JUST TEST DROVE THE MDX FOR A SECOND TIME HOURS AGO.

Its a tough choice, the MDX is very impressive...I think you are SOL. BTW the rides are very similar, so if she didnt like the X5, she wont like the MDX either. We also test drove a XC90 today and my wife prefered it over both (the ride that is- I just laughed at her)...though it is too small for her (third row is like my X5).

I am looking for a car for my wife and we test drove the MDX for the second time today. I already own an X5, so we arent going to get a second one. When I bought the X5 I also looked at the MDX and it was my second choice then.

Now that Ive had the X5 for 6 months, we are looking at the MDX again...its a very nice car. It handles as well as the X5, is larger, has a better AC, has far better technology- specifically the rear camera blows away the BMW camera, the Voice Command works perfectly every time, the rear DVD is a better design, the third row is much better, the third row has air bags, the MDX has two ac compressors and it shows (I think the X5 only has one...could be wrong), and it has more cargo space. The MDX also has power rear hatch (open and close).

Some things the MDX does not have:
1. Not nearly as elegant as the X5 (actually I think the MDX is ugly, especially the dash)
2. no comfort access
3. no parking assist overlay graphic on rear camera
4. no HUD
5. weaker Ipod integration
6. no panoramic sunroof
7. no runflats (is this a benefit??)
8. no free maintanence
9. third row has no AC vents (X5 does)...kids said they were hot back there.

but, the MDX is about $20k cheaper if you added all this to the X5...is it really worth 20k more? For me it was, and I am extremly pleased with my X5, if I had to do it again I would still choose the X5 over the MDX for myself. For my wife, the MDX is a no brainer. She drives two kids around all day and usually carpools so the third row is very important. If you dont need the third row then the MDX loses some advantages.

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2013 X5 35i M Sport