Video: 2017 Acura MDX - First Look

Now, whether or not you liked Acura's shielded grill, at least it made the cars look distinctive, but this more upright shape, I don't know, it seems a little bit more generic to me. You get outside of that though and there's a little more visual interests going on with these headlights. These are Acura's Jewel Eye LED headlights and they're bracketed by these LED chevrons here. Kind of interesting to look at there. You come down here, the bumper has this odd lip that kind of extends ahead of it. Now Acura does say that's got some functionality to it. For example, it helps with aerodynamics. Around back, tailpipes finally reappear on the MDX. I gotta say, that's a good thing and I hope it spreads to Acura's other SUV's as well. Not a whole lot has changed inside the MDX, which has always been a little bit more of a value choice versus some of it's European competitors. And that's evident as you look down the doors and center console, there's some cheaper, lower rent plastics down there, but lots and lots of utility. A very family-friendly SUV, lots of space here in the center console. Second row now you can get captain's chairs with a big console between them instead of the three seat bench that used to be offered. And there's still push button access to the third row. Easy, very family-friendly. The MDX's drive train carries over, but the big news is there is a new hybrid version that pairs a smaller V6 engine with two electric motors. Good for an EPA combined 26 miles per gallon Acura says versus around 21 combined for the all wheel drive, regular MDX. Expect the regular MDX to arrive at dealerships around summer of 2016. The hybrid will get here sometime later on in the year. (trunk slams)