Used 2018 Acura MDX Hybrid Consumer Reviews
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Too Many Intermittent Issues
Gary Baker, 08/26/2018
updated 03/08/2021
2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Advance Package (3.0L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 7AM)
35 of 39 people found this review helpful
2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, Advanced Package Review We took delivery of the vehicle in April 2018, and have had numerous problems with the vehicle since we bought it. The advance package has the seat, steering wheel, and outside mirrors memory positioning system. Intermittently, the steering wheel does not return to the memory position of the driver. It stays all the way up, which is the exit vehicle position. I have an open report with Acura Client Relations. I've had the vehicle at the dealer four times to correct the problem, but they say they cannot duplicate the issue. On the fourth visit, the vehicle malfunctioned while the service writer was present, but the dealership still contended they could not confirm the issue. Ultimately, they said Honda knows the issue is present, but in their opinion, it only malfunctions when both keys are present. My response was that it seems unusual that Honda knowingly has a malfunction in their system, but chooses to ignore it. Just to be clear, the issue happens whether both keys are present or whether only one key is present. For some reason, Acura changed the way they receive traffic information for their vehicles. Acura now uses HD Radio signals to receive traffic information for the 2018 MDX. I would assume Acura uses HD Radio signals for all their vehicles. The problem is, unless you're in a major metropolitan area, you do not get traffic information. As a result, when you are driving in heavy traffic, the navigation does not reroute you around heavy traffic. I have a 2016 Acura RDX, and the traffic flow works fine. I believe Acura used to use some sort of satellite signals to receive the information, but for some reason changed to HD Radio signals. Whatever happened to "if it isn't broke, don't fix it"! I've had multiple other intermittent issues with the vehicle as well. Sometimes I have to press the Reverse button several times before the car actually shifts into gear. When accelerating normally, the transmission seems to stay in lower gears for a long time, and the engine stays at 3,500 to 4,000 RPM, even though you are at a constant speed. For some reason, I started getting between 16 and 17 mpg, which is what prompted my inquiring about the proper operation of the climate control system. Then all of a sudden, I started getting what I was accustomed to seeing. Acura Owners Manuals are horrible. Because of the drastic mpg variance, I've been trying to figure out the Climate Control system. I have had open dialog with the salesman who sold me the car for over a month. Apparently Acura sales and technical personnel don't know how the climate control system works either. No one has contacted me with some sort of information for over a month. The MDX Sport Hybrid is actually a nice car. Very quiet and smooth riding. Their estimated fuel efficiency is a little off though. I can get about 25 mpg on the highway, and around 21 mpg city. Overall I get about 22 mpg. We traded in our 2010 Lexus 450H, which is a Hybrid as well, for the MDX. We got around 30 mpg highway and 23 city with the Lexus, and overall we got 25 mpg from the day we bought it until we traded it in. The open case with their Client Relations has been a challenge since I opened it five weeks ago, July 17th. From July 19th until July 25th, I left voicemail messages on the case managers direct line, and never got a call back. When she finally did call me back July 25th, she claimed she never received any of my messages. Apparently their phone system at Honda also has intermittent problems. When last I talked to the case manager on August 8th, she told me she would be back in touch with me by August 10th. That is the last I've heard from her, and today is August 26th. I guess it must be another intermittent problem. It's hard for me to understand why Honda/Acura has such lousy customer service. Starting with their sales staff, to their service department, right up to their Client Relations. When you spend $60,000.00 for a luxury vehicle, I would think the manufacture would be more concerned about their customers.
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Great driving 4400lb Hybrid SUV
Jim Smith, 05/05/2019
updated 05/14/2020
2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Advance Package (3.0L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 7AM)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Ride and handling excellent. Acceleration with assist of those 2 rear electric motors is awesome for this fuel efficient 4400lb SUV. Average fuel economy is 25 to 30 MPG, but supreme gasoline is required. Handling in hard driving rain is excellent. Nighttime drive is excellent and on the winding 2 lane back roads exceptional with great stability and Auto dimming very bright headlights. Yes, the transition from a stop while on battery to engine power takes bit to get use to, but is really not bad at all. I find the controls are very easy to use and did not take much time to get use to using each. I use Android Auto running Waze or Google Maps for navigation and could not ask for better performance. Front climate controlled seating is awesome, 2nd row captain seats are great, while 3rd row seating is tight and be used for smaller kids or short trips for taller people. Cargo capacity is good for me. No towing with this Hybrid could be a problem for some. I've driven this SUV for just about a year without issue and performance and ride for me has been exceptional both in city and on the highway. Just about at the 2 year point and this SUV for me has been perfect. No problems at all. Ride and drive perfect.
