2008 ACURA MDX
& MAZDA CX-9

There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for rising gas prices, so instead of waiting for the arrival of SUV judgment day, we decided to climb behind the wheel of two highly acclaimed, fun-to-drive models for some good ol’ fashioned carbon-emitting.

The second generation Acura MDX had plenty of time to build on the victories of its predecessor. The result is a shockingly well designed and engineered car that, within minutes behind the wheel, established itself as one of the most engaging SUVs we’ve driven. Where others compromise interior space for better agility, the MDX can haul 7-passengers and still out-perform the best of them.

Likewise for Mazda’s CX-9. The suggestive curves and aggressive stance hide the presence of practical, adult-sized third row seats. Instead, the CX-9 drives like its sporty sedan sibling, the Mazda 6.

Now we don’t necessarily condone the practice of mashing pedals in SUVs to see how much fun they can be, since that sort of behavior is liable to upset Al Gore. However, if you were inclined to own a sporty SUV, the sharp-edged MDX or sleek and sexy CX-9 are two very excellent places to start mashing.

acura.com
mazdausa.com
Acura photos: Ash
Mazda photos: David Lewis Taylor