The new, 2001 Acura MDX came within a razor’s edge of winning the Northwest Automotive Press Association’s (NWAPA) Sport Utility Vehicle of the Year competition this past October. The difference between it and the winner, the BMW X5, was so slim, a recount was actually required — before they became the rage.

NWAPA is made up of professional automotive journalists — people who drive and review vehicles for a living. One mitigating factor was that points were awarded for personal preferences, so this really could have gone either way depending on just who participated in the event.

The stylish MDX is the first sport-utility vehicle (SUV) developed completely by Acura. In typical Acura fashion, it comes with a lot of standard equipment and a lot of power. In fact, the 7-passenger MDX offers more standard equipment — including more standard seats, than does its major competition, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Lexus RX 300, and does it at a price that’s extremely competitive for the luxury SUV segment.

Interiorwise, the MDX features a look that’s upscale but understated. It’s similar to the RX 300 without the futuristically dated array of mixed shapes. A blue display screen providing information about interior temperature, trip mileage and direction is positioned in the center of the dashboard and is also utilized for the optional navigation system.

Built on the same platform as Honda’s Odyssey minivan, the MDX is slightly larger inside and out than both the M-Clas and the RX 300. Coupled with the standard moonroof and large exterior glass, the MDX is airy and gives the illusion of much more room. It’s also extremely quiet for an SUV.

The MDX’s two separate third-row seats have six recline positions, but getting at the levers to control that function when you’re in the vehicle is a little awkward. It seemed easier to me to do standing outside the vehicle. However, they offer more room for adults than most other SUV third rows, and come with easy-clean vinyl covering rather than leather like the other seats.
With both rows of back seats folded flat, he MDX offers a generous 82 cubic feet of usable cargo space.

Under the hood sits a 3.5-liter DOHC V6-that puts 240 horses to the highway with more torque — 245 lb-ft — than its major V6 competition. For example, the BMW X5 with the 3.0-liter V6 is rated at 225 horses and 214 lb-ft of torque.

The V6, which has Honda’s Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC), is very smooth. It accelerates quickly and effortlessly for a vehicle this size. Like the ML320 and X5, the MDX is married to a 5-speed automatic, while the RX 300 is still coupled to a 4-speed automatic.

The MDX is also designed to meet the California Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards, while offering a combined fuel economy rating of 20 mpg — equal to the RX 300 and better than the Mercedes ML320 and BMW X5 3.0i.

The MDX is an all wheel drive vehicle, but in most situations only the front wheels are engaged, which contributes to that 20 mpg fuel economy rating. The driver is not required to activate Acura’s Variable Torque Management-4WD. It’s an all-wheel-drive system, automatically shifting power from the normal front driving wheels to the rear wheels under a variety of circumstances such as accelerating hard from a standstill. By shifting some power to the rear wheels, the MDX can get off the line quickly without torque steer tugging at the front wheels and impacting driver control.

Power also shifts when wheel slip is detected. There’s a button on the dashboard to lock the rear differential clutch plates when maximum rear torque is required at low speeds. The maximum total torque transfer to the rear wheels is 52 percent. However, there is no extra-low gear.

In the MDX, Acura sought to build a medium-duty SUV that would suit most buyers everyday driving needs. It’s designed to tow boats up to 4,500 pounds and trailers up to 3,500. The different ratings are due to the aerodynamics of the towed vehicles.

On the highway, the MDX is not as stiff as the X5 or as softly sprung as the RX 300. It’s seemingly in the middle, which should make it attractive to a wide spectrum of buyers. It has big, 17-inch tires which are pushed out to the corners, giving it a wider track than most family-size SUVs. At 66.3 inches of front and 66.5 inches of rear track, the MDX is actually wider than the Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon/Cadillac Escalade — a much bigger vehicle.

On and off road, the MDX is pretty nimble for a midsize SUV. Although I wouldn’t classify this as a serious, heavy-duty off-road vehicle, through the mud and over the hills at the SUV competition, it more than held its own. For use around here, or in the snow, it will be more than fine.

Outside, the MDX is typically Acura — stylish, yet conservative — especially for an SUV. It doesn’t look like a redesigned truck with no huge chunks of body cladding or exaggerated fender flares.

Whines: As you load and unload items in back, don’t stand in front of the tailpipe, which releases very hot exhaust gases from under the bumper. This needs to be angled out the side. For an SUV, the MDX offers minimal ground clearance at 8 inches, and there is no less expensive 2WD version offered.

Applause: The optional navigation system which features voice commands, also has a “bread crumb” mode. This leaves digital dots on the display screen when you drive in unmapped territory so you can find your way back. Also, at the bottom of the front bumper is a bumper override — a special piece of metal below the fog lights that helps prevent the MDX from riding over lower-riding cars is a frontal collision.

Bottom Line: This is a very smooth, roomy, comfortable, powerful, medium duty SUV that will fit the lifestyle of a wide variety of buyers like a glove. With an MSRP in the mid-$30s, it’s value priced in caparison to its competition.