Honda MDX 2003 Review

What we liked
>> Spacious
>> Refined interior
>> Strong, quiet engine

Not so much
>> Bland, bland, bland styling
>> No tiptronic option for auto
>> Gimmicky info centre delivers little

OVERVIEW
Seems you're not a marque of note in the new century unless you've got a flash four-by-four -- though not the mud-plugging type. Rather the leather, Wilton and all bells and whistles kind -- the type made mega-popular by the likes of BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz M-class. No surprise then that Honda has entered the fray Down Under with what it dubs its first "luxury sports utility" vehicle.

The Honda MDX is not exactly brand new; it has been sold with Honda's prestige 'Acura' badge in the US for a while now. It arrived in Australia in April 2003, at a time when Honda's fortunes are flagging. The MDX and all-new Honda Accord due mid-2003 have been chosen to right these wrongs.

The MDX arrives with hopes high, slotting into an increasingly popular prestige 4WD market. According to Honda, it is designed to match the functionality, comfort and refinement of the Odyssey people mover and Legend prestige sedan. One thing's for sure, boasting true seven-seat capacity, the MDX is capable, classy and deceptively spacious -- factors likely to set it apart in a hotly contested market.

FEATURES
The MDX debuts Honda's newest 4WD system, a part-time configuration dubbed Variable Torque Management Four-wheel drive (VTM-4). The system uses a computer-controlled rear differential to deliver drive to the rear wheels, and rather than responding to spinning wheels (ie: only once traction is lost) VTM-4 is said to predict slip to proactively deliver torque in proportion to forward acceleration to supplement front wheel drive.

The advantage over conventional part-time 4WD set-ups on dry roads, says Honda, is less likelihood of torque steer and enhanced front tyre traction when cornering. On wet or icy roads the system can deliver 30 percent more torque to the rear wheels than Honda's previous set up as seen on CR-V.

When the going gets really slippery the rear differential can be locked (via a dash-mounted button) to deliver maximum drive to each wheel. This facility is available only under 30km/h in first, second or reverse gears. VTM-4, combined with Honda's VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) system, is claimed to surpass the needs of what Honda terms 'medium-duty' off-roaders.

COMFORT
The MDX's cabin won the hearts, or at least the bodies of the CarPoint crew during our test. Fit, finish and comfort inside is first class, which won't surprise Honda fans. What will surprise is the spaciousness of the MDX. The MDX is a full seven-seater and more than a class bigger than its ubiquitous urban 4x4 stablemate, the CRV. Indeed, even as 'just' a five seater the MDX boasts demonstrably more useable 'people space' than the BMW X5 we had on test at the same time.

There's acres of space in the luggage compartment With seating set for five, because the third row of seats folds perfectly flat into the floor. Even with seven seats in-situ, luggage room is adequate.

Some of our staff commented on the sombre nature of the MDX's black leather interior, but overall it got the thumbs up. For some the whole effect may have been a little underwhelming, but in this writer's opinion the novelty of flashy, gadget-filled interiors soon wears off.

There's little in the way of superfluous detailing inside the MDX save for the large (seven-inch) Centre Display Screen (CDS) and timber style console and door detailing.While the timber and occasional chrome detailing added to the cachet of the interior, the mono CDS seemed chock full of useless information. No doubt, this will make way for a proper GPS-nav screen in a later model.

Auto and semi-auto mode climate control (front and rear) kept us happy in the midst of a Melbourne winter, but it was the heated front seats that really warmed the cockles. While on the subject of the front pews, the eight-way power adjustable seats get high marks, as much for their support when pushing on as their downright comfort.

Standard equipment sunroof, high quality six-speaker six-disc CD stereo and power everything else all contribute to make the MDX cabin a great place to spend time.

SAFETY
Active safety is a subject many manufacturers have taken to heart in the last decade, with many once-exotic driver aides now standard equipment. As mentioned hereabouts, the MDX is no exception and is fitted with a high level of equipment including powerful ABS brakes with four-piston calipers up front.

VTM-4 (Honda's own acronym for the electronic 4WD system) contributes to wet road safety and adds a degree of extra stability when towing or touring on dirt roads. It's worth noting that sight lines and vision are excellent -- no need to shell out extra dollars for a rear vision camera.

