Volvo XC90 Vs. Acura MDX

VolvoFan

Administrator
Staff Team
Messages
470
Reactions
1
State
AZ
Country
United States
#1
Volvo-XC90-Vs.-Acura-MDX.jpg

Pretty good read. http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1102131_volvo-xc90-vs-acura-mdx-compare-cars

The 2016 Acura MDX and the 2016 Volvo XC90 are both large, seven-seat luxury utility vehicles. They show how far family crossover SUVs have evolved from traditional SUVs, in design, refinement, and features, not to mention active safety, crash testing, and on-road behavior.

The big Volvo is new for 2016, while the MDX was first launched in 2014 but gets significant updates for its third model year, including a new nine-speed automatic transmission and more active-safety features. Each has earned some of our highest ratings among premium SUVs. And the Acura comes in at $5,000 to $10,000 below the XC90 in many trim levels. So which is the right one for you?

Either vehicle will provide comfortable accommodation for up to seven people. The MDX is a sportier drive, and it feels a bit more spacious. The Volvo is higher on the luxury scale, despite a design that's evolutionary and reserved even for the sensible Swedish brand. Both are good purchases, but the Acura wins our comparison just because it gets the highest marks from both safety agencies--while the NHTSA hasn't yet rated the XC90.

The shape of the MDX is unchanged, continuing to resemble a sport wagon more than a slab-sided utility vehicle, especially at the rear. The tapered roofline is an MDX hallmark, and the chevron-like chrome strip across the top of the grille and jewel-eye LED headlights in the chiseled front end distinguish it as an Acura.

While the exterior lines of the XC90 instantly say Volvo, it's crisper and more fluid than its 15-year-old predecessor. Its shape also effectively disguises the seven-seat vehicle?s size; the Volvo simply doesn?t look as large as it is. Nor does it telegraph its prestige; as one Volvo executive said, the XC90 is a car for people who ?do not look for a brand that defines them.?

Inside, the front-end theme of the MDX is echoed by the dash, which has a V-shaped center stack and sloping, tiered design. The dash design complements the rest of the cabin, and the materials used for interior trim are coordinated nicely.

The MDX is roomy for its class, and the front seats are comfortable, with sporty bolstering and better than average support. The new push-button shifter is intuitive, and frees up considerable space on the center console.

As for the XC90, its luxury is on full display in a widely-lauded interior that distinguishes it from a host of German competitors. The seats are superbly comfortable, and the interior shapes in stitched leather, textured metal, and matte wood are layered to suggest Scandinavian furniture. The 9-inch touchscreen display in the center of the dash responds quickly to tablet-style commands, and is pleasantly intuitive.

The Volvo's second-row seats slide forward and backward, and the third row will accommodate two adults if they bargain for legroom with second-row riders. Theater-style seating means each row is slightly higher than the one in front, and outward vision is excellent ?aided by large windows and the huge panoramic sunroof that?s a standard feature.

The Acura MDX is powered by a smooth and refined 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine that drives the front wheels through a new nine-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is optional. The new gearbox cuts 0-to-60-mph acceleration by half a second, but it wasn't as smooth or seamless as we expected. And it doesn't improve fuel economy, which remains at 22 mpg combined for front-wheel-drive models and 21 mpg with AWD. The MDX remains one of the better-handling large SUVs we've driven, with a Sport setting to quicken steering response, and a Comfort setting for lighter steering feel.

The bulk of Volvo XC90s will come with a 316-hp turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard, and fuel economy is rated at 22 mpg. On the road, the XC90 handles like a car, with good steering feedback, predictable roadholding, and sprightly performance despite its small engine. A plug-in hybrid variant can run on its gasoline engine, on a 60-kilowatt (82-hp) electric motor on the rear axle, or on both together when needed.

Both vehicles get excellent safety ratings from the IIHS and have already been dubbed Top Safety Pick+ winners. The Acura also gets the top five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, but that agency has yet to test the new XC90. Both vehicles also have a full suite of electronic active-safety systems.

The MDX ranks higher--earning 8.8 points out of 10, against the Volvo's 8.4--primarily for its third-row space and a price point slightly lower than the now-luxury Volvo. The XC90 scores lower on safety, not because we don't expect it to be at the top of the ratings, but simply because it hasn't yet been tested by the NHTSA, whereas the MDX has.

In the end, the Acura is a bit less expensive, somewhat sportier, and a perennial favorite among premium seven-seaters. The Volvo is more luxurious and has a nicer interior, as well as a plug-in hybrid option. Either one is a good choice, in our view, and which one you choose may come down to balancing cost, luxury, and practicality.
 


Top