RLX SH vs MDX SH vs ?
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
RLX SH vs MDX SH vs ?
Looks like we be moving to a place that gets some snow next year.
Will want a 4WD car. Thinking about RLX SH or the new MDX SH.
Disappointed that the MDX will have a lesser ICE than the RLX, but I like the utility part. Also surprised that the highway mileage is something like 27 in the MDX. I guess the aerodynamic footprint is much bigger. Clearly attracted to the performance of the RLX SH.
Had some thoughts about the BMW X5 hybrid. Its plugable.
Thoughts?
Will want a 4WD car. Thinking about RLX SH or the new MDX SH.
Disappointed that the MDX will have a lesser ICE than the RLX, but I like the utility part. Also surprised that the highway mileage is something like 27 in the MDX. I guess the aerodynamic footprint is much bigger. Clearly attracted to the performance of the RLX SH.
Had some thoughts about the BMW X5 hybrid. Its plugable.
Thoughts?
#2
Pro
Last year's winter (2014-15) in New England with my RLX SH-AWD was a weather nightmare but a driving delight. I found no circumstances on the highway or in the driveway, and even mid-snow storm, in which the car did not perform like an AWD champ. (Well, there was the mile-deep pothole that took out a tire and a wheel, but that wasn't the car's fault.)
#3
Three Wheelin'
My two cents...If you need a lot of cargo capacity, get the MDX Sport Hybrid. If you don't need the cargo capacity and want more luxury and more performance, get the RLX Sport Hybrid.
My RLX Sport Hybrid with dedicated Winter tires was a PLEASURE to drive in the snow. Period.
My RLX Sport Hybrid with dedicated Winter tires was a PLEASURE to drive in the snow. Period.
#4
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Agree - that definitely is the trade-off between the two.
Lifestyle will probably change to more outdoors than city, so the cargo might ultimately sway the decision
Lifestyle will probably change to more outdoors than city, so the cargo might ultimately sway the decision
#5
Senior Moderator
Get the MDX Sport Hybrid if you need more cargo room. The 12 cu ft of the RLXSH may not be enough for your needs.
We don't yet know whether the MDXSH will have the same performance boost over the regular MDX, that the RLXSH has over the RLX (or any other Acura, for that matter, other than the NSXSH. And believe me, the RLXSH is quite a powerful car.
Either will rock in the snow.
We don't yet know whether the MDXSH will have the same performance boost over the regular MDX, that the RLXSH has over the RLX (or any other Acura, for that matter, other than the NSXSH. And believe me, the RLXSH is quite a powerful car.
Either will rock in the snow.
#6
Safety Car
Thread Starter
They posted projected specs and the MDX SH did have a boost. Not as dramatic as the RLX, but better than regular MDX.
My biggest disappointment if I go with the MDX will be that the Advanced does not have Krell
My biggest disappointment if I go with the MDX will be that the Advanced does not have Krell
#7
Senior Moderator
^^^^
Is the lack of Krell in the Advance MDX a cost-cutting measure to keep the MSRP lower than the RLXSH? Or to keep an RLXSH-exclusive feature? Have to wonder.
Luckily, the ELS is pretty competent in the MDX, based on my drives in loaners. Not Krell-fantastic, but good enough to live with.
Is the lack of Krell in the Advance MDX a cost-cutting measure to keep the MSRP lower than the RLXSH? Or to keep an RLXSH-exclusive feature? Have to wonder.
Luckily, the ELS is pretty competent in the MDX, based on my drives in loaners. Not Krell-fantastic, but good enough to live with.
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#8
Senior Moderator
PS, I think it's nice that the SH hardware takes up no passenger/cargo space in the 2017 MDX. Good news if you need room! Maybe the next iteration of the RLXSH (if it comes) will have a similar change.
#9
Safety Car
Thread Starter
The car and driver review said cargo room was reduced from std MDX
not sure how and where it is reduced
Battery capacity is getting better. The new i3 can go 113 miles versus 80 miles in ours. Same volume size, more capacity
not sure how and where it is reduced
Battery capacity is getting better. The new i3 can go 113 miles versus 80 miles in ours. Same volume size, more capacity
#10
Senior Moderator
But Acura's site on the 2017 MDX says there is no impact on interior space.
2017 Acura MDX: Redesigned and Reengineered | Acura.com
Hmm. Will have to find that C&D review now. Thanks!
