2012 Acura MDX SUV

The MDX is nearing its sixth birthday, yet it remains Acura's best-selling SUV and is one of the company's most popular models altogether. What's the secret to its success? Packing a little bit of everything into a single package certainly doesn't hurt. There are plenty of three-row, seven-seat SUVs on the market, but few handle and perform quite as well as the MDX. It's not easy to make a 4500-pound machine handle like a smaller sedan, but Acura employs some technological magic to make it possible. The company's ubiquitous torque-shifting SH-AWD system certainly aids in cornering, but the available Integrated Dynamic System (IDS), which allows the driver to choose between two damper-stiffness settings, helps iron out body roll on twisty roads. The 3.7-liter V-6 provides sufficient power, while the smooth six-speed automatic transmission helps squeak out a few extra miles per gallon over the previous five-speed automatic. Acura's ZDX may feel (and look) slightly sportier, but the MDX has a tremendous advantage over its razor-edge sibling. With room for seven, a flexible cargo area, the ability to tow 5000 pounds, and the agility of a vehicle half its size, it's a more well-rounded option.