2008 Acura MDX

Are you looking for a Honda Pilot without wanting to give the appearance of being a soccer-mom? Or maybe you crave the reliability of Japanese engineering but want a little something ~extra~? Maybe you just need an SUV that moves people from point A to point B and you want something different. Well look no further, my beloved readers, I have found the car for you. I would like to introduce the 2008 Acura MDX.

More specifically, this is my 2008 Acura MDX. This vehicle has been in our family since 2014 when we decided to take a dip into Honda’s luxury SUV line. Now, you may say that the MDX isn’t luxury, but we were coming from an ’02 Honda Odyssey, so just about anything was a step up..

This car has just about seen it all in it’s lifetime, from the beaches of South Texas to the back country of Colorado, and it’s been an absolute trooper. We got the car with 58k miles on it, and it has just ticked over 207k as I am writing this article. From a reliability standpoint, I have nothing but high praise for this car. Aside from the routine maintenance, there hasn’t been anything out of the ordinary that has surprised us or left us stranded. That, of course, is to be expected because after all, it’s still a Honda under the hood, so as long as you have all four wheels you’ll get to where you need to go. On top of reliability, the MDX totes a foldable third row, bringing the total seating capacity to 7. Now a fair warning that stems from the seating capacity: this will make you the appointed driver for most outings with friends and family; I speak from experience.

Regarding the driving experience, it is really quite pleasant. Whether it be rain or shine, I have never felt more confident behind the wheel of a vehicle as I have in this one. The SH-AWD system (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) does an excellent job delivering power to all four wheels and the tight steering allows for precise turns and maneuvers. It produces moderate power, with an output of ~300 hp with the A/C off, a respectable figure for sure; however, a curb weight of ~4,500 lbs leaves you with a lot of weight you need to throw around and it certainly feels like it. The only weakness of the powertrain is the 5 speed transmission. What was fairly standard at the time now feels a bit sluggish while shifting and leads to an EPA rating that has much to be desired (I get about 21mpg hwy and 18mpg city).

Though, don’t let this deter you if you’re looking for a late 2000’s SUV. After a quick google search, one could pick up a 2008 MDX for anywhere between $6 – $ 10K with fairly reasonable milage. I consider this to be an absolute bargain for the price, considering how there remains a large potential for it to outlive most other cars on the road. Can it feel like a boat at times? Yes, there is no denying that. But with a car like this, it is important to look at reliability and effectiveness at what it set out to do. The MDX was not engineered for cutting edge performance; on the contrary, it is a vehicle that it meant to move people reliably while providing a nice experience behind the wheel, and it does just that.