Alright, alright, alright. I’m probably little spoiled by Acura at this point. I must’ve test drove a slew of great vehicles on their fleet, including the TL [read this], ILX [watch this], and the RSX. All extremely legit cars that I’ve raved wildly about.
I’m very specific about my favourite types of vehicles to write about. I don’t like driving shitty cars. At my age and experience, basic level vehicles are pretty much off the cards. Of course, I probably won’t decline an offer to try out something cool like say, a Bentley, but I just can’t align myself properly with it. I can’t afford it. I’m not in that tax bracket. Yet. So writing something like “it’s pretty cool!” just doesn’t resonate as useful to me or anyone who’s in the same walk of life as me right now.
There’s an in-between though, codenamed basic luxury (yeah, creative name huh?), and I like it a million times more because it bodes well with where I’m at: a 30-something guy who’s at the prime of his life – loves his style, loves his manhattans, loves going for dinner with other industry cats and loves being able to afford cool stuff for once.
Acura has perfectly situated itself within that niche market, along side other similar models housed within the Audi / BMW / Mercedes Benz fabric. It makes you feel like you’re doing something right in life. It makes you feel like you’re home.
So, what’s all this #MDXperience stuff? Well, let me tell you. As a blogger, we’re usually told where to go, what to do. This time, the folks at Acura turned the tables on us and ask, “What do YOU want to do?”
It’s a difficult question to answer, ya know. When the possibilities are (seemingly) limitless, where the heck do you start?
Of course, my first two choices were way outta left field and not possible. That’s okay, because I can understand that Acura doesn’t exactly want to align their brand with pistols and rifles (even if it’s at a controlled gun range). Would’ve been cool though. That’s what guys my type are into. Like axe throwing, apparently.
Setting us up for this, Acura and Media Profile took us to the Edward Day Gallery and showed us a smooth little feature of their newest juggernaut on the fleet: the 2014 Acura MDX. Couple drinks in (and amazing nibblets if I may add), the presentation showed us an inside look at the thought process and new additions to the new MDX.
The preview and the test drive proved a few noteworthy features that made this SUV a formidable choice for the day trip gangs out there. I’ve got five reasons why.
1. There’s aren’t too many SUV’s on the market that are this comfortable. The leather interior’s a given at this point, but what brings the wow factor is the amount of space everyone has in it. Driver and passenger side, along with the middle row, allow you to put your feet up and get comfortable without worrying about elbowing someone in the rib. The back row – two seats which surprise quite a lot of people I’ve shown this car to – occupies the last two passengers. And while the duo chairs in the back aren’t exactly the most luxurious experience when it comes to seating, it does make you ask: How many SUV’s in the market will let the 6th and 7th person in the car not have to sprawl illegally in the trunk?
2. The entertainment factor is through the roof. I mean, there’s an HDMI port and an AC adapter. That’s pretty rad. Sure, I’ve used cars in the past with this, but with the advent of technology and awesome little devices called Chromecast and Roku poppin’ up left and right, it makes streaming anything you want possible. And yes, I was able to successfully able to play YouTube and Netflix via a Chromecast & my iPhone’s 6GB data plan (although I suggest you get an Aircard instead).
3. It’s seriously lit, alright. There’s calming lights everywhere in this thing. Lights that appear when you are near the car. Lights under the handles when you approach it in the dark. Smart lighting when you’re inside. It’s almost to the point where you’d think the car is watching you. As you know, LED and all that cool lighting jazz is an easy sell for me. I friggin’ love lights, okay?
4. Driving the MDX makes you feel like you own the road. Everything from the handling on turns, the calm smoothness on the open road, the 290 horsepower V-6 engine roaring like a patient lion. There’s a 360 degree camera, along with other angles to make sure your eyes are everywhere. The dashboard tells you exactly which street you’re on via GPS. It beeps when you’re about to make a boo-boo. If Bumblebee and the rest of the Transformer community were to help you drive without transforming, this would be it.
5. It’s like they made this with road trips in mind. Calculating space, average fuel economy for an SUV, entertainment, GPS, regulating climate control, and pretty much every bell and whistle the automotive Gods could throw at you, this thing is made to feel like your mobile headquarters. I’m lucky enough to try out many SUV’s (and other sedans) for road trips and really, there’s been nothing better I’ve tried while traveling.
Post #MDXperience event, and after a few choices were tossed around, I went for the relaxing vacation to reboot from my chaotic work life. For a little R&R, I took Madaline out on the open road with the 2014 Acura MDX – somewhere close so I could spend more time chillin’ like a villain. Hidden inside Orangeville is the Millcroft Inn & Spa, a beautiful and quaint resort that reminds you that tranquility after a few weeks of hard work has its pay offs.
We had quite the blast here – taking advantage of the spa, riding bikes, simple hikes, burgers by the lake, wood fireplace in a two-level loft, an incredible dinner in the middle of nowhere. It’s one of those things you just have to do when you’re in the city and mentally in the zone too long. Generally speaking – I highly suggest taking a timeout when you can.
But I think it’s pretty simple: when you work hard, you need the tools around you to make up for all the stress the daily grind brings to ya. Whether it’s a super comfortable bed, a relaxing reboot repeated monthly, or a set of wheels that is everything you need in a car, you’ll need that experience. In this case, an #MDXperience.
Yeah. Fun car, that Acura MDX.
<3
Such an excellent #MDXperience! Had a blast!! Thank you so much Reggie for inviting me and thank you Acura for the seriously sweet ride! xoxo