The desire to stand out from the crowd is inherent not only in owners of domestic cars with dubious tuning like neon lighting or "xenon" tinting. People with above-average incomes also want to be special, but their demands are much larger. Simply buying the most expensive model in the showroom won't help here — you need something so that business partners nod respectfully when the brand is mentioned, and other drivers on the road follow the rare car with curiosity and envy.

The Acura MDX — a large SUV with rich equipment and expressive appearance ("2001 SUV" in America) — has been evoking exactly this reaction for three years now. Its dynamic design reflects not only modern trends but also Honda's corporate style, because Acura is the luxury division of the Japanese company, created in 1986 specifically for the American market. The elitism of this car is obvious.

If the Acura looks modern, the recently appeared Cadillac SRX on our market seems to look into the future. The creators of the new product are clearly fond of the aggressive "techno" style: the front of the car looks intimidating. It is the appearance that will make other drivers yield the road to this handsome car. And also — simple curiosity, because you want to take a closer look at a still rare car. And there is something to look at.

The Cadillac's xenon headlights with lenses give excellent light with a clear beam cutoff. At the rear, LEDs are installed — as many as ninety of them. Fifty-six of them are responsible for the parking lights, brake light, and turn signals, the rest for the additional brake light. Conventional bulbs remain only for the reverse lights and fog lights. The MDX has traditional optics.

The SRX's wheels on 18-inch rims are also impressive (the MDX has 17 inches). And the huge sunroof, occupying almost the entire roof, is absolutely delightful. The Acura's sunroof is more modest, but when opened, it hides inside the roof rather than protruding above it, like the Cadillac's (and what if, God forbid, cargo from the roof rack falls off!).

The interior of the MDX is more pleasant, mainly because it harmonizes with the exterior. The Cadillac, however, was a bit disappointing: the smooth lines of the dashboard and center console do not match the angular body. But the SRX's speedometer can show speed in both kilometers and miles per hour — in the settings you can choose the desired measurement system, and the scale is not overloaded with extra numbers like the competitor's.

It is strange that the Cadillac's instrument panel does not show information about the selected transmission mode. During manual shifting (the MDX does not have it), numbers from 1 to 5 appear in place of the odometer, and in automatic mode you have to look at the selector itself on the center tunnel. In the Acura, this information is duplicated on the instrument cluster — there are corresponding indicators next to the tachometer.

The Acura's center console is more thoughtfully arranged. The large display at the top is more convenient than the two "Cadillac" ones, one of which is located at the very bottom. In addition, in the Japanese car, the current fuel consumption is always visible — the electronic scale is constantly in view. In the Cadillac, this data is hidden in the menu. Perhaps not all owners are interested in consumption, but the range on the remaining fuel is useful for everyone to know. The SRX, alas, is silent about this.

Comfort in both cars is in perfect order. There is enough space both in front and in the back. At the same time, the Acura is a seven-seater: the third row of seats is easily retrieved from the luggage compartment floor. The Cadillac can get additional seats only in a special trim, so its cargo area has cup holders. The trunks of both cars are huge, and with the second-row seatbacks folded, they turn into real vans.

Earlier we already tested the Acura and were delighted with its driving qualities: optimally stiff suspension, excellent steering, reliable brakes... But the comparison turned out not in favor of the MDX. The Cadillac, albeit slightly, is better. And this is not surprising — cars of this brand have always been famous for maximum comfort and enormous power.
Under the hood of the Acura is a V-shaped "six" with a displacement of 3471 cm3 and a power of 243 hp, while the Cadillac has a V-shaped "eight" (4565 cm3) with 320 hp. The difference seems significant, but it does not affect dynamics much: by feel, the MDX loses no more than a second and a half. At the same time, the Acura's "automatic" is too thoughtful, while in the SRX gears shift quickly and clearly, without jerks or engine howl.

Both cars have all-wheel drive, so the road to nature is not closed to them. True, the independent suspension, designed mainly for asphalt, and the lack of a low-range gear make them similar to "crossover" vehicles. The Acura has the ability to rigidly lock the rear differential, but only when driving straight — as stated in the instructions.

Considering all the pros and cons, we believe that the SRX has a better chance of finding its owner. It is not only that the Cadillac is sold by official dealers, while the Acura is imported "gray". The SRX is indeed five years ahead of its time, while the MDX, due to its more conservative design, is beginning to age.

Technical specifications Cadillac SRX // Acura MDX

Number of seats — 5 (7 — option) // 7
Curb weight, kg — 2010 // 1965
Gross weight, kg — n/a // 2580
Dimensions, mm:
- length — 4950 // 4790
- width — 1845 // 1938
- height — 1670 // 1740
Wheelbase, mm — 2955 // 2700
Maximum speed, km/h — 240 // 180
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s — n/a // 8.2
Fuel consumption, l/100 km:
- city cycle — 14.8 // 18.8
- highway — 11.5 // 10.2
- combined — 13.2 // 13.2
Fuel tank capacity, l — 68 // 73
Engine:
- type — V8 // V6
- displacement, cm3 — 4565 // 3471
- power, hp at rpm — 320/6400 // 243/5750
- torque, Nm at rpm — 420/4400 // 339/3500–5000
Transmission — automatic, 5-speed
Tire size (front; rear) — 235/55R18; 255/55R18 // 235/65R17
Suspension:
- front/rear — independent
Brakes:
- front — disc, ventilated
- rear — disc, ventilated // disc
Steering — rack and pinion, with power steering
Price, $ — 72900 // 69000