2017 Acura MDX: Redesigned and Reengineered | Acura.com
Hmm. Will have to find that C&D review now. Thanks!
#11
Torch & Pitchfork Posse
And why not get BOTH? Will the wifey's BMW serve well in the winter climate?
#12
Safety Car
Thread Starter
interesting - hope you are right
I can't find the article right now, but pretty sure I read something like that
I can't find the article right now, but pretty sure I read something like that
#13
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Tampa always providing wisdom
Wifey's 3series convertible and i3 EV are not ideal for winter for sure
but the convert is a manual that we want to keep for fun
Tampa - hate to tell you this, but I sold the boat last week and
should have enough $ to buy both
Wifey's 3series convertible and i3 EV are not ideal for winter for sure
but the convert is a manual that we want to keep for fun
Tampa - hate to tell you this, but I sold the boat last week and
should have enough $ to buy both
#14
Torch & Pitchfork Posse
Here are the captains chair rear seats of the MDX SH. It appears the battery unit is under the seats and center console. Likely why they went to captains chairs for rear seats.
#15
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Re Resale - you got that right!
Still sad to see it go
Still sad to see it go
#16
Grandpa
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[QUOTE=getakey;15758611]
Thoughts?[/QUOTE
In Virginia this past winter, we lived through two storms that amounted to days on end of blizzard conditions.
I didn't have any problems at all.
You can forget about the "Sport" part of SH if you're using it in severe weather, however. You've only got a total 72 HP on the rear and you can't do anything about that.
Thoughts?[/QUOTE
In Virginia this past winter, we lived through two storms that amounted to days on end of blizzard conditions.
I didn't have any problems at all.
You can forget about the "Sport" part of SH if you're using it in severe weather, however. You've only got a total 72 HP on the rear and you can't do anything about that.
#17
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And the captain chairs are an option.
The only thing I can think is that you don't have the same size batteries that we have.
I suppose that by now it's possible to get more amperage into smaller batteries, that run cooler and don't need the vents we have, and maybe the control units got a lot smaller.
We always knew the KC2 was a sort of new, beta-plus kind of thing.
#18
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#19
Burning Brakes
[QUOTE=George Knighton;15760982]Could you please explain this statement George? I drove in very bad weather here in NY a few times, and i did not notice any difference. I did have dedicated snow tires on though......
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#20
Instructor
[QUOTE=pgeorg;15761852]
Very strong reproducible evidence that snow tires are more important than all-wheel drive for winter driving, even on DRY (but cold temperature) roads. There is just adjustment in the composition of the tire to give better traction. All wheel drive is really a compromise for better safety all the time. It's insurance, really, expensive and heavy. It seems clear it would be economically better paying for snow tires on cheap wheels, than all wheel drive with all season tires. But the benefits to performance are another consideration, of course, and the main reason for the SH-AWD in the hybrid.
Very strong reproducible evidence that snow tires are more important than all-wheel drive for winter driving, even on DRY (but cold temperature) roads. There is just adjustment in the composition of the tire to give better traction. All wheel drive is really a compromise for better safety all the time. It's insurance, really, expensive and heavy. It seems clear it would be economically better paying for snow tires on cheap wheels, than all wheel drive with all season tires. But the benefits to performance are another consideration, of course, and the main reason for the SH-AWD in the hybrid.
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#21
Three Wheelin'
Very strong reproducible evidence that snow tires are more important than all-wheel drive for winter driving, even on DRY (but cold temperature) roads. There is just adjustment in the composition of the tire to give better traction. All wheel drive is really a compromise for better safety all the time. It's insurance, really, expensive and heavy. It seems clear it would be economically better paying for snow tires on cheap wheels, than all wheel drive with all season tires. But the benefits to performance are another consideration, of course, and the main reason for the SH-AWD in the hybrid.
My experience, living in a climate where there is snow on the roads 6 months of the year, is that AWD with snow tires is by far the best solution. Even BETTER YET is SH-AWD with snow tires because it adds the torque vectoring that greatly enhances control in turns on snowy, icy , slippery road conditions.
My two cents.
