep it up to 100k....

my wife and I both really like each of them - but as many have said - they are different and serve different purposes.

 

OK, I'll play, too. In my case it is an 05 RL and an 08 MDX. I really appreciate that I can pretty much jump from car to car and not worry about where to find things. I really miss the keyless features in the MDX, I'm forever unlocking it and putting the key back in my pocket.

23109VC - looks like our garages are a lot alike except my toy/weekend convertible is a 2002 Ford Thunderbird.

 

What he said, literally. Except our RL is an A-spec and we have the 20th Anni MDX (which is an Elite + some goodies), but regardless this post is spot on. I do have the rear heat seats and whatnot in the MDX, but still they're very close.

The only thing is the MDX is disturbingly deceptive. It'll outhandle many things and put the foot down and then pray that no one gets in your way.

 

2 more features that both the RL and the MDX should have:
The center mirror should also be programmable to Driver 1 or 2. Cadillac has it.
Lights should come on after 20 seconds of wiper use. (Law to use lights in rain in California). My old Caddy had that too.