ross7777

My wife is looking to replace her 2013 Highlander soon with another 3 row suv. The MDX is on the list.

Any major issues or concerns I should be aware of? Our Highlander has been problem free so far with 90k miles.

I know they refreshed the exterior in 2017 but is there a major redesign on the horizon?

What are your thoughts on this one:

https://www.poquetauto.com/vehicle-d...mn-id-30127834

nhhiep

for the same $, you should really look into the Kia Telluride with 10 yrs warranty. I am going to get it or Hyundai version in summer to replace my 16 mdx

ross7777

They are in the list but my wife isn’t a big fan of those brands. 10 year warranty is great but not if you have to spend a lot of time at the dealer. I know they have come a long way but I don’t think they are up to par as far as reliability.

mrgold35

The MDX has a 3rd row; but, it is only kid friendly or for people you really hate. The +17 MDXs are mid-model redesign with updated exterior styling, minor tweaks to the interior, and Acura Watch standard on every model. Acura added Apple CarPlay on the +18 if that is something you want to future proof the info-tainment system. You might have to take the MDX for a test ride because it is more "Sport" than "Utility" compared to other brands like from Infiniti or Lexus.

Donn0128

4 months ago I would say Acura. Today my MDX went in the shop for the fourth time. One recall item and 5 electrical issues I am not happy with. Stupid stuff like the drivers positions not setting when I start the engine, to doors unlocking while Im washing it, alarm going off after wife gets in. Radio display stays dim. Like I said a lot of really stupid stuff. Im starting to wish we had bought a Highlander like DW wanted, but......

ross7777

Yeah the Highlander is very reliable but so damn boring.

We use the 3rd row occasionally for kids.

Either way we will test drive an MDX. My wife leans more towards the quiet/comfort rather than sport so it will be interesting to see what she thinks of the MDX.

bmoua15

This man said it right!

I prefer the 18+ models for the Android Auto/Apple Car Play function. I use it daily and its a great feature I want in all my future cars. Space wise its enough for a small sized family of 4-5 but a Pilot takes the cake for best in class space.

Michael2NB

To me, this is not gonna happen, I won't spend this much on a used car, I would rather getting a fully loaded pilot. I won't consider the 3rd gen MDX until I see the 2019 RDX's MID on the MDX.

mrgold35

One thing I hate about Acura is they are always 1/2 to one generation behind Honda with tech. Acura should get all the cool toys first and trickle down to Honda 2-4 years later. Other than styling, the Pilot is a better value on paper compared to 3.5L MDX new or used. Only the sport hybrid MDX is unique; but, no where close to the same utility compared to the Pilot.

The 19 RDX MID felt like information overload when I first sat in it when I had it as a loaner for a few days. There is a steep learning curve between the MID, Navi, Apple CarPlay, and info-tainment; but, it only took about a day before I got comfortable with it.

It was the HUD and more adjustable seats (adjustable headrest, low/high lumbar support, thigh extension support) are the big upgrades I liked with the 19 RDX Adv. I think Acura should go one step further and go with a configurable digital dash as an option. Then you have the option to move the navi to the speedo area (or include HUD navi) and leave the center stack wide screen for info-tainment. Most of my desktops at work and home both have 24" dual monitors and I like having more real estate for showing more information like my 19 MDX.

ross7777

I’m definitely the tech person in our household but my wife could care less.

She just wants FM and Bluetooth for Apple Music. This will be her primary car so CarPlay isn’t high on her list.

She wants comfort, space and decent power. She’s not a fan of the RDX touchpad interface.

mrgold35

My wife is on her phone all the time; but, she isn't a tech person either. She can do all that social media snap chat/facebook/pinterst/emoji and photo stuff 100X better than me (I'm a +30 year IT Specialist). It is just preset my fav audio stations and how do I access my iphone playlist are the only things she cares about in our cars. She actually found it easier to use Apple CarPlay compared to our 11 MDX streaming bluetooth feature. Apple CarPlay looks acts just like her smartphone that is already attached to her hand 99% of the day. If your wife loves to text, using Siri/Apple CarPlay is pretty much like have a conversation with someone just using your voice without any of the "eyes off the road" typing (waaaaay easier with Apple CarPlay compared to thumb typing on the phone).

You might be making her life easier with CarPlay.

ross7777

Well after testing the 2017 Advance and a 2018 Infiniti QX60 the MDX is out.

Its too loud, rough and underpowered. Night and day difference. QX is much more luxurious, quick and smooth. Both are $42k.

Michael2NB

I felt underpower at low speed, especially come from a complete stop. But I am very concern about the CVT, I came from a Nissan to MDX, at 80k miles, the CVT started slipping, I trade in for the MDX, but that was the first gen of CVT, hope they made it better now tho.

ross7777

My wife likes the acceleration. It does have a 70k powertrain warranty.

The MDX is just not luxurious enough. It was surprising to me how unrefined it was.

bmoua15

From a view the Infiniti interior is a notch more premium but i can't get past the CVT.

ross7777

You’re not the first to complain about it but to be honest it didn’t bother me. I know they recently increased the HP to 295 and torque is 270. So maybe that makes a difference? It is a fully loaded model too. It has everything except the theater package.

Its one of those things where if you drive it you just know it’s the one. We drove 4 different vehicles today and it was the winner.