MotorMouths

Bottom line: If I only needed two rows of seats, I might go with the Lexus, Audi Q5, or Cadillac SRX. If I needed seven-person capacity and didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg, the new Acura MDX would be my top choice.

The Acura MDX is really good at just about everything it tries to do. It drives impeccably and delivers outstanding fit and finish while providing true utility hauling if required.

The MDX is a well-executed, luxurious, family-oriented, all-season sport utility vehicle. Heralded as such (and not as a performance vehicle), it’s a leading player representing one of the best values across a wide swath of the segment.

Running up the Pacific Coast Highway near San Francisco proved just how well the Acura MDX comes together. It can be driven quickly without feeling as though it is about to heel over. There is, in fact, more than a modicum of sport in the MDX’s makeup.

The Acura MDX looks, feels, and drives virtually as well as its rivals from Europe, yet costs significantly less. That’s an awfully attractive proposition, and we understand why 47,210 people decided to purchase a MDX in 2010.

Exterior styling and interior upgrades aside, the biggest Acura MDX news is a new powertrain that it shares with the ZDX. It’s not as agile as the lighter ZDX, but for such a large and heavy vehicle we’ve always liked the MDX’s confident handling capabilities.

In the Luxury name plates, Acura often takes a back seat to better known products. The MDX can change that one test drive at a time.

The second-generation MDX is much more sporty than the original, particularly since undergoing a mid-cycle update for 2010. It now rivals the X5 as the sportiest three-row crossover you can buy.

For the money, the 2012 Acura MDX makes a lot of sense. When it comes to a deft blend of luxury, technology and drivability, the MDX is peerless.

The perfectly practical MDX is also one of the most powerful, most tech-savvy V6 SUV on the road, giving it assured access to the top tier of any premium midsize SUV shopping list.

The MDX felt like a useful vehicle. But what will really win you over is driving the MDX. Smooth, powerful and fun, the MDX shows the potential Acura can reach.

The 2011 Acura MDX has a bit more edge and athleticism to its look than most traditional family cars. It stands out among the sea of competitors and has curb appeal.