Few vehicles stir the feeling of being an adult like the 2020 Acura MDX does. It’s a serious three-row crossover for a serious kind of driver and when you consider that a vehicle like this will potentially be carrying around you and your family, perhaps seriousness is exactly what’s needed. Everything from the thoughtfully subdued design to the configurable cargo space inside emits an air of sophisticated measure.
Thankfully, for 2020, Acura hasn’t forgotten that serious drivers like us enjoy having a little fun too which is why the addition of the A-Spec package option for the MDX is such welcome news. A-spec is basically the icing on the cake and previously wasn’t available on the MDX. Dark rimmed 20-inch wheels, two toned Alcantara seats and a slew of other swanky A-Spec enhancements ratchet up the MDX’s cool factor and allow for an overall sportier experience. It’s still the crossover that caters to the serious driver but with new options like these, the 2020 MDX with the A-spec package is a reminder that it’s also serious fun to drive.
What Zoë Liked about the 2020 Acura MDX
In true toddler style, Zoë’s attention span is never predictable and when I place her in my lap in the front seat of review vehicles, I never know what will pique her interest. In the 2020 Acura MDX she couldn’t keep her hands off the steering wheel. Perhaps because the MDX steering wheel is chunky with attractive controls that look inviting and are actually intuitive. I like that the volume function lives in a scrolling wheel that shifts sideways for track selection function. It’s easy to use and quickly becomes second nature. Similarly the scroll wheel is change up information in the gauge cluster is super efficient. The entire design of the steering wheel is aesthetically pleasing and the A-Spec badging towards the bottom gives it that extra point of flair. The thickness of the wheel itself feels nice in the hand and is appropriate for the size of the vehicle. When Zoë learns to drive, I hope it’s a vehicle with a wheel like this.
What This Dad Digs About the 2020 Acura MDX
Configurable Space For Dad Duties – This can be a bit of a double edged sword but the good totally outweighs the not so good. The MDX is a three row vehicle so naturally it also offers various configurations of cargo and passenger seating. Front and second row seats offers plenty of hip, leg and knee room for driver and passengers; the front seats in particular are ideal for almost any body type. What really gets my juices going though is the cargo space that’s revealed with the third and second row seats down. With the third row seats down, the 2020 MDX offers 38 cubic feet of space – more than a decent amount of space for most everyday cargo items. Push that second row of seats down as well and that cargo space expands to 70 cubic feet – a generous amount of area to work with. I made a quick trip to the hardware store in the MDX and easily fit two 9 foot wooden posts inside with only the third row and one second row seat down. Bonus points: The seats were so simple to fold down automatically from the rear cargo door by the press of a button near the lift gate.
A Quietly Confident Exterior Design – Part of why the 2020 MDX makes me feel like an adult is because the exterior design strikes an important balance between cool and calm. Nothing too flashy here but instead bold design cues run throughout the vehicle making it interesting to look at from every angle. The most eye-catching segment is the nose with its recognizable diamond-grill that comes to a nice point at the bumper. The way the headlights wrap around to the front fender is a great example of how the MDX harnesses modern design elements but mutes them just enough to keep them cool and confident. The vehicle is long but the slightly sloping roofline give the illusion that it’s a shorter crossover. The rear of the MDX almost stands in contrast to the front because it’s so modest but I appreciate the no frills design. Compared to the RDX, the MDX’s younger sibling, it’s certainly chunkier all around. But just like a “dad bod,” as long as that extra weight is wrapped a reliable transporter then the package as a whole can be strikingly handsome.
Reliable Performance – Like the RDX, the MDX not only performs admirably on the road but it does so while providing a quiet ride. This is key when the only way my daughter will take a nap on her most rambunctious days is during a soothing car ride. The MDX comes equipped with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 390 horsepower. It’s a bit of a “heifer” at around 4,200 pounds but thankfully my review vehicle came equipped with all-wheel drive. I’m an advocate for all wheel drive on vehicles this size and up because of the added power it allows to haul and maneuver. I was initially surprised that the engine was paired with a 9-speed transmission – I would have thought 10-speeds would have worked well here – but I had little to complain about the performance. The 2020 MDX accelerates with confident power, climbs the gears evenly and handles elegantly for the driver while still producing a peppy ride. Plus it can tow up to 3,500 pounds which can make family roads trips interesting! Campers, anyone?
