Though in the process it seems to have moved up a notch in price/class - it has officially moved up to the 40k mark, up to almost 50k when loaded up.

Then again last year it was, IIRC, 36k or so and not nearly as nice/well featured, so a 4-5k increase seems reasonable to me, even if they've priced themselves a bit too high for the X3/SRX type class.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...leId=116651#18

I was really impressed that they said it actually OUTdoes the Porsche Cayenne at its own #1 game (handling, driver feedback, confidence, etc).

Not to mention the interior went from crap (it was OK when it first came out but is very long in the tooth now) to great, and it seems the ride and feature content are close to if not the best in class as well...

Only thing that doesn't impress me is their continued use of a 5-speed auto in a brand new design... but maybe that's one of those things that will see a mid-model upgrade - I would think the RL would go w/ a 6, 7, or 8 speed first before the MDX.

 

Honda has never been big on trans design. It took them several years to get the current 5spd right, strength-wise. I should know, I got one of the earlier models in my 02 TL-S that was replaced (didn't fail on me, though, and it was free).

17/22mpg- kinda ho-hum. I was hoping for cylinder deactivation here. I continue to be impressed by Tahoe's 16/22 rating, considering the weight and size difference.

 

Trailblazer SS is a better value and would beat the living tar out of that wimp at a track.

 

Kinda like a Mustang Cobra would do to a BMW M3? That doesn't make it better. Only faster.

The BOF TB SS compared to the MDX in any way, shape, or form, is a pretty big stretch IMO, even if they are both SUVs in a somewhat similar price range. The MDX, if anything (from GM), competes with the Caddy SRX.

 

I was suprised when Car and Driver reported the new RDX had more grip on the skid pad and out slalomed the TSX! With that said, I'm not really suprised the new MDX is a great handling SUV as well.

After driving my mom's Lexus RX330 for the last 2 weeks, I have grown a new appreciation for luxury cars. I really doubt a Trailblazer SS would be anywhere near as nice to drive as the MDX from a luxurious standpoint. Threxx's comparison of the 2 to a Mustang Cobra and M3 is on point.

I am going to have to go test drive one of these MDX's as soon as they show up at the local dealer and do a little Acura vs. Lexus comparison.

 

The only negative is that it doesn't look very good. Not that the Cayenne looks good either.

 

The new one looks more aggressive than the old one, which was WAY too "metro" for me. $50k loaded out, though, yikes. Actually, the loaded Tahoes I've seen are in that range ($51.5k, actually on the local lots), so maybe not.

 

The new/improved MDX hits the market at an interesting time- with the intro of the new mid-size crossovers from GMC and Saturn.

To me this would give GM the new "benchmark" for the Caddy version and blow it away!

 

Test drive the RX350, then, too. It looks 99% like your mom's RX330 but the drivetrains in them went from limp to impressive just like 'that'.

Also worth considering that the RX will be seeing a ground up redesign in about 18 to 20 months from now.

 

bit of a size difference between a Tahoe and an MDX.

 

Who cares about 'better' - I'm talking about VALUE. And 'somewhat similar' price range? I don't think so. And I'll take the roar of a LS2 any day, over the sewing-machine exhaust of today's sport imports.

 

Right, and of course value is defined as nothing more than which car is faster in a straight line per dollar. Especially when we're talking about SUVs rather than sports cars, right?

 

of course. same goes for minivans.