- suv 169,095
- 6,500 high price
- North Aurora, IL
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- autoshopper.com
- suv 169,095 gasoline red automatic
2003 acura mdx review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Improvements for 2002 brought an even quieter ride. for 2003, acura has further refined mdx, with significant upgrades to the engine, driveline, body, suspension, and steering. Acura's 'next generation' v6 boosts horsepower from 240 to 260 and reduces emissions while maintaining the same epa-rated fuel economy. An all-new, more compact five-speed automatic transmission shifts even more smoothly than before. A new drive-by-wire throttle helps reduce shift shock and incorporates cruise control functions. Refinements to the steering mechanism enhance feel and reduce kickback, while new dual-piston front brake calipers boost stopping power. Acura has updated mdx's optional navigation system with voice recognition, enhanced graphics, an expanded u. Database and a rearview camera that engages when the transmission is in reverse. The system comes complete with two infrared (ir) wireless headphones and a wireless remote control. the opional navigation system 2200) needs only one disc to cover the entire continental u. Enhancements for 2003 include voice recognition and upgraded graphics. A rearview camera has been added that transmits pictures from behind the vehicle onto the navigation screen when the mdx is in reverse gear. . walkaroundacura mdx does not draw a gasp for unique design or beauty of line. It looks sturdy and stable with a wider, firmer stance than its competitors. Limited overhang gives it a dense, compact demeanor. Large taillights add to the straightforward sense of a strong presence. minor appearance changes for 2003 include a new alloy wheel design and splashguards for the rear wheels. what isn't obvious except in a body-off view is the duality of the construction of the mdx. It is both unibody and body on frame. This centaur-like approach gives uncommon rigidity and strength gained from the longitudinal rails with eight box-section cross members. This is the thinking engineers' path to making a car/truck both a car and a truck, whichever is appropriate to the occasion. There is nothing swoopy or eye-popping about the instrument panel, just easily read instruments with an unobstructed view. Simple, large knobs are easy to operate whether that hand is wearing mittens or has long fingernails. The overall sense is the serenity of simplicity. the air bag fits flat into the passenger-side dash. Sun visors have extensions for those sharp shafts of sun angling low at dawn and dusk. Every seat in the house has a shoulder harness as well as a lap belt. (many suvs do not come with a shoulder belt in the rear center position.) and there are anchors for child seats seemingly everywhere. Lots of cup holders, too. an impressive feature is the split air-conditioning system. They split as well for a varied mix of people and stuff. we like the navigation system for its intuitive simplicity. The database has been expanded even further for 2003. A novel capability, and one uniquely appropriate for a vehicle equipped to seek out uncharted outbacks, is a feature that leaves electronic bread crumbs on screen. Its highway manners are excellent. It corners well, though without the keen turn-in of the bmw x5. Mdx feels extremely stable and as untippable as a rhino. its 3. 5-liter vtec v6 engine generates 260 horsepower and 250 pounds-feet of torque available from 3500 to 5000 rpm. A five-speed automatic transmission features gear ratios spaced to match suv requirements. mdx can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 9 seconds, a full second faster than the nearest competitor. A mesa-shaped torque curve means responsive acceleration for merging and passing at any speed. the brakes are absolute standouts, responsive and secure. acura says that mdx can tow a 4500-boat, or a 3500-pound trailer with a tongue weight of 450 pounds. That kind of towing capability is normally considered truck trait. off road, mdx makes up for the absence of a transfer case and a granny gear with a regular low gear that is extra low. Most of the time, the mdx runs in front-wheel-drive mode for good fuel economy. Some all-wheel-drive systems normally cruise in front-wheel drive, engaging the rear wheels when sensors detect front wheel spin. Slippage, the acura engineers reason, can only occur under acceleration. And so the mdx engages the rear wheels as well as the front wheels whenever the driver calls for acceleration, without waiting for slippage to occur. Two safety points: acura expects a five-star federal crash rating (the best) on the mdx. And acura claims the mdx can be hit from behind by a vehicle going 35 mph without the third row of seats being breached. As for 'greenness,' all mdx models sold nationwide meet strict ulev-2 emissions standards. . summaryacura mdx combines most of the virtues of the suv genre and diminishes or eliminates most of its vices.
6,500 North Aurora, ILNorth Aurora, IL at autoshopper.com