But all four wheels clock in when you pass, leave the stop sign or race up a freeway ramp. That makes the vehicle more stable, even on dry pavement. The magic, though, is when you hit a slick spot in a corner. Skip the brakes and go for the gas, as a good driver would, and MDX hauls you around just fine. A summer mud romp near Hershey, Pa., showed the MDX to have no dramatic advantages over rivals in that environment.
Most automakers think low range is superfluous for the use SUVs typically get.
But in the bog, the low gears kept the Mercedes' speed down to a few miles an hour, making it far easier than the others to control, especially down steep hills. The German machines groaned and lurched as their traction-control systems dealt power abruptly among the wheels. The Lexus was harder to steer precisely in the mud than MDX was. On pavement, MDX's standard Goodyear tires rode a bit harshly. The optional Michelins were creamy while seeming to surrender no cornering prowess.