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14/06/2009
By EWAN KENNEDY
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Honda's MDX is a large crossover aimed at the American market rather than the Japanese one. Given that our drivers often have the same tastes as our cousins on the other side of the Pacific, it also fits neatly into our local scene.
 The MDX is spacious inside and much more likely to be used as a people mover than a vehicle to cross the Simpson Desert. The transverse installation of the 3.5-litre, single-cam, V6 engine makes for a longer cabin, so there's space for three rows of seats. Five adult and two children is a realistic load for the big Honda, but seven adults can be carried at a pinch. There are lap-sash safety belts and head restraints for all seven occupants.
The centre row seat has a 60/40 split and can carry three adults with decent legroom, though headroom may be marginal for some tall people as the standard electric sunroof cuts into the available space. The rearmost seat folds up from the floor in two sections and is simple and easy to use.
Refinement and interior comfort are high and the engine is all but inaudible unless you accelerate it pretty hard. Bumps and ruts on rough roads are soaked up in a better than average manner for a Japanese vehicle. This is partly due to the sheer mass of the vehicle, but also reflects the fact that a good amount of work has gone into suspension design.
On sealed roads there's a definite American feel to the way the big Honda wagon handles. It’s slightly slow in responding to movements of the steering wheel and is inclined to understeer if pushed more than moderately hard at bends.
 The MDX's automatic is a modern five-speed unit, but it comes as a surprise that it doesn't have the sequential function that’s becoming increasingly common in this class. The latter is particularly useful when driving on winding roads and/or when there are numerous changes of altitude. There is no manual gearbox option as the Americans increasingly regard these as items only for sports car use.
Drive is normally only to the front wheels, with the rear wheels being brought in automatically if the fronts begin to slip. Being a crossover, the big Honda MDX has no central differential or low-range transfer case.
Fascinatingly, the Honda MDX is made in Canada, not in Japan. When you check out the quality of finish there’s no doubt the Japanese inspectors were present when assembly line was being set up. In typical Honda fashion the MDX is close to perfect in the way it's put together.
When the second series of the Honda MDX was launched early 2007 it didn’t have the choice of right-hand drive steering. So was completely unsuited to Australia. Very few of the other RHD countries had show any interest in having a big SUV on their sales list, thus this decision to set up the steering only for the USA. Despite some protests from the Australian Honda importer the decision was unchanged, so the last imports to this country arrived on our wharves in April 2007.
Spare parts are still easy to get and will be stocked by Honda Australia until at least 2017. They are about average in price for a Japanese 4WD and we have heard of no real complaints from owners on this matter. It's the same situation with routine servicing and spare parts, no one who owns an MDX has reported troubles or excessive charges.
 Though there's good underbonnet access, these are quite complex cars so we suggest that amateur mechanics restrict themselves to simple servicing and repair work. And leave safety related items to the professional repairer.
Insurance charges for the Honda MDX are generally in the moderate group, thus reflecting the fact that most are owned by conservative people who use them purely as family runabouts.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Check that the engine starts easily, idles almost inaudibly and picks up smoothly the moment you push the accelerator pedal.
Smoke from the exhaust when accelerating hard is likely to indicate severe engine wear.
The automatic transmission should be smooth and quiet in its operation and not change gears unnecessarily.
Look over the complete interior, including the luggage area, for signs of rough treatment, stains or water damage.
Most Honda MDXs will only have been used as people movers. If you do happen across one that has been bush-bashing it’s probably best to avoid it like the plague.
Look for signs of body damage on the bumper corners and for slight scratches in the guards. These indicate this fat-bodied vehicle has been scraped through tight off-road conditions.
A smart buyer will get a full inspection before committing to any vehicle, even one that’s relatively young.
CAR BUYING TIP
Crossover 4WDs that actually go off the road are rare, so it's probably best to treat them with suspicion on the used-car market. However, if the price is right and you're sure of the condition of the body it may be worth taking a chance.
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