When I test-drove the MDX before buying the X5, I noticed something that seemed anomalous. Maybe someone better versed in auto/performance engineering can explain it.

In straight-up stop and go driving but done vigorously, the MDX had 'wallow'. A hard stop would make the nose dive a bit (not like a minivan but worse than an average sedan). OK, it's a tall wagon.

But on skidpad-like hard turns (I said 'like', these being done in a suburban cul-de-sac so of course much muted), the MDX was amazingly flat. The horizon and the line of the hood didn't vary by much. Even the (base suspension) X5 and P Cayenne had more roll.

In the end, for my money, I chose the X5 as I am sure to do much more suburban-style stop-n-go driving than executing skidpad turns. The loose steering at low speed on the MDX was completely offset by the extra-firm one on the X5. Ideally I'd like something in between (try the Mazda CX-9, no kidding) but with these choices I'd rather have the X5.

Not to throw in another contender which is anyway in a different price class, but that CX-9 is an amazing drive for the money. Under $40k fully decked out, it's a darn fun ride and IMO of all the SUVs I drove came closest to the fun of the X5. And the face, while still not winning any beauty contests, is at least a bit more tolerable than the MDX beak.

Oh I drove a Q7 recently and it felt like a minivan.