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2018 Acura MDX for sale near you
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Great Performance SUV for the money
Darren, 12/16/2020
updated 07/06/2021
2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Advance Package (3.0L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 7AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Update 7/5/2021: Still super satisfied with this SUV. Sport Hybrid is one special SUV. 43k miles now. 08/2020: If you’re looking for a family-friendly 3-row SUV with strong performance and driving attributes along with some of the highest safety ratings look no further. Although a bit dated and light on luxurious interior the vehicle is packed with technology. The Acura MDX Sport Hybrid is agile and so fun to drive. Great prices abound for used 2018 and 2019 model years. I have owned a 2018 Sport Hybrid and have had zero issues with the vehicle after almost 3 years and 38k miles.
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Ride the hybrid!! updated 10/20/2024
Joe C, 04/17/2019
updated 04/24/2025
2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Advance Package (3.0L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 7AM)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Overall we have been very happy with the MDX hybrid. I must say I am at a loss with the Edmund's review which says the car feels lethargic around town. The car was delivered with one of the folding mirrors not working properly but the dealer promptly fixed it but it should have been discovered pre-delivery. The car has been recalled twice . Overall the car is very complex and I have noticed some anomalies which quickly clear up. Perhaps a dirty sensor or the extreme cold affects the systems for a few seconds. We get over 26 mpg. The car has the adaptive suspension which is fantastic. Want the ride soft and cushy or firm and stable, just dial it up to your liking. All in all we love the car and recommend it. Update 4-18-2020 Over 15,000 trouble free miles We continue to enjoy the MDX and all its features. We have maintained a solid 26 mpg. I have no complaints at this time. Update: 10/20/2021 \We purchased our MDX Hybrid at the end of the lease term. We have had no issues with the car other than routine maintenance. It does have very low mileage (22K) and has a solid 26 mpg. Everything stills works and we are very satisfied, Updated 4/20/2022 Still nothing negative to report. a 4500 pound SUV with gas mileage in the mid 20's is very good right now. I did switch over to regular to lessen the cost and found that the car performs perfectly. Same performance, same gas mileage. If you can pick up a used one...do it !!! Update 10/20/22 Almost 29,000 miles... we have received a couple of error messages on the screen with Acuralink which resulted in no issues and no findings by the dealer. Although I had a pic of the error message no error codes are stored. In resulted in no downtime or issues but it is annoying. The original tires are nearing the end of life. The gas mileage has decreased slightly but I think its from the type of driving we are doing. Still running the car on regular with no issues. Still highly recommended if you can find a used one... Updated 10/20/2023 The MDX now has 37,187 miles. The transmission and rear diff electric motors were changed at 30K miles. The car is still performing flawlessly running on regular gas. The gas mileage remains in the 24-26 range. The car still looks good, everything works. New tires at 35K. This has been our best car ever. 4/20/2024. Now at 41,000 miles, nothing to report. The car remains trouble free although there is an outstanding recall for a potential fuel pump problem, Acura does not have the parts yet so we will bring it in when the parts are available. Not a great experience but supply problems do seem to be relatively common now. 10/22/2024 45,000 miles on the MDX Hybrid now. Nothing to report except that Acura made a huge mistake dropping the Hybrid. The ZDX is not selling. I won't buy one. I think if Acura doesn't do a 180 and bring back hybrid they will be done. In the meantime we are enjoying our ride. 4/23/2025 We are approaching 50,000 miles and have developed a clunking sound under acceleration and braking. The sound comes and goes and wasn’t present when we took the car in for service. The front was checked and we were told everything looked good and the car is safe but the sound is annoying. More to come as we like the car and plan to track down the sound and fix the car.
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This car is a steal at full sticker
WallyO, 07/25/2018
updated 08/03/2022
2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD 4dr SUV AWD w/Advance Package (3.0L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 7AM)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
This SUV offers a combination of high technology in the very smooth, full-time torque-vectoring hybrid system, precise and entertaining dynamics and a comfortable and very quiet cabin that is unlike any other car I've driven; and I've owned dozens, including a few BMW's, several MB's, and four Mini Coopers. The Hybrid semi-autonomous systems work incredibly well (including the Lane Keep Assist, which makes the car nearly self-driving, with no ping-ponging from side to side), and the versatility of operational customization through the settings menu is stellar. The four-drive-mode setup is also excellent, essentially allowing you to own three very different cars that you can instantly call up, depending on your mood and purpose in the moment. (The difference between Comfort and Normal is subtle, but Sport and Sport+ transform the car.) I know that some people feel the interior design and materials fall below that of other "luxury" cars, but I find the cabin very well made, very useful and very attractive. Like most BMW's, the interior is solid and understated, and avoids the ostentatious bling-bling look that some now equate with luxury and "prestige." This is a luxury car, but without pretension. The lack of glitzy features (like the completely unnecessary gimmick of Google Earth in the NAV system) is a relief, and makes the car functionally safer because of the lack of distractions. (If you want to play video games, I'd suggest you stay at home. If you want to know where you're going, simple map graphics are required.) Operationally, the Hybrid is complex enough in operation and functional options, that a new owner should take some time familiarizing himself or herself while still in the garage. After a week or two, you'll realize that you have a stellar vehicle on your hands.
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