Honda MDX 2005 review

Particularly as smaller cars and vans seem to be nipping at your heels switching between lanes around you.

It is this paradox that makes 4WDs a question mark to drive on busy city streets. For all the safety sensations you still feel like you are in the way, like a truck rather than one of the car brigade.

Honda's big 4WD, the seven-seater MDX, is one of the better-looking cars of this size on the market. Likened to a rhinoceros by its designers, it sits squarer on the road than some of its taller SUV compatriots.

For 2005 the one-spec MDX has undergone an upgrade but retained the same price of $69,990. The key additions are more equipment and altered styling. It adds SRS curtain airbags to all three rows. The car gains a full-size alloy spare wheel, which should really be mandatory on all large 4WDs. Extra touches include automatic headlights, security alarm and rain sensor wipers. This adds to the standard features which include an electric adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats and a six-stacker CD player.

You have to look closely to find the exterior improvements but essentially the redesigned bumper bars, twin exhaust with square finishers and chrome grille give the car a "squarer" look.

On the earlier models there were two round exhaust pipes on the right-hand side of the car. Now the pipes have been separated to each side of the car with the square finishers.

The MDX's engine has been noted for its power and now a further 4kW has been squeezed out of the 3.5-litre V6, taking it to 195kW at 5800rpm.

There's a few new exterior colours and a more serviceable ivory interior colour.

Although we did not test the car's off-road capabilities on this test, it boasts as standard Grade Logic, Vehicle Stability Assist and the Variable Torque Management-4 4WD system. Instead this test was around town, where fuel usage, fitting into parking spots and battling traffic are important. The sort of things that most MDX owners will tackle.

While there is no doubting the comfort of the ride, the power of the engine and the plush interior, this is still a big car and extra caution must be taken in traffic.

The MDX used up a tank of fuel (73 litres) in 400km around town.

And the on-board fuel economy meter, measuring in km per litre rather than the Australian system of litres per 100km showed averages of about 5.8km for every litre of fuel.

The actual usage amounts to 18.2 litres/100km which is thirsty work.

Honda's official figures quote a combined highway/city cycle figure of a much better 12.9 litres/100km.

And one other niggly feature about the fuel was that when fuel was added to the car the onboard readout indicating how many kilometres were left to be travelled before the tank ran dry did not automatically reset itself. Pressing a button marked reset on the dash didn't achieve anything either.

So while the needle showed there was a quarter of a tank of fuel in the car, the readout indicated it had just 17km to go until it was empty.

Just under 700 MDXs (677) were sold in Australia last year giving it 4.9 per cent of the luxury SUV market. That market is led by the BMW X5 which is dearer and only seats five.

The MDX's seven seats are a definite bonus in this market, particularly for large families.

Each seat importantly has a three-point seatbelt, something Honda's Odyssey people mover still lacks. And the DVD player and screen that are standard are a proven winner on long trips.

So would I buy an MDX?

Yes, based on looks, interior luxury and engine power, but not if it was only intended to drive around the suburbs.