Dual Infotainment Screens – Infotainment screens come in all shapes and sizes these days; some configurations work and some don’t. The dual screen configuration in the MDX gets a huge thumbs from this dad driver. I prefer having a dedicated screen primarily utilized for a navigation map leaving the other screen free for all other functionality, like climate and radio controls. From a user stand point, it just makes sense – you want a navigation map present at all times, even when you need to change the radio station. Admittedly, it takes a little getting used to switching from the touchscreen functions of the lower screen to the manual use of an input knob for controlling the upper screen. Still, having two screens is worth the learning curve. The most exciting feature for me is that the MDX offers Android Auto compatibility and with my android phone connected I was able to take advantage of both screens! As you can see in the photo below, I was able to place the Google Maps screen on top and control my Spotify playlist running, through android auto, on the bottom screen. This is incredibly dope and a such a welcome feature for us techie dads. Bonus points: Apple CarPlay works here too!
Safety in the all right places – The MDX performed very well in crash safety tests and the A-Spec/SH-AWD version of the MDX we tested comes standard with Acura’s Active Driver Safety System. This system comes complete with all the modern safety tech you’d expect like blind spot monitoring, a surround view camera system, a comprehensive rear camera view with rear cross traffic alert, parking sensors, a collision mitigation braking system, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist and more. I utilized most of the safety features and they worked extremely well thanks to quality components like cameras that offer clear images. Looking closer, it’s the small safety design choices that made the most impact to me. For instance, I appreciate that the blind spot monitor alert light is placed on the front pillar where it is more easily noticed in the driver’s peripheral vision. Often other manufacturers place this alert on the side mirror where it can lost in the reflection of the mirror.
Another small but very meaningful safety feature that parents in particular will appreciate in the MDX is the placement of child safety seat anchors in the second row seats. When a child’s car seat is installed rear-facing into a vehicle there are latches on that child’s seat that connect to anchors placed in the fold of the vehicle’s seats; this allows for quick and secure installment. Many vehicles only have these anchors on either the left or right side of the rear seats, but the MDX comes with a third set of anchors for child seat installment in the center position. This is extremely helpful because it frees up the passenger side seats when a child seat is installed, not to mention that the middle position is noted as the safest place for a child to be in a vehicle.
Where MDX Gets This Dad’s Down-vote
Cramped Third Row – Remember that cargo space double edged sword I mentioned earlier? This is the other side. When a regular sized adult is in the second row, or even a car seat placed there, there is very little legroom for third row passengers. While this does count as a “down-vote” for the MDX, it really doesn’t count much against my overall impression. Third rows in crossovers of this size are expected to be cramped and instead I see them as optional seating that’s available when needed. Personally, I would utilize the extra cargo space with the third row down because unfortunately the MDX only allows for 16 cubic feet of cargo space with that third row up.
Interior Dash Design – Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I’m not a huge fan of some of the design aesthetics in the interior of the MDX, most notably the design of the dash. While the stacked dual screens work exceedingly well for me, the downward swoop of motion that the dash surrounding them creates too much of a sense of a movement where a more calm approach to aesthetics would have been more ideal. The design on the inside of the doors follows the same downward swoosh movement and while I understand the design choice, it remains in contrast to the subtle beauty of the exterior design. On the outside of the MDX, less is more but on the inside more makes it feel like less.
A Wide Range of Prices – While technically not a negative, the wide range of price structures for the family of MDXs can be daunting. The base front-wheel drive version of the 2020 MDX comes in at an MSRP of $44,500 which is a reasonable entry point even if you’ll be missing out on some great features. The most expensive option is the PMC edition that has an MSRP of $61,935. The MDX I tested with the A-Spec package and Super Handling Aall-Wheel Drive has an MSRP of $54,900 and comes with what I think is the best configuration of features.
Multi-Dimensional Luxury
It’s extremely appropriate that the name MDX stands for Multi-Dimensional luxury because this 2020 offering from Acura truly does work on multi levels. Its performance is as reliable as ever, it’s a fun, comfortable vehicle to drive and it offers some great safety features that should stand out to any driver, let alone a dad driver. Acura does an excellent job at creating luxury that feels approachable and with the 2020 MDX it aims to make that approach a thrill inducing one.
Phillip is a filmmaker, an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and craft beer aficionado. He writes about cars, car tech, and various other cool Dad things. He lives, works and plays in Dallas, Texas.
