@movernie
This week, I am On the MOVE with the 2020 Acura MDX A-SPEC to tour around Ontario as part of my “Ontario Travel Series” segment. And this A-SPEC has the fabulous “Apex Blue Pearl” body paint on it, giving this SUV a refreshing sporty look and stands out from the crowd. I personally thinks that the blue exterior complements well with the A-SPEC black visual components throughout the entire vehicle.
After driving this MDX A-SPEC for a good few days touring around Ontario, let me give you my overall product review of this ride. I will tell you what are the Pros (What I like) and Cons (What I dislike).
Profile: 2020 Acura MDX A-SPEC
Body Type: 4 door, 7 passengers (3 rows of seats)
Trim Level: A-SPEC
MSRP: $61,490 CDN (as listed on Acura Canada’s official website)
Engine Type: 3.5L Direct Injection SOHC, i-VTEC® V6 Engine, 295 hp & 267 lb-ft of torque
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Fuel Consumption: Hwy 9.5L/100 KM (25 mpg), City 12.0L/100 KM 19 mpg)
Introduction:
This 2020 Acura MDX A-SPEC is a sporty luxurious SUV that is one of the best selling vehicles in Canada for many years. For my tester, it’s the MDX in trim level “A-SPEC” that comes with some cool visual cues throughout the entire exterior and interior of the vehicle.
It comes with 3 rows of seats, sitting 7 passengers overall. It comes with the standard 3.5L V6, pumping out 295 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. The A-SPEC Package comes with sport-inspired features that include the striking 20-inch Shark Gray alloy wheels, an aggressive front and rear fascia, large and bold exhaust finishers and my beloved red Alcantara sporty seats that give the interior of the MDX a sporty look that is different from the rest of the MDX trim level packages. For the A-SPEC, I also like the LED “Jewel Eye” fog lights. It’s super bright in the night when the headlights and fog lights shine in the dark!
Pros (What I like):
– Sporty A-SPEC Look: Although, I think all trim levels on this MDX looks good, but personally, I like the A-SPEC package as it gives the MDX a sporty look. The visual cues on the A-SPEC has less chrome but more sporty components, which I prefer.
– Looks Good On Every Colour: The MDX A-SPEC offers a variety of colours. I think it looks good on every colour, whether it’s white or black, etc. And of course, I think the “Apex Blue Pearl” on my tester looks the best.
– Sharp Alcantara Sport Seats: The moment I opened the driver’s door and saw the 2 rows of Alcantara red sporty seats, I was super excited. The interior red seats complement well with the exterior Apex Blue Pearl. And the seats are comfy and functional at the same time.
– Responsive Brakes: The brakes on this MDX was very responsive. It gives me a sense of confidence that when I need to brake, the vehicle can stop in a responsive fashion.
– Trunk Space: Folding down the 3rd row seats provide even more storage space. This was evident when we loaded our cottage belongings and equipment to the storage space with ease on this vehicle.
– Excellent Visibility: I like the driving visibility in this SUV, I could see the distance from my driving position to the front hood. And there are no obstructive views at the back row or the side pillars. Coupled with all the lane changing sensors and backup camera, it’s a ease to drive this SUV.
Cons (What I Dislike):
– Outdated Interior Equipment & Dashboard: I know this generation of MDX has been serving its customers for 5 years now and 2020 is running on its last leg before a brand new 2022 MDX is arriving in 2021. The current outgoing model definitely shows a bit of its aging aspects. For example, the graphic map on the GPS system is very old school and it’s not shown in high resolution. The dashboard layout is a bit outdated and I would prefer a little bit more richer material on the dashboard. Moreover, the audio system is lacking, the quality of the sound isn’t that great and there were tons of distorted echo sounds on the speakers, to the point that I rather turn off the radio. I am super confident that the all-new 2022 MDX will give its customers a fresher, richer and technological advanced experience.
– More Horsepower Would Be Nice: This MDX A-SPEC comes with a 3.5L V6 that pumps out 290 hp and 267 lbs-ft of torque. Overall, it’s an adequate engine and it does its job most of the time. However, it isn’t as sporty or high performance as it is capable of doing. For an A-SPEC trim level that focuses on sporty look, I would prefer more pop under the hood than the other trim levels. Not just the looks alone, but more juice from the engine would be nice.
– Suspension: The suspension on our A-SPEC was a bit on the rough side. We basically felt every bump on the road and at times, it’s on the rough side. For a luxurious SUV, I would expect better, firm and comfy ride from the MDX.
MoVernie Verdict:
Overall, it was an enjoyable experience with the Acura MDX A-SPEC. I really like the Apex Blue Pearl body paint on the SUV along with the A-SPEC visual features around the SUV. The red interior Alcantara on the front row and 2nd row seats was a nice touch. It also can store a lot of our stuff for our winter cottage adventures. It was fun to drive. I could see why this MDX is a popular choice for many Canadians for many years. However, this particular generation is on the market for 5 years and it did show that it’s aging in terms of its dashboard design and its infotainment system. A much needed brand new 2022 MDX that arrives in early 2021 is much needed to bring in sales to the new and existing customers.
I look forward to test drive the 2022 MDX in the near future to share my driving experience and feedback with you! Stay tuned!
Special shout out to Acura Canada for providing me with this MDX A-SPEC for a week of test drive experience!
For more INFO about the Acura MDX A-SPEC features, trims and pricing, please click here.
To check out the entire Acura starting lineup, please click here.
The 2020 Acura MDX A-SPEC was provided by Acura Canada. However, as always, the opinions expressed in this post is entirely my own.
