When it comes to buying cars, there are a ton of researchers we can use before we go to the dealership. We watch videos, check out the dealership page, and even look at KBB to decide what fair market value for the car we want is. The most important resource we can use, however, is the reviews of people who have already owned the cars. After all, who better to give an honest opinion than someone who has nothing to gain? Well Acura MDX owners have opinions on the car, and these are their biggest complaints.

The MDX engine

The first complaint MDX owners and potential buyers have are that this spunky mid-sized crossover was only offered with one engine. It had a 3.7L motor among all trims of every year, with the exception of the new hybrid model. The MDX has 300hp with this engine, so while it isn’t overwhelming fast, it only evens out with the weight of the SUV. The 3.7L engine seems to sit right in the middle of what the consumers want. While some drivers would want a faster engine or even one with a turbocharger to give it more power, others complain that the SUV could get better fuel economy with a smaller engine.

Option for better brakes

For the MDX, Acura does not offer the ability to upgrade the brake system. While owners can purchase and install their own aftermarket brakes with drilled and slotted rotors. For an SUV large enough to have a third row of seating, you would expect that Acura would offer the option to upgrade the brakes for more stopping power. While this isn’t a major problem for most people and there is no history of brake failure with the MDX many owners and potential buyers claim they would still like to see the option available. Some of the sedans offered by Acura even have Brembo brake options, but they don’t extend to the MDX.

Suspension options

The Acura MDX is not offered with an air ride suspension option like some other luxury cars. For the car being so large and heavy, it would make sense that owners would like the air ride suspension that some other high-end SUVs get. The MDX does still have an active suspension that allows the suspension to adapt and can also be changed by the user. The active suspension of the MDX has two modes: sport and comfort. In sport mode, the suspension becomes stiffer and the ride becomes a little more noticeable as you are likely to feel more bumps and imperfection in the pavement, but this allows for better performance. In comfort mode, the MDX drives more like the luxury SUV that it is, comfortably navigating the roads while jostling the driver and passengers as little as possible.

The Acura MDX is a great option for a third-row seating luxury SUV that doesn’t cost as much as a new Lamborghini Urus. While many owners and buyers complain about their lack of options, the SUV is spoken of highly with very few complaints.