Luxury rides meet winter’s challenges
Acura MDX, Lexus RX on equal footing
When snow starts falling, the interest in vehicles with allwheel drive increases, especially CUV/SUVs. This segment is loaded with myriad choices including the Acura MDX and Lexus RX. Both offer comfort, luxury, reasonable cargo capacity and all-wheel drive. The MDX is considered more of a driver’s vehicle than the RX. However Lexus has added a model that could be a game changer — an F Sport. But does the performance match the label and can it equal or exceed the MDX?
Acura MDX
The MDX is one of the best handling CUV/SUVs on the market, coming closest to the segment-leading, and more expensive, Porsche Cayenne. The MDX standard powertrain includes a robust 3.7-litre V-6 that produces over 300 horsepower, offering plenty of power for most driving situations. All this power enables a towing capacity rated at 2,268 kilograms and acceleration runs to 100 kilometres per hour in just 7.5 seconds. Repeated braking from the same speed is without fading and required an average of 47 metres to stop. The sixspeed automatic transmission may be a tad dated when compared with others, although shifts are flawless and barely discernible. Steering wheel paddle shifters make it fun to run up and down through the gears when the occasion calls for a little more action.
Acura labels its all-wheeldrive vehicles as Super Handling (SH), and they live up to the billing. This is in part because the MDX can send up to 100 per cent of rear wheel torque to the outside wheel during hard cornering, resulting in handling characteristics that come close to those of some performance sedans. There is minimal body roll and, in spite of its weight, the MDX is very nimble, especially in sudden collision avoidance moves. Ride quality is above average due to a superb shock dampening system.
Interior design provides a functional layout with wellplaced and very readable gauges and an excellent driver’s position. The controls are easy to reach and intuitive to use, although most are located on a centre stack that seems to go on forever with enough buttons and knobs to fly a space shuttle. The front seats are very comfortable, with adjustments that will accommodate most shapes and sizes. Side bolstering is an added touch that helps keep one in place during moments of exuberant driving. Second-row seating is among the most comfortable of vehicles in this segment. Unfortunately the third row, like most others, provides neither adequate space nor easy entry/ exit for adults.
The MDX is available in three trim packages — Base, Tech and Elite. The Base model should meet most needs, although my tester — the Tech model — comes with a plethora of goodies, including a 60 GB hard drive, navigation system, multi-view rear camera, blind spot warning system, Bluetooth, surround sound and upgraded leather — worth the extra money. Safety equipment includes all the usual fare plus a couple of neat bonuses. The first, Collision Mitigation Braking System, monitors closing speed — with the help of a grill mounted radar transmitter — to whatever is in front of you, emits a warning, tightens seat belts and even initiates full braking if you ignore all the warnings. The second is Advanced Compatibility Engineering, which utilizes a high-tensile steel structure designed to absorb and disperse the energy from a frontal impact to protect the occupants.
NHSTA crash tests resulted in four-star ratings and IIHS produced five Good ratings. Warranty coverage includes a four-year/80,000 kilometre limited warranty and five year/100,000 km on major components. Engine: 3.7L V-6 Power: 300 hp at 6,300 rpm; 270 lb-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm Transmission: 6-speed automatic with overdrive Fuel economy L/100km: 13.2 city; 9.6 hwy Price, base/as tested: $53,190/$58,690
RX 350 F - Sport
The first F Sport Lexus vehicle that I drove was an IS F 4-door sedan — an ordinary-looking sedan with extraordinary performance. Lexus was planting a foot in the performance car quagmire, albeit with a sleeper vehicle that was much quicker than it looked. A powerful and throaty V-8 coupled with a firm suspension offered speed and superb handling. My expectations for an F version of the RX 350 were high, but first I had to get reacquainted with the base version.
The 2013 RX 350 offers the expected level of luxury and comfort features. A segmentleading, library-quiet cabin and magic-carpet ride make the RX more comfortable than a first-class cabin on the Orient Express. A mouselike remote touch feature makes navigating the eight-inch LCD display screen user-friendly. An optional heads-up display is a great convenience and safety feature. When it comes to performance, steering feedback is relaxed and handling tends to be more Zamboni-like, although acceleration and braking are good. The 3.5L V-6 enables 0 to 100 km/h just a tick or two under eight seconds, with stopping averaging 46 metres. Towing capacity is limited to 1,587 kg and the base model uses a six-speed automatic with overdrive. The shifts are seamless and produce good fuel economy, although there is a hybrid version that is even better. Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) is a long label for a useful, but optional, feature that gets the most out of the all-wheel-drive system by shifting steering torque from one side to the other to compensate for the level of grip.
VDIM is part of the F Sport package, along with a few design tweaks that make it look like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, including. an egg crate front grille, 19-inch wheels with dark graphite inserts, aluminum pedals and special leather seating. It uses the same 3.5L V-6 without any change in output, although there is an eight-speed automatic that reduces rpms marginally at higher speeds but does not improve acceleration times. It does improve fuel economy by about half a litre per 100 km both in city and highway driving. Steering wheel mounted paddle shifters give the F-Sport a fun factor missing from the base version.
Aside from the transmission, the major changes are to the suspension. The standard double wishbone rear suspension with gas shocks is augmented with firmer shocks and springs, plus special front and rear lateral dampening shocks, enhancing handling capability. You can take on twisty roads with a smile on your face with this suspension, and there’s better control in the case of last-minute collision avoidance manoeuvres. All in all, the extra price for the F-Sport is returned with additional features that make it a bargain.
Safety features include a class-leading 10 airbags and a pre-collision system. NHSTA crash test resulted in two fivestar and two four-star ratings with five Good ratings from IIHS. Warranty coverage includes comprehensive four-year/80,000 km and six-year/110,000 km for the powertrain. Engine: 3.5 L V-6 Power: 270 hp at 6,200 rpm; 248 lb-ft. of torque at 4,700 rpm Transmission: 8-speed automatic with overdrive Fuel economy L/100 km: 11.2 city/7.7 hwy Price, base/as tested: $57,900/$58,155
Summary
The Acura MDX offers more interior space, including seating for seven and very comfortable front row seating. The Lexus F-Sport offers a quieter cabin with a ride quality that is marginally smoother. With a larger engine and more horsepower the MDX offers more towing capacity and is faster, but also thirstier than the F-Sport. Braking requires a little more real estate in the Acura than the lighter Lexus.
The Lexus has a slightly lower price and longer warranty on the powertrain. Acura’s allwheel-drive system feels more capable when the weather and road conditions turn wintry.
When it comes to handling, it’s a toss-up. The F-Sport’s handling brings it on par with the MDX. Although they’re not exactly race-ready, both vehicles allow for spirited driving.
In the end, your choice comes down to personal needs. If passenger and towing capacity are priorities, the MDX is best. If you’re looking for style and fuel economy, the F-Sport is the better choice. Either will offer years of enjoyable utility with interludes of spirited driving.