Hi All,

At the beginning of January I had my 2013 MDX in for service and had a 2014 MDX for a loaner. Well, that short journey resulted in what you see below. I was debating about waiting for the 2015 MDX or 2015 TLX but decided that I didn't want to go back down from an SUV. I figured I would put my 2013 up for sale and see what interest I got. Well, I had an offer within 3 days for what I was asking and the dealership nearby had the exact package I was looking for (SH-AWD w/ Tech - Graphite Luster - Graystone) and I took the plunge.

So far I am loving it (only have had it for less than 48 hours) but I can say I am extremely pleased. I love all the new technology and it is a significant upgrade from my 2013. I did notice that some of the 2014's on the lot had some poor fitting panels so I made sure to examine every square inch of the one I purchased. Everything was in good condition and I love driving it. Now I just need to keep it for several years! Can't trade in that fast again. When I first saw pictures of the 2014 i wasn't impressed so that is the reason I jumped on the 2013. Well I was wrong and the proof is in the garage right now. One odd thing I have noticed is that the process to turn on the seat heaters is overly complicated. A button would have done the job better but it is a small nit pick. Hopefully it is the last one and I look forward to the many miles ahead.

Present - 2014 MDX SH-AWD w/ Tech:


Previous - 2013 MDX SH-AWD w/ Tech:

 

^^^^^

No running board on the 2014 MDX ?

 

Hi Edward'TLS,

I decided to skip the running boards this time around. I personally didn't like how they looked on the 2014 (made it look lower than it is) and I never really used them on the 2013 except when washing the car to clean and dry the roof. Plus with the winter here they usually got salt and dirt on my pants. I did miss them slightly when I waxed and polished it today though but not enough to consider them.

 

Nice upgrade, and that you were able to get what you wanted for the 2013.

Welcome to the new level of quiet, refinement, power, and fuel economy, plus more rear space and seating flexibility. GREAT car

 

Thanks Beach109,

The 2014 is definitely all of those things. I'm definitely loving the gas milage. I did a 60 mile drive the other day and averaged 32 mpg! I couldn't believe it. My 09 Accord with a 4 cylinder engine never got that good. Just have a few more upgrades to make it perfect. I plan on upgrading it with the following:

*Acura OEM 5,000lb Tow Package
*Weathertech Floor Mats (Once the 3rd row is available)
*19" Advance Package Rims

Other than that the car is exactly how I want it. Still debating on a clear bra but purchased one once and I honestly could take it or leave it. Time will tell.

 

Agree. Highway mileage is good, with only 1 bank of the V6 engine firing.

But on the other hand, the VCM'ed engine seems sluggish, and I always have to paddle-shift down 1 gear or 2, in order to get any decent vehicle-passing power when traveling at highway speeds.

 

This is how you make a thread. Nice pics and congrats!

 

Edward'TLS,

Yeah the VCM is definitely a nice feature to improve the gas mileage. I can't really tell when cylinders are deactivated which is nice but I do agree that its a bit sluggish when you are cruising and have to do a quick maneuver to merge into the fast lane. I'll take it though if my gas mileage continues to be this great.

unr1,

Thanks! This is one of my first threads but I know I like pictures in the ones I read.

I did notice one odd thing today. When I backed out of the driveway and started to drive off, the backup camera stayed on for about 30 seconds while driving. It eventually switched to the but was kind of odd. Guess its one of those first year bugs and not sure if anyone else has experienced that.

Anyways, stopped in a parking lot tonight and took some more pictures. Not the best as I didn't have my camera with me and I'm not a huge picture taker so here goes.









And my favorite...

 

 

It doesn't sound right.

The backup camera screen should switch off as soon as the transmission is shifted out of "R".

You should bring your MDX back to the dealership to have it checked out.

 

Congrats and welcome to the 3G MDX family!

 

Congrats, enjoy.

 

You may need to change the settings for the camera.

Could be different in the US but for Canada elite model with the all round view, there are various settings for the camera. I can set mine to be on when shifted from R to D for a short time before disappearing. There is even an option to let is come on when the car decelerates.

 

Phantom....Congrats on your new purchase. That is quite the quick change from a '13 to a '14 but delighted to see you got what you wanted I am a little bit perturbed by your comment about the fits and finish and that you had to look to make sure yours was OK....This is not acceptable. These vehicles should all be built to spec and a vehicle at the price point should not be dealing with gaps like that.

I am waiting for the TLX to come out but given the problems the RLX and some of the MDX owners have had, I may wait a little until the spring to jump into the TLX. I am not saying that problems will solved by then but if there are too many bugs, I may just go for another brand/model more established. I am a bit surprised to see some of these glitches with the recent Acura releases....The 2009 TSX and TL didn't seem to have these types of problems...at least not that I can recall.

 

Edward'TLS,

Fortunately it was only that one time that the backup camera did this. I haven't had the issue since but as I've only had it for few days that isn't saying much. My guess is that they didn't put fast enough hardware into the entertainment system. Either way it runs fast enough for me and I don't find it frustrating like others have (other than the seat heaters).

