Test Drive Honda MDX 2003 - 2006 SUV
Extra class without extremism
With the advent of the ACURA MDX model, the business of the American branch of Honda sharply went uphill. Acura not only became in the United States in the US car in its class, but also won two prestigious competition, ahead of such strong competitors as BMW X5, Lexus RX300, Infiniti QX4, etc.Agree: Operation of large cars Neschaev, it is difficult to park, especially in the city center, they do not suffer from the lack of appetite and consume high-quality gasoline. But what kind of enjoyment to manage such a bullfin: you sit high, you don't pay attention to the nature of the road surface, the spacious interior is full of all sorts of comfort, the road is inferior to you, plus to everything - enthusiastic views following. Not life, but a fairy tale! It is to such cars that include Honda Acura MDX.
Total year it took that the Hondovsky prototype turn into a serial model, and two more months - to become the North American car in 2000 in the Trucks class.
The fact that MDX is not for everyone, see by looking at its price tag: without a small 70 thousand dollars (in Russia). You can pull this amount or a former owner of a well-sold Mercedes-Benz ML, or a person who has accumulated money on Lexus RX300 (both of these cars are MDX rivals in class struggle).
The car is beautiful. In its modern dynamic appearance, noticeably follows the following fashion, but also the traditions of the company. Honda is immediately guessed in the car: the shape of the hood and head optics, the massive front bumper with fog lights - all this was ever before. The outlines, of course, are somewhat different, but the style is concise and sports.
In the profile car more international. Rectangular arches of wheels, for example, very much resemble chirokovskie. And from the back MDX - a poured Dodge Durango. We can do anything, the car is focused on the US, where the buyer honors the customs of the local car industry. So, you want to sell cars in America, make them similar to American - and outwardly, and the same comfortable and powerful.
Comfort is not only a comfortable fit and soft suspension, but also the presence of pleasant little things. The MDX has something to please your owner. You press the button on the keychain - the driver's door will operate, you will click again - the remaining four are unlocked. Or take, for example, the switch on the light in the cabin located on the center console and allowing separately plaffers of the illumination of the first and second row of seats. There is a flashlight and on the inside of the rear door. When you open it, the globe will have over your head and light not only the contents of the trunk, but also the cargo standing at the bumper.
An additional row of seats is stubborn in the floor of the luggage compartment. If you need, MDX will turn out of the 5-seater SUV in the 7-seater control with places for kisses. However, an adult is unlikely to promote there for more than an hour - the legs are closely. But the children will like the gallery, the greatest that there are armrests and cup holders. The chairs are folded and laid out in the blink of an eye.
It's not difficult to do the same manipulations with full-fledged rear seats. Folding them in parts or completely, you pretty will increase the luggage compartment, which will be a good place for the night - the floor is perfectly smooth. In general, you can and cargo transport, and in nature live. And to her MDX, I must say, very friendly, for which is certified according to the California standard of emissions toxicity. We also note that this is the first SUV having a gasoline vapor capture system when refueling.
The first thing that rushes into the eyes when you get behind the wheel, is a huge display on the center console. Designed for the navigation system, in our (more modest) configuration, it serves as a monitor of the on-board computer. Communication with the driver is carried out by means of not only dry numbers, but also visual pictograms. For example, in the left corner of the display, an electronic scale of an instant fuel consumption is constantly lit, gradated from 5 to 50 liters. Pressing the pedal, you see how segments begin to fill. A kind of econometer. In the right corner - a compass with the image of the machine in the center. At the bottom, when the climatic installation is turned on, the characteristics of its operation appear - the intensity, the direction of the air flow, the specified temperature.
Passengers on the second row of seats can also control the heater and air conditioning, however, with the driver's permission, supported by pressing the corresponding key.
The driver in MDX feels very comfortable. The chair is convenient, with good lateral support. The leather steering wheel, adjustable in the longitudinal direction and on the angle of tilt, is equipped with a radio control and cruise control buttons. On the instrument panel, in addition to a speedometer, tachometer, engine temperature sensors and the amount of fuel in a 70-liter tank, there was a place for an indicator of the position of the 5-step selection of the selector, so that the selector itself is not necessary to permanently (this is especially true when maneuvering).
The installed transverse 240-strong 3.5-liter six with an aluminum unit is equipped with a gas distribution phase control system, which made it possible to expand the area of \u200b\u200b95% of the maximum torque value (332 nm) from 2000 to 5000 min-1 and significantly reduce exhaust toxicity. Feel the work of the motor at idle is completely impossible. Turn the key in the ignition lock, plays the starter and - silence. But only touch the gas pedals, the tachometer arrow will immediately jump to 6000 min-1.
The ease with which MDX rushes forward when the gear control selector is translated into the D5 position, not only classmates, but also many cars. The car with a complete mass of 2580 kg fits, as if a cork from a bottle of champagne. The only difference is that the cork flies where it fell, and where the car is hoping, it depends on you.
The car is equally good both in the city and on the highway and on the village. Tramways, open hatches, a bumpy asphalt - all this for MDX equipped with independent suspension, trifles. Let's fly and not notice. Only 17-inch tires are strongly slapped, informing you that the car overcame the next obstacle.
On asphalt, the entire torque from the engine is transmitted to the front wheels, but if necessary, it can be divided by axes, up to a uniform load distribution.
Testing the car on slippery coating went to the shore of the Finnish bay, which turned into a frequent temperature difference in a solid rink. MDX did not embarrass the absence of a normal clutch between summer tires and a surface. The car confidently and quickly accelerated on the ice. It was worth it to trigger the gas pedal, as he started to row ahead with all the wheels. VW Passat, who decided to get along with us, was still touched from the place when MDX had already completed the passage of the distance, calmly tilting thanks to the correct operation of the ABS.
The advantage of the full drive affected and turns. The car confidently wrote out a trajectory with the predicted demolition of all the axes, but - until time. It was worth a slightly cooler to wrap the steering wheel or throw the coal into the firebox, as the feed immediately ran ahead. By the way, Mercedes-Benz ML behaved in the same way. The operation of transmissions of this type requires, apparently, improvement, and while owners of such cars need to be careful on the ice.
But the Oblaned staircase acura overcame as a born climber. There was no even overclocking. True, the rear differential lock was turned on by the button on the console. It can only be used on low gear and only with a straightforward movement, as indicated in the instruction manual.
The car has good passability. That's just not every peak will submit - the front Sve is too large. Remember the massive bumper? He can make you refuse to refuse a route by off-road. Other visible limiters of freedom of movement on this machine we did not find. Yes, and, in the end, it is not necessary to climb on the rags. Acura MDX is a car for active, but not extreme rest.
Technical Specifications Honda Acura MDX
Body - all-metal. Carrying
Number of places, people. - 7.
Curb weight, kg - 1965
Dimensions (length / width / height), mm - 4789/1938/1744
Base, mm - 2700
Fuel control, l / 100 km:
- urban cycle - 13.8
- Country cycle - 10.2
Engine:
- Type - V-shaped, 6-cylinder.
- Working volume, cm3 - 3500
- Power, hp at min-1 - 240/5300
- torque, nm at min-1 - 332 / 3000-5000
- Power system - injection
Transmission - 5-speed, automatic.
Tire size - 235 / 65R17
Wheel suspension - independent
Brakes:
- Front - disc, ventilated
- Rear - disk
Steering - Rake gear, with a hydrauliculator
Price, $ - 69000
Text: Oleg Kalaushin
A source: Magazine 5 Wheel