In terms of protection, the MDX's unitary structure incorporates front side and rear crumple zones, and is arguably safer than the separate chassis layout some 4WDs still use. Under the skin, a four-ring shell-type safety cage is combined with a substantial floor structure and sees the MDX meet or exceed all relevant safety standards.

Dual-threshold front airbags protect the MDX's front occupants, and sense and adjust deployment speeds dependent on whether front seat belts are being worn or not. Up front 'smart' side bags are also a standard fitment. Top marks too, for the seven (count 'em) lap/sash seat belts. Honda has managed to incorporate this basic safety feature without impacting on the amenity of the flat floor folding second and third seat rows.

MECHANICAL
The MDX draws on obvious Honda DNA. Its engine is a 3.5-litre V6 with V-TEC variable valve timing boasting a healthy 191kW. As is often the case with modern mills, there's a swag of acronyms to keep the technically-minded happy. Features such as electronic throttle control, direct ignition and dual stage induction systems get plenty of ink in the press kit.

The outcome of all the technical trickery is a willing and refined powerplant that has adequate low-rpm urge. The specs sheet boasts 95 percent of peak torque is available from 2500-5000rpm which means the MDX accelerates strongly both from rest and on the open road.

The five-speed automatic gearbox (no manual option offered) is silky smooth but misses out on any tiptronic-style quasi-manual mode. Aussie-built cars costing half the MDX's $69,990 get this sort of feature, so the omission is glaring.

That said, there's very little else missing. Indeed, most of the aids the modern driver has come to expect are in the MDX's standard spec. ABS-equipped four-wheel disc brakes, torque-sensing power steering, traction and stability control are all on the list.

COMPETITORS
If you're in the market for a prestige 4WD then be prepared to make a choice -- the segment is a popular playground. Priced at $69,990, the MDX is within cooee of the Lexus RX330, Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, Land Rover Discovery SE and the top of the range Toyota Prado Grande.

We have no hesitation in placing the MDX ahead of this pack in terms of dynamics, desirability and value for money. Even considering the MDX's bugbear; bland styling. There are better offroaders in the list, but in our book it's only Volvo's XC90 that's likely to better the big Honda overall.

While price lists suggest the entry level 3.0lt BMW X5 and Mercedes Benz ML350 are close companions, the savage additional cost of 'must-have' options tend to push the German duo into the $85,000-plus range pretty quickly. Pound for pound, that means you're paying a lot for badge, and marginally better on-road dynamics (only in the case of the X5).

ON THE ROAD
"As good as the X5?" is the on-road benchmark a new big softroader must be measured against. With the MDX, once again the answer is no, but the Bavarians' breathing space is narrowing. Driven in isolation, the MDX is a very wieldy tool, with good manners around town and on the open road.

Turn in is not as crisp as the class-leading BMW, but is a step forward on many of the class contenders. It's easy to warm to the MDX's ways. We especially liked the balance between a refined, quiet ride and the ability to push on without white knuckles when necessary.

Performance is sprightly even with all seven-seats filled, though there's a need to occasionally stir the powerplant along if fully loaded. Even so, the Honda's automatic gearbox doesn't seem to suffer from the 'hunting' the Lexus RX330 exhibited during our extended test. The vote from test-clan Sinclair was a clearly in favour of the MDX over the 330.

Fuel economy is good. Over our test period we averaged around 14lt/100km -- a solid number for a full size seven-seater. In real world terms, Honda's choice of drivetrain reflects the all-road, all-weather use this class of vehicle is likely to be called upon to perform.

While we were unable to test Honda's claims regards off-road ability of the MDX, a very brief play on a large grass and earth 'berm' nearby CarPoint's HQ at least confirmed the tractability of the set-up. When discussing the MDX's four-wheel-drive credentials think snow, some sand and the odd muddy track rather than the Simpson Desert's Big Red and the vehicle-breaking rocks and ruts of the Rubicon Trail.

Many 4WDs are chosen with an eye on towing. Note therefore, with a braked trailer capacity of 2045kg the MDX should fulfil most casual and weekend towing chores. Two horses or a big trailerboat are still firmly LandCruiser or Patrol territory, however.