Honda has launched a Canadian-built right hand drive MDX SUV model in Australia, pricing the newcomer at $A69,990 (£26,850, $US42,230).

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That undercuts the base model BMW X5 by $A10,000 and the BMW M-class by $A3,000, according to the website drive.com.au.


Drive.com.au said that Honda already has a record of success in Australia’s hard-fought four-wheel drive [SUV] market: its CR-V “took the Australian market by storm — and rivals by surprise” when launched in 1997 and soon overtook the top-selling Toyota LandCruiser to become the biggest selling four-wheel-drive Down Under in two of the past three years.


Drive.com.au said the MDX, badged as an Acura in the US and Canada, already outsells its BMW and Mercedes rivals in those markets but cautions: “…success in the US does not necessarily translate to Australia”.


The website said that the aggressively-priced Honda will face a challenge in the “status-driven, badge-is-everything Australian market” and will soon also face another luxury 4WD rival in the form of Toyota’s redesigned RX330.

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Drive.com added that the new Honda is more likely to draw Mitsubishi Pajero [Shogun/Montero] or Toyota Prado [Colorado] buyers upmarket rather than wooing them away from the Mercedes or BMW models.


The Australian-market MDX has a similar mechanical specification to North American Acura versions and is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 with variable valve timing developing 191kW in Australian Design Rule-compliant form coupled to a standard five-speed automatic.


According to drive.com.au, standard equipment includes separate front and rear air-conditioning systems, leather trim, heated front seats with eight-way power adjustment, trip computer, six-disc CD player, power sunroof and 10 cupholders.


BMW sold 403 X5s in Australia in the first two months of 2003 compared with 243 Mercedes M-class, drive.com.au noted.