The Acura MDX won't draw a gasp for unique design or beauty of line. It looks sturdy and stable with a wider, firmer stance than some competitors. The styling updates for 2004 don't do much to alter the basic look.The signature Acura grille, now with a satin chrome finish, forms the centerpiece for a new, more tapered front end. The MDX's headlights are more angular than before; new projection-type beams enhance both illumination and appearance. There's a chin spoiler integrated into the front bumper to move air smoothly to the sides of the car and improve aerodynamics. The rear end has been updated with new, larger taillights and dual exhaust tips. Yet even with these updates, the MDX still looks like an MDX. Limited overhang at either end contributes to a dense, compact demeanor that belies this SUV's heft and somewhat exaggerates the size of the MDX's mid-section. Some believe the large greenhouse adds to the straightforward sense and strong presence. Others claim it makes the MDX seem more like a minivan than a big SUV. What isn't obvious except in a body-off view is the duality of construction under the MDX. It is both unibody and body on frame. This Centaur-like approach gives uncommon rigidity and strength gained from longitudinal rails with eight box-section cross members. This is the thinking engineers' path to making a car/truck both a car AND a truck, whichever is appropriate to the occasion. The effect is noise, vibration and harshness control on par with a car, and the load-and stress-management characteristics of a truck. Within the MDX frame, there's even a vent tube that whisks moisture away from the differential when the vehicle is sitting in 18 inches of water.
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