Magnifying the MDX’s flexibility even further is a new six-speed automatic (replacing the previous five-speeder) that Acura claims to be the most advanced transmission it’s ever built. Notably, gears one through 5 are tightly spaced so you’re never caught flat-footed, while sixth is a tall, relaxed-cruising cog. And among its various coolnesses are paddle-shifts, grade logic, consultation with the lateral-g level before shifting, hill-start assist, two shift modes, and a transmission cooler. In addition to Acura’s remarkable SH-AWD (Super-Handling All Wheel Drive), which can vector the rear wheel’s lateral torque split (and aided by stiffer trailing arm mounts) a new, topline Advanced Entertainment Package offers available 19-inch wheels and magneto-rheological dampers to make the MDX one sweet-handling crossover. Oh, and its new fascia and other visual revisions, should also make the 2010 MDX little easier to remember too, come trade-in time for my numerous RX-driving freeway companions.