Thanks Acura_Dude, MaFreCoLa, and terdonal!

blackman,

I'll have to look into the settings. Seeing as it has only happened once it was most likely a delay in the system. I'll check it out though! Thanks!

Weather,

Yes, it was a very quick change from the 2013 to 2014. I'm pretty much obsessed with cars and trade frequently. I really should lease but since I drive over 20K miles a year it doesn't make sense. I just tell myself that everyone has hobbies, mine is just a little more expensive lol.

Also, I was quite surprised by the panels not lining up perfectly. There was one MDX that just got delivered that day that had a very sizable gap in the panels (where the A pillar slopes down and matches up with the fender panel). It was so wide I could slide my finger in it. Also, when looking closely down the side some of the curves in the doors didn't line up perfectly. I had one on order that was expected to come in at the end of the month but decided to jump on the one they had on the lot because I could tell that it had no major gaps and everything lined up perfectly. With some of the MDX's on the lot I knew the one I ordered could have some of the issues I saw and I didn't want to chance it. Granted this isn't some Lamborghini but I've come to expect a certain level of build quality with Acura/Honda. Maybe I'm just picky but when I'm spending almost 50K on a car it should be close to perfect. I felt bad for my sales guy as I made him keep turning it in different directions so the sun would hit every panel (didn't want any dealer installed scratches).

I am happy to say that I love my 2014 MDX. I would buy the car all over again (ask me in a couple months and my mind may or may not change). I've always loved Honda/Acura products and I expect this one to be just as great as the previous ones I've owned and I think they are heading in a positive direction from where they came. I truthfully think most of Acura's issues and the general publics impression of them revolve around poor marketing. When I sold my MDX and TL, both people buying the car had no idea that SH-AWD was different from the AWD you would get in a CRV. Needless to say they were both impressed as I explained the system to them. Hopefully Acura can change their image and keep making great cars.

 

Congrats!

 

I have the Canadian TECH MDX, and the "rear-view" camera system is exactly the same as those equipped on all trim levels of US MDX's.

The "surround view" camera on the Canadian Elite model has lots of setting to play around with, but not much for the regular "rear-view" camera.

Therefore, there is a non-adjustable zero delay with the camera screen when shifted out of "R", with the regular "rear-view" backup camera.

 

looks great congrats on the purchase

 

Glad to see someone else excited about this vehicle... we love ours despite the minor electronic glitches. Probably the best all-around vehicle I've driven.

Congrats on the purchase, hope you continue to enjoy it

 

Thanks epinkiert and seekr613!

Yeah I definitely love my '14 MDX. So far other than the minor issues mentioned previously I have not had any bad experiences with it. Its just a great car all around. When I see a previous generation MDX I do wish they would have kept the exposed exhaust but not a huge deal. This isn't supposed to be a sports car.

Well, I decided to give in and make the plunge on some accessories. I was going to try and resist but I couldn't do it (my wallet isn't thanking me right now). Ordered the following from online and having them installed next week after they are delivered.

*Fog Lights (Not sure how functional but I like the look of them)
*5,000lb Towing Package (Was going to wait until Spring but its going to be 60F this weekend! Time to pull out the road bike!)
*Roof Cross Bars

Hopefully the good weather will hold out and I can clean the MDX (Needs a clay bar and wax) this weekend. Once I get the accessories all installed I'll upload some pictures as I haven't found a lot of photos from various angles with these accessories. Once these are done I'll only need to find some of the Advance package wheels and it will be complete (so I say). Needless to say I love the 2014 and couldn't be happier!

 

Hi All,

Finally got some new accessories installed and had the chance to wash the MDX today. Took off the front license plate cover (love how the dealer drilled holes for this but luckily they are small and not noticeable) as I feel it makes the front flow better. I was also able to get some better pictures as I had my camera but honestly I'm not the best picture taker. Upgraded the MDX with Cross Bars, Fog Lights and 5,000lb Tow Package. Here are some of my observations.

*Cross Bars: Very easy DIY job. Took maybe 10 minutes. Once installed I think they look great but I'm not yet sure how functional they are. They are in a fixed position and the back cross bar appears to be lower than the front one. As discussed in other threads, this could cause an issue with the angle of a roof box. I knew about this already and still purchased them as I think they add to the look of the car.

*Fog Lights: I love the look of these but after having them for several days, in my opinion they are purely for looks. They don't seem to add any additional light as the Jewel-Eye Headlights work very well. When turning them on and off you can see they do light up right in front of the bumper but don't make any other noticeable difference. Maybe when fog rolls in they may prove more useful. Still, love the look and would buy them again.

*Trailer Hitch: Haven't had the chance to test it but I'm thinking of putting on the old bike rack on and taking my road bike out tomorrow. I do like how it is more integrated into the bumper and I think it looks good.

