Considering that hybrid vehicles have been a tough sell lately, Acura is said set a new trend as soon as it launches its new MDX Sport Hybrid for success by pricing it at only $1500 more than the equivalent gasoline-powered MDX that already comes with an all-wheel drive. At first glance, experts say that customers will not be able to tell that Acura's hybrid car has more power and gets better mileage as compared to other best-selling MDX vehicle, but it does. The company reveals that it will go on sale in early April, and Acura has announced a starting MSRP of $52,935.
The 2017 Acura MDX Hybrid
According to Auto Blog, the MDX Sport Hybrid allegedly starts at $7,910, which is believed to be higher than the base, front-wheel-drive MDX, but only $1,500 as compared to those equipped, non-hybrid MDX SH-AWD. The company said that their 2017 Acura MDX Hybrid would be able to offer 31 more ponies, for a total of 321 peak horsepower and of 289 pound-feet of torque, which is less expensive than the other Acura that also uses the Sport Hybrid system, the RLX sedan, which starts at $59,950. To date, the MDX Sport Hybrid is found to be Acura's most powerful SUV offering four driving modes namely: Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+.
As per Car And Driver, although the vehicle's 200-pound weight penalty is likely seen to negate the extra power, experts say that the MDX's hybrid drivetrain comprises a 3.0-liter V-6 and three electric motors to make a total of 321 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque, a boost of 31 hp and 22 lb-ft over the standard MDX's 3.5-liter V-6. While it may sound complex, the company highly emphasizes that the real benefit is simple: improved fuel economy, specifically 26 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined, increases of 7, 1, and 5 mpg, respectively, over the MDX SH-AWD model. That said, Acura's hybrid SUV will also underprice its closest competitors, the Lexus RX450h and the Infiniti QX60 hybrid.
Other Features Of Acura MDX
Speaking of features, the company said that MDX has a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which is being handled by the gear changes. However, for those who prefer the other way around, the driver can take control via a pair of paddles on the back of the steering wheel. Ultimately, standard tech goodies have also been included such as a collision mitigation braking system, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, as well as road departure mitigation.
