“2020 Acura MDX A-Spec SH-AWD”
If it Ain’t Broke…..
OVERVIEW
The Acura MDX happens to be the best-selling three-row luxury SUV ever. Last year’s MDX rolled out with enhanced luxury appointments, an upgraded interior treatment and additional exterior color choices. The 2019 model lineup included for the first time, the availability of the popular A-Spec sport appearance package, and also offered an Active Damper System along with expanded wheel and tire options.
The 2020 Acura MDX featuring standard AcuraWatch® technology, available Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ and the A-Spec package starts with a base sticker of $54,900 – only $100 more than last year’s model. There are virtually no significant changes form last year’s MDX to the 2020 version.
The MDX underwent a major design refresh in 2017, with key technological updates added in 2018. The 2019 Acura MDX came with new interior enhancements designed to heighten the luxury content level. New features included available authentic Desert Olive Ash wood trim, high-contrast seat and door panel stitching, and contrasting front seat side garnishes. Driver and front passenger seats feature standard 4-way power lumbar adjustments, while the Technology and Entertainment packages get an updated second-row seat configuration, making for easy passage to the third row.
A-SPEC PACKAGE
The MDX A-Spec sport appearance package, comes standard with Acura’s torque-vectoring Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™. The A-Spec features a more athletic stance heightened by its exclusive half-inch wider 20-inch Shark Grey aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in low profile 265/45-series tires. An aggressive new front fascia, body-color lower sills, larger-diameter exhaust finishers, as well as gloss-black and dark chrome trim for the headlights, grille, window surround and rear tailgate spoiler add significantly to the exterior sporting nature of the MDX A-Spec.
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
Interior enhancements include sport seats trimmed in rich red or black leather with black Alcantara™ inserts, high-contrast stitching, unique A-Spec gauges, sport pedals, Alcantara door inserts, gloss-black trim, a thicker-rimmed A-Spec-badged steering wheel with paddle shifters, and an exclusive A-Spec door step garnish.
POWER SOURCE
The A-Spec’s power is supplied by a 3.5-liter , SOHC, 24-valve i-VTEC V6 engine with Direct Injection and a Drive-by-wire-Throttle. The naturally aspirated V6 pumps out 290 horses at 6,200 rpm while also developing 267 pound feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. Energy is geared to the SH-AWD system’s four wheels through a 9-speed sequential SportShift automatic transmission with Paddle Shifters, which has been improved to provide a smoother, more fluid feedback feel in normal driving by prioritizing second-gear starts.
SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY
Standard safety fare in addition to the braking features included: Driver’s and Front Passenger’s Airbags and Side airbags, Side Curtain airbags with rollover sensor; Driver Knee airbag; VSA, ABS, EBD, BA, Agile Handling Assist, TPMS and Latch system for child seats. The Tech Package comes with A-Spec models and provides the Nav system along with a host of other Driver assistive safety features such as: Collision Mitigation Braking System™ with Forward Collision Warning; Lane Keeping Assist; Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, and Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning.
In addition to AcuraWatch technology, all MDX’s boast a comprehensive array of active and passive safety features, including Acura’s Advance Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, advanced front, side, and side-curtain airbags, front pre-tensioning seatbelts, 4-channel anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution, Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control, and Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
AS TESTED
My 2020 Acura MDX test vehicle was in A-Spec trim wearing an exterior finish coat of Apex Blue Pearl complemented by a Black interior with Ivory contrasting piping. The base Monroney read $ 54,900., while the addition of the exterior color upgrade along with the destination and handling charge bumped the final tally to $56,295.
PERFORMANCE
The 2020 A-Spec version of the Acura MDX shares mechanical componentry and technology with the rest of its MDX stablemates, with the exception of the new MDX Sport Hybrid. The major difference is the enhanced and sporty cosmetic treatment. The A-Spec MDX displays a bold and athletic persona that is superior to other MDXs.
Acceleration is brisk and instantaneous, and the progression through the 9 gears is smooth and virtually seamless. The steering is spot and responsive and the handling characteristics are thereby sporty, especially with the SH-AWD. The ride quality is firm without being harsh, and is really quite comfortable and stable.
OUR FINAL TAKE
It’s possible to spend less for an Acura MDX, and it’s also possible to spend significantly more, depending entirely upon one’s taste and feature requirements.
Whatever personal choice is made results in the acquisition of a highly desirable and luxurious SUV.
SPECIFICATIONS: 2020 Acura MDX A-SPEC SH-AWD
Base Price: $54,900.
Price as Tested: $56,295.
Engine Type and Size: 3.5-liter, SOHC, 24-valve i-VTEC V6 with Direct Injection and Drive-by-wire-Throttle.
Horsepower (bhp): 290 @ 6,200 rpm
Torque (ft./ lbs.): 267 @ 4,700 rpm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic with sequential SportShift Paddle Shifters.
Drive Train: Transversely mounted front engine / SH-AWD
Suspension: Front – MacPherson strut, 25.0 mm stabilizer bar and Amplitude Reactive Dampers.
Rear – Multi-Link, 26.5 mm stabilizer bar and Amplitude Reactive Dampers.
Brakes: Power-assisted four-wheel discs (vented front), ABS, EBD, BA and TPMS.
Tires: Continental CrossContact LX Sport 265/45 R20 104H mounted on 5-“V”-spoke Anthracite finished alloy wheels.
Wheelbase: 111.0 inches
Length Overall: 196.2 inches
Width: 77.7 inches
Height: 67.4 inches
Curb Weight: 4,275 lbs.
Turning Circle: 38.7 ft.
Fuel Capacity: 19.5 gallons
EPA Mileage Estimates: 19 mpg city / 25 mpg highway
Drag Coefficient: Not listed
0 – 60 mph: Not tested
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