At a towering 72.2 in.--that's one inch taller than Isaiah Thomas--the Acura SLX is one of the tallest sport-utes on the market. That height is clearly a boon in terms of the interior space and the driver visibility it affords. But in concert with its relatively narrow width--72.4 in.--the SLX is not quite as aesthetically pleasing as the shorter, more muscular-looking entries like the Ford Explorer and new Nissan Pathfinder. On the other hand, the exterior styling of the SLX and the Trooper is sophisticated, smooth and clean.
The front view is more impressive. The imposing grille, beefy front bumper and flared fenders give the SLX and Trooper the kind of go-anywhere presence that's a hallmark of this breed.
In the back, the rear hatch doors swing outward instead of up or down. Though this is a matter of individual preference, the sideways-opening design doesn't afford the weather-protection advantage of the upswinging gate on some other sport-utes. Also: The rear-gate window doesn't open, so the entire gate must be unlocked and opened to load even the smallest of items.
A plus, however, is that the rear gate employs a 70/30 split design that's handy in cramped quarters like garages or shopping-mall parking lots.
When turning, side cornering lights illuminate tight parking spaces and dark corners. And the powerful foglights came in handy on several nights when we were crossing multiple railroad tracks in a dense Detroit riverfront fog.
What the SLX's height taketh away in aesthetics, it giveth back in the interior-space department. Headroom was so plentiful that one of our taller test drivers was tempted to don a University of Michigan drum-major's hat--just because he could.
In the event that you're one of the 5 percent who will take the SLX off-road, the cabin offers no fewer than seven passenger grab handles--including one on the center console that allows the front-seat passenger to assist gravity and really plant him or herself during rough rides.
The panoramic visibility offered by the SLX's height is, as the kids say, truly awesome. During our test drive, we could see easily over the top of sedans and even some minivans in front of us.
Interior cargo space is more than generous. The seat-up rear cargo area in the SLX measures 46.3 cu. ft.--best in its class. When the rear seats are folded down, that figure nearly doubles to 90.2 cu. ft. In the SLX Premium model, however, the cargo space is smaller--43.7 cu. ft. with the seats up, 85.3 cu. ft. when folded down. To maximize cargo-loading options, the rear seats are split 60/40.
From the perspective of rear-seat passenger comfort, when the rear seats are in the upright position, they seem too upright and rigid. The only way to recline them is with the same knob that's used when folding the seats down.
Like the exterior, the SLX instrument panel is handsome, and it's also well laid out. No mysteries here, and no hunting for controls. The front seats are attractive, as well as comfortably supportive, and dual airbags are standard.
Although the Isuzu Trooper generally won high marks for its cargo capacity and off-road sturdiness, it was uniformly criticized for its mystifying lack of shift-on-the-fly 4wd capability--not to mention the absence of a full-time 4wd system. Since the unsynchronized front hubs locked automatically, the front axle could not be engaged with the vehicle in motion.
Acura insisted that