The Comeback Kid: The 2020 Acura MDX SH-AWD A-Spec

The 2020 Acura MDX SH-AWD A-Spec.

We all have our ups and downs. That goes for car companies too. Take Acura---the hotter-than-hot upscale performance arm of Honda in the 90s, which, as the new millennium wore on, saw its luster wear off.

Well, Acura is back and the best example I can think of is the 2020 Acura MDX SH-AWD A-Spec.

Yes, that's a mouthful. MDX is the larger of the two crossover SUVs Acura makes. The smaller is the RDX. SH-AWD stands for "Super Handling All Wheel Drive". It's a handling and traction system that distributes the optimal amount of torque to all four wheels depending on the driving conditions.

A-Spec? Well, that's a sport styling package. Something to make the MDX look mean and aggressive. It includes 20-inch alloy wheels, LED foglights, and some A-Spec exclusive body-color and black elements for the exterior as well as sport seats with Alcantara inserts and contrast stitching as well as sport pedals inside.

The good news is the MDX can back up those A-Spec looks.

Under the hood of every 2020 Acura MDX lives a 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. That's more than enough power to get the MDX moving. Zero to 60 happens in just a little over six seconds. And thanks to a nine-speed automatic transmission, fuel economy is right in line for this class of vehicle---an EPA-estimated 19 miles per gallon city, 25 highway.

Base price for the 2020 Acura MDX SH-AWD A-Spec is $54,900. And that buys an exhaustive list of standard equipment:

• Four-wheel independent suspension.
• Idle stop feature.
• Vehicle stability assist.
• Anti-lock braking.
• Electronic brake distribution.
• Brake assist.
• Agile handling assist.
• Tire pressure monitoring.
• Multi-view rear camera with dynamic guidelines.
• On-demand multi-use touchscreen.
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
• Bluetooth HandsFreeLink.
• Pushbutton shifter.
• Heated and ventilated front seats with driver memory.
• Three-zone automatic climate control with air filtration system.
• Pushbutton ignition.
• HomeLink.
• Power liftgate.
• Power moonroof with tilt.
• Jewel-eye LED headlights
• Heated power door mirrors with turn indicators.
• Keyless access system with smart entry.
• Navigation with voice recognition.
• AcuraLink communication system.
• ELS Premium audio system with ten speakers.
• HDRadio.
• Blind spot information.
• Remote engine start.
• Rain-sensing wipers.
• Power-folding side mirrors.
• LED puddle lights.
• Rear cross-traffic monitor.
• Front and rear parking sensors.
• Adaptive cruise control.
• Collision mitigation braking.
• Road departure mitigation.
• Forward collision warning.
• Lane departure warning.
• Lane keeping assist system.

The good news is that Acura, like parent Honda, does pretty much a one-price, no extra options approach. The one exception on our test car was the Gunmetal Metallic paint, which added $400 to the tab. With $995 destination and handling, the bottom line on the window sticker was $56,295. That's not cheap, but there's a lot of value in the 2020 Acura MDX SH-AWD and a reputation of a long-lasting, high-quality machine.