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#22
Torch & Pitchfork Posse
[QUOTE=sooththetruth;15764370]
Very strong reproducible evidence that snow tires are more important than all-wheel drive for winter driving, even on DRY (but cold temperature) roads. There is just adjustment in the composition of the tire to give better traction. All wheel drive is really a compromise for better safety all the time. It's insurance, really, expensive and heavy. It seems clear it would be economically better paying for snow tires on cheap wheels, than all wheel drive with all season tires. But the benefits to performance are another consideration, of course, and the main reason for the SH-AWD in the hybrid.
You just gave reason as to why SHAWD has value to those not in the snow belt. The consumer market is slowly understanding this, but the marketing of AWD is now a benchmark for premium / luxury brands is taking hold faster (to fill the vacuum created by engine downsizing).
This will be even more challenging for SH SHAWD to be understood. Most of us really did not appreciate SHAWD in the RL until AFTER we acquired the car. It was not obvious in a typical test drive. And now I would say the same for SH technology. Initial impression was wow - more power! But learning this car's behavior of SHAWD was different from the RL. The RL required you to get on the gas in a turn (at a somewhat unnatural point), whereas SH SHAWD is torque vectoring constantly, even when decelerating or coasting through a mild curve.
Where SH SHAWD takes it to the next level, is not only more instantaneous / real time vectoring but also the negative torque. Above other systems which only use braking to create the yaw, SH SHAWD does both (e-motor braking and brake applications). And capitalizing on the negative torque is energy regeneration. That is where Honda is unique. (aside from somewhat similar concept with the $800K Porsche 918.)
I look at it as AWD + ( positive and negative ) torque vectoring + brake assist + dynamic power regeneration. IMHO Honda's orchestration of those attributes in a near seamless manner is quite a unique and sophisticated achievement in a pedestrian (if not niche and premium) sedan.
All of that has benefit without snow.
Very strong reproducible evidence that snow tires are more important than all-wheel drive for winter driving, even on DRY (but cold temperature) roads. There is just adjustment in the composition of the tire to give better traction. All wheel drive is really a compromise for better safety all the time. It's insurance, really, expensive and heavy. It seems clear it would be economically better paying for snow tires on cheap wheels, than all wheel drive with all season tires. But the benefits to performance are another consideration, of course, and the main reason for the SH-AWD in the hybrid.
This will be even more challenging for SH SHAWD to be understood. Most of us really did not appreciate SHAWD in the RL until AFTER we acquired the car. It was not obvious in a typical test drive. And now I would say the same for SH technology. Initial impression was wow - more power! But learning this car's behavior of SHAWD was different from the RL. The RL required you to get on the gas in a turn (at a somewhat unnatural point), whereas SH SHAWD is torque vectoring constantly, even when decelerating or coasting through a mild curve.
Where SH SHAWD takes it to the next level, is not only more instantaneous / real time vectoring but also the negative torque. Above other systems which only use braking to create the yaw, SH SHAWD does both (e-motor braking and brake applications). And capitalizing on the negative torque is energy regeneration. That is where Honda is unique. (aside from somewhat similar concept with the $800K Porsche 918.)
I look at it as AWD + ( positive and negative ) torque vectoring + brake assist + dynamic power regeneration. IMHO Honda's orchestration of those attributes in a near seamless manner is quite a unique and sophisticated achievement in a pedestrian (if not niche and premium) sedan.
All of that has benefit without snow.
Last edited by TampaRLX-SH; 05-29-2016 at 10:08 AM.
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#23
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Very strong reproducible evidence that snow tires are more important than all-wheel drive for winter driving, even on DRY (but cold temperature) roads. There is just adjustment in the composition of the tire to give better traction. All wheel drive is really a compromise for better safety all the time. It's insurance, really, expensive and heavy. It seems clear it would be economically better paying for snow tires on cheap wheels, than all wheel drive with all season tires. But the benefits to performance are another consideration, of course, and the main reason for the SH-AWD in the hybrid.
While I can say that I did okay in the blizzards of the 2015-2016 winter season, I know that I'd have done much better with dedicated winter rubber.
Last edited by George Knighton; 05-30-2016 at 08:29 AM.
#24
Does the MDX hybrid have a spare tire and dual rate dampers?
The driving dynamics are a huge compromise in SUVs.
I tend to get stuck behind SUVs slowing down on corners I would coast or accelerate through. My vote is for the sedan.
The driving dynamics are a huge compromise in SUVs.
I tend to get stuck behind SUVs slowing down on corners I would coast or accelerate through. My vote is for the sedan.
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JM2010 SH-AWD (05-31-2016)
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