The first step in developing an automotive brand image is the visual identity. This is probably where Acura has had the toughest time going back to the original Legend and Integra in the 1980s that came to market without even a logo. Eventually, the cars got an icon based on a stylized pair of calipers, but it wasn’t until 2008, that the lineup got a consistent design theme that really set it apart from the crowd. The most prominent feature of that language was the massive shield grille, often described as a beak or more derisively as the beaver tooth. Due to the model redesign cadence, the big MDX didn’t actually adopt this look until the second generation model got a mid-cycle update in 2010 and then the third-generation 2014 model got a heavily reworked version of it.
At the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Acura debuted a new 4-door coupe concept that would preview the brand’s new design direction. The Acura Precision Concept may not ever make it to production but just months after it debuted, its new face was already being applied to a refreshed MDX for the 2017 model year. I’ll say it right here, even as a mid-cycle facelift, the so-called diamond pentagon grille and jewel constellation headlamps are a big improvement for the MDX. The rest of the exterior is largely unchanged from the three-row SUV we’ve been seeing since 2014.
It’s also reasonably thrifty at the pump with EPA ratings of 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. During my week of mixed driving that including a trip to Detroit and hauling some stuff around as part of an ongoing house move, I saw 22 mpg.
Aside from the layout of the shift controls, I can’t really complain much about the rest of the interior, especially in the first two rows. There’s plenty of room and the seats as usual are very comfortable and supportive. Since this is a mid-cycle refresh, Honda hasn’t updated the infotainment system with its dual screen layout. The top screen is used mainly for navigation since it’s closer to the driver’s line of sight. The lower screen is for audio and climate controls and features a touchscreen with haptic feedback that isn’t really any more useful than similar systems on phones. The user interface is definitely looking dated compared to the latest system that just debuted on the new Odyssey minivan and doesn’t support Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
At $59,475 as delivered with the technology, entertainment and advanced packages, this MDX isn’t inexpensive but it’s also not out of line with other premium large SUVs. The updated design is certainly less controversial, but from looking at the Acura lineup as a whole, while it’s well executed, it’s still not clear what the brand is supposed to represent. By the end of 2018, it’s likely that Acura will have at least replaced and expanded its SUV lineup with a new RDX likely this year, an MDX next year and a smaller utility based on the HR-V added. Perhaps, we’ll even see a replacement for the RLX sedan that takes inspiration from the Precision concept. Maybe then we’ll have a clearly picture of where Honda wants to go with this brand.