Technically speaking, the Honda MDX is an American car. However, it does not hail from the USA, but is instead manufactured in Ontario, Canada, where it is known as the Acura MDX – something the trivia buffs may want to know. Whatever you call it, the 2007 version of the Honda MDX is a very impressive medium-sized luxury SUV that tries to please everyone and, unlike the characters in the nursery tale, succeeds admirably.

Ever since its unveiling at the New York International Car Show, the praise has poured in by the bucketload for the Honda MDX, particularly for its safety features. These praiseworthy features include Honda’s newly developed ACE and crumple zones that work in tandem with the side impact beams to provide a cocoon of safety for passengers. This cocoon inside the Honda MDX is further enhanced with the front, side and curtain airbags that are fitted with sensors for the front passenger seat, rollover and crash severity. Active front head restraints and front seat pretensioner seatbelts with load limiters complete the list of passive safety features inside the Honda MDX.

You don’t see the passive safety features every day, but the active features come into play whenever you’re driving the Honda MDX, as they assist the handling and agility of this SUV. Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control gives superb levels of grip, especially in treacherous conditions such as gravel, rain or ice. ABS brakes with EBD and brake assist ensure smooth, swift stopping power. These combine with the suspension (which can be altered with the Sports package) to make the ride comfort and handling of the Honda MDX a pure pleasure to drive.

From the outside, the Honda MDX incorporates striking angles into its design, giving the rear and front views a directional edge that sets the Honda MDX apart from regular SUVs. The profile from the side is simple and uncluttered, allowing the chunky and robust body that extra bit of aerodynamic smoothness, although roof rails are available as an optional accessory, as are many others, including kayak, bike or ski attachments – after all the Honda MDX is made for fun-loving and active drivers.

The Honda MDX is very well appointed on the inside, featuring leather trimmed sports seats (the driver’s seat has lumbar support and is adjustable eight ways). The premium sound system allows you to play CDs, MP3s or the radio, and has speed sensitive volume control. Tri-zone climate control with humidity control and air filtering will keep you comfortable whether the weather is extreme, mild or in between. The Technology package option also adds an improved sound system that plays audio DVDs as well, and links the climate control system with GPS. The Entertainment package option adds a rear DVD and heated rear seats (the front seats in the Honda MDX are already heated – very, very nice!).

The other optional package available for the Honda MDX is the Sports package, which includes the Technology package but also adds in sports suspension with an active damper system, perforated leather interior trim and auto-levelling Xenon HID headlights.

But even the plain Honda MDX carries a respectable standard “package” under the hood: a 24 valve aluminium alloy 3.7 litre V6 engine with multi-point fuel injection, VTEC and SOHC. This beauty is capable of packing a maximum punch of 300 horsepower at 6000 rpm.

Whether you’re driving around town or heading out on the high road (or the back road), the Honda MDX is a vehicle that’s eager to please and can deliver everything you want it to.

Current model series include:

• Honda MDX 3.5

For anymore information on the Honda MDX, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Honda dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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