SAFETY | 10 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Five stars, frontal impact; five stars, side impact; four stars, rollover resistance
NHTSA
Good," frontal offset, side, and rear; Top Safety Pick
IIHS
Roof pillars hinder visibility to some angles
ConsumerGuide
These crash-test performances are among the best in the MDX's class
Edmunds
There's nothing to fault safety-wise in the 2010 Acura MDX. All the sources consulted by TheCarConnection.com's editors rave about its remarkable safety levels.
Across the board in U.S. crash tests, the MDX gets top scores from NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) names the Acura MDX a Top Safety Pick. As Car and Driver reports, the MDX is rated four stars in rollover resistance, though no crossover vehicles achieve NHTSA’s lofty five-star rollover score.
Credit goes to "a laundry list of safety features," reports Motor Trend. Those features include “standard dual front airbags, driver and front passenger side impact airbags, side curtain airbags [for all three rows], active headrests, and seatbelt pretensioners." To that, add standard ABS, traction control, stability control, and standard full-time all-wheel drive (SH-AWD). Also standard on all trims are HID headlights "for better night visibility," notes Motor Trend.
Autoblog details the MDX’s new camera systems: “If the factory navigation system isn't fitted, Acura now offers a rear-view camera with a display embedded in the inside mirror. Option up for the technology package and the MDX benefits from an enhanced multi-mode rear camera that, in addition to the regular 90-degree view, includes a 180-degree wide-angle camera allowing you to see vehicles approaching from the sides” and “a bird's-eye view of the rear, providing a clear view of the hitch when hooking up a trailer.”
Without the cameras, you’ll need help backing up, as the "roof pillars hinder visibility to some angles," ConsumerGuide points out.
Conclusion
The 2010 Acura MDX has the crash-test scores to prove its Top Safety Pick standing.
