Used 2012 Acura MDX Consumer Reviews
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Herky Jerky
PTK, 09/22/2018
2012 Acura MDX 4dr SUV AWD (3.7L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Just hit 90k and since 50k very rough accelerating and turning. Sputters accelerating up to 50 mph then it runs great. On turns it slips when accelerating. Some people say it's the transmission, some say all wheel drive, some say fuel injectors. I SAY TIME TO SELL!
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Switched from a Volvo xc60 for the sake of comfort
nelsoncm, 04/23/2013
2012 Acura MDX Technology Package 4dr SUV AWD (3.7L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I had an awesome 2012 XC60 T6 R type that was a thing of precision and style. Sadly it was also wretchedly uncomfortable.....rock hard seats, rock hard suspsension. I'm a mom with a bad hip and back who loves to drive fast but I just couldn't take it. So I went for my gently used MDX. My husband has a TL that is still running great at 70K, so now we're a two Acura family. I agree that build quality is certainly not up to some of the European standards. But this should be fine for a suburban mommy mobile that might see light off road duty on easy dirt roads on scout campout weekends.
2012 Acura MDX for sale near you
3 of 69 listings
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $7,499466 mi away
- Technology Package 4dr SUVMSRP: $9,282423 mi away
- Technology Package 4dr SUVMSRP: $13,905359 mi away
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Great SUV substitute for sport sedan
Lee Hoagland, 07/07/2017
2012 Acura MDX Advance Package 4dr SUV AWD (3.7L 6cyl 6A)
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
I’ll try to keep this short and simple. • The gen2 MDX drives much smaller than it is. Even with the high ground clearance, it rivals many sport sedans, especially with the Advance pkg that comes with the Active Damper System (ADS) in sport mode. The overall dimensions (length, height, width, and track) lend themselves to a wide, stocky, and aggressive stance that handles very well. • The J37A1 engine is no slouch and while the 0-60 split isn’t fantastic at 7.1 seconds, it has more than enough torque for brisk highway merging and passes. Bear in mind it is a high-revving engine, so you really have to get it above 3500rpm to really let it purr. • The most annoying thing about the MDX is the shift mapping on the transmission. It is constantly trying to upshift prematurely, sometimes to the point that it seems something is wrong with the powertrain. I do not use mine in Drive mode; I always have it in Sportshift mode with the paddles engaged, so I have full control over when the transmission gears up. It does not turn it into a DSG or SMG, but it allows you to hold gears through turns and up hills, or gear down to prep for a highway pass. The engine has rev-matching, so it helps ease it into gear more than most automatic transmissions. • While rated at 16/21mpg, you will rarely see better than 18mpg if you use the paddles routinely. But, this is the price of having a sufficiently powered 4,550-lb vehicle that can hit the twisties better than the majority of crossovers, and better than some sedans. • The SH-AWD is fantastic and one of only a few torque-vectoring 4WD systems currently available. The only vehicle in the same class that has a comparable 4WD is the Audi Q7. The X5, RX350, XC90, and JX35/37 have atrocious 4WD/AWD systems that do nothing but add additional cost to the vehicle. The SH-AWD is highly advanced and is an incredible feature to have. • Wind noise is minimal as the aerodynamics are quite good. The engineers at Honda spent a lot of time in the wind tunnel making sure this beast was comfortable at highway speeds and it’s a very comfy ride. • If you are a performance oriented driver, definitely grab the Advance trim if you can. Additionally, look at the ATLP or RV6 J-pipe to replace the stock J-pipe. These $500 bolt-ons can add 15-25awhp, which translates into 25-40bhp. A custom CAI, resonator delete, and high-flow rear mufflers would put your output in the 340-360bhp range. There is much more to be said about this vehicle. [contact info removed]
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A Welcome Change
bulldog1979, 11/21/2011
2012 Acura MDX Technology Package 4dr SUV AWD (3.7L 6cyl 6A)
41 of 53 people found this review helpful
I traded my 2009 RL for the 2012 MDX. I was looking for more room, and was willing to give up some technology to get it. I now feel I have a win/win situation. I have the elbow room I sought, and don't feel I've given up any significant features. I now have a navigation screen I can see in the day or with my sunglasses on. The voice command system is more reliable/logical. The sound system seems just as good. I now have the hard drive storage for CDs. The power and acceleration seem better. The interior has high quality materials. It is a little thirstier by about 2 miles/gal. I miss the keyless ignition.
Loved it til 100,000 miles
AZEsq, 10/08/2019
updated 04/16/2020
2012 Acura MDX Technology Package 4dr SUV AWD (3.7L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
I'm a late LATE reviewer, but I've owned the car, which I bought gently used at 40,000 miles, for over three years. At 103,000 miles all hell broke loose. LOL. In the last 12 months, I've spent $6500 on this car +/-. We did the 100,000 mile service, which was $2500 by itself, then we were instructed that there was some obscure part that needed repair, which was $2000. Tires and oil don't count, but we've also had an alternator come up--which, FUN FACT, only ACURA alternators will work on this car. Our emergency mechanic (it died in the middle of nowhere on the 4th of July, ugh) ordered one that "should fit" the MDX and it does. IT works, but the stupid computer is always threatening me to "Check charging system" and if I'm stuck in traffic or idling or using my radio AT ALL for more than 20 minutes or so, it starts dinging at me scaring me that I'm going to be stuck on the side of the road. Honestly, I've loved the car and I'm frugal enough to know that we're keeping it, but if I could go back to 2015, I'd buy a minivan. LOL. UPDATE: The MDX obviously (at some point) realized that we were not going to re-replace the alternator and stopped regularly dinging about the charging system. It will, however, still do so if I'm idling in traffic for a long period of time or waiting outside with the car radio on, which is not ideal. Overall, however, I still love the car. The ride, which was why I purchased it, hasn't really diminished in the last 70,000 miles. I live in DC where the potholes are aplenty. I expect a bit of a bumpy ride, but my car compared to my sister's newish Altima are night and day. It's still fairly smooth and the car has been really easy to maintain since the debacle last summer. Considering that we drive it at best 3 times a week now that could be contributing to my joy with it. Honestly, now that I take metro almost everywhere, I have no impetus to buy a new car any time soon. But I still get the itch. And every time it comes up, the MDX is still at the top of the list!
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