Glowing review - and well-deserved. It's a great car. Compared to my 2006 RX400h, this thing seems worlds ahead. Makes me wonder if it had the 450h powertrain instead of the 3rd row seats, sounds like it'd be near perfection. I think it could use a good diesel to help with fuel economy and torque.
though the transmission seems down on gears compared to some competitors
You know I love you guys and never want to criticize your work, but please stop using lines like that when referring to 6-speed trannies. You hated the 9-speed that Chrysler used in the Cherokee, and eventually, 8-speeds are going to be "down on gears".
The only solution is to have infinite gears...wait, we do have that - a CVT - and we all know how much auto enthusiasts love those.
6-speeds offer a great balance of drivability, fuel economy, and cost:weight.
As for the MDX, I think it's a signal that Acura is back on the upswing (if only it could simplify its infotainment...maybe Acura and Subaru should partner up - Subaru simplicity with Acura tech/sound - just make sure it's like 90% Acura, 10% Subaru)