So far no issues with my MDX in the first 1.4K which is to be expected. Had one instance where the backup camera stayed on for ~30 seconds after putting it into drive but it hasn't happened again. Love this car more and more! Keep discovering new features every day and I'm loving the gas milage (~24.5mpg) vs the 2013. Anyways, here are some pictures of the accessories for anyone interested.

 

Congrats -looks great. Did you take a big hit off your 2013 when you traded it in?

 

No backup sensors or side body moldings?

 

I am very interested in purchasing an MDX for my wife. I visited an Acura dealer yesterday. They still new 13's on the lot. My reason for looking at the 13 was due to hp difference. The salesman informed us that the 14 was a more powerful vehicle despite having less hp. He also said that the 14 handles much better than the 13. Who really believes a car salesman? They are there to sell cars and will do anything to sell the vehicle. In your opinion, is there that much difference in the two vehicles in power, handling. I also find the center stack to be quite busy. That's typical for Acura. I would really like to hear what some of you have to say. Thanks in advance for your opinion.

 

Thanks JCRDX11,

Surprisingly I did not take a huge hit when selling the '13 (sold it privately). When I purchased it I got a great deal. Now that there are really no new '13s out there, its helped the value of the '13 stay relatively high as the '14s are not being heavily discounted.

eggeorge98,

No backup sensors or body side moldings. If the sensors included the front ones (like on the Advance package) I would probably purchase them. Since they only include the rears I feel they are redundant with the backup camera. I personally don't like the look of the body side moldings as I feel like they break up the side of the car but I can understand why people would purchase them.


Albion729,

In my opinion there is not a HUGE difference in the driveability between both cars. The '13 definitely had more of an Truck-like feel to it while the '14 drives more like a car. The '14 has IDS which adjusts several things in the car (steering response / gas pedal sensitivity / etc.) which is not offered on the '13. I suggest trying all driving modes to see if you like it.

I definitely feel that the '14 lost some of the ruggedness of the '13 which was kind of a drawback but in all actuality when are these cars driven offroad. While the '14 is down slightly on power I don't think it is noticeable as there have been some significant weight savings. Looking at several reviews online they state that they '14 is quicker but in day-to-day driving it would be extremely difficult to tell a difference.

The biggest difference between the '13 and '14 is with the gas mileage and the technology the vehicle has. In my '13 I would average about 18-19 mpg with mostly freeway driving. Doing the same drives with the '14 I'm averaging close to 24.5 mpg. I'm currently on my worst tank so far and its close to 23 mpg. The technology difference is huge in my opinion and well worth the upgrade. While others have complained they have experienced issues with the infotainment system I have had no issues other than those mentioned in my thread. While the interface isn't lightning fast, once you have the car customized to your liking I rarely find the need to fiddle with the touch screen. I personally leave the touch screen on the radio preset screen 99% of the time.

Depending on the deal you can get on the '13 it may be worth considering but to me the advances with the '14 were worth the upgrade. Also, another thing to mention is that the '13 is based off a vehicle that has been in production since '07 so it is going to be outdated even before you drive it off the lot. That being said, it has been in production for so long there should be zero growing pains as are currently being experience by some '14 owners so that is something to consider if you keep cars for a long period of time. If you do decide on the '14, I suggest you go over the vehicle with a fine tooth comb. Check every panel where they meet to ensure there are not significant gaps and check that all the panels line up perfectly.

Either way, I'm sure you will be pleased with the '13 or '14. I personally would recommend the '14 as it is just a great car. I would drive them back-to-back and you will get a better feel for the differences and which fit your needs better.

 

First let me thank you all for your responses. I live about sixty miles east of Raleigh, NC. All of the three Acura dealers in this area still have brand new 13 Acura MDX's sitting on there lots. We did get to drive the 14. However, this salesman really was not interested in letting us drive any of the 13's because, he said the significance was huge. His exact words were that the only part on 13 that is used on the 14 is the radio bracket. Other than that, it is entirely new. I will go back and drive the 13 and compare. Thanks again.

 

From a current 2011 MDX Advance owner to a 2014 MDX Tech FWD fist time passenger perspective ..

The 3G is nice and acceptable but girly in drive and interior design.
The 2G Advance is certainly masculine and a drivers SUV.
I will ship the 3G like a disease often skips a generation.

 

beautiful! its either this or the tlx as my next vehicle

 

The salesman didn't lie.

Despite having 10 less hp and using 10mm narrower tires, the 2014 MDX is 280 lbs lighter and 17% more aerodynamic efficient.

This translates to an 8 secs faster Nurburgring-circuit lap time for the 2014 MDX versus the outgoing 2013 model.

So the 2014 MDX is faster and handles better.

 

BTW 8sec is a ton of time when car racing.

 

^^^^^

I have no idea on how much is 8 secs worth of faster Nurburgring-circuit lap time, but it seems that every prominent auto makers (Porsche, Ferrari, Nissan GT-R, Honda NSX, etc.) are using the Nurburgring lap times as a measure of how good their vehicles are.