Base price: $36,200
Vehicle type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive; 5-door 7-passenger wagon
Interior volume, F/M/R (cu ft) 57/52/34
Cargo volume, seats up/maximum (cu ft) 15/82
Wheelbase 106.3 in
Length/width/height 188.5/76.3/68.7 in
Turning circle 37.8 ft
Curb weight 4350–4400 lb
EPA city/highway mpg 17/23
Fuel-tank capacity/range 19.2 gal/326 mi
Passive restraints driver and passenger front and side airbags
POWERTRAIN
3.5-liter SOHC 24-valve V-6, 260 hp; 5-sp auto
SUSPENSION
F ind, struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
R ind, multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
F/R vented disc/disc
ABS standard
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ACURA MDX
Although its first home-grown offering was late to the SUV party, Acura’s MDX immediately became one of the stars of the show. Based loosely on the excellent Honda Odyssey minivan, the MDX delivers lots of interior volume, athletic handling, high assembly quality, and quiet operation—typical Acura virtues. And for 2003, it also delivers more power (260 hp, vs. 240 in ’02), a new five-speed automatic transmission, a revised all-wheel-drive system, stability control, a DVD entertainment option, and a TV rearview system (also optional). Revisions to the all-wheel-drive system—apportioning more torque to the rear wheels—should erase our only reservation about the MDX’s performance: an excessive front bias. Aside from that, we regard it as good at everything. Combine first-rate dynamics with a load of standard features, and you have the best buy in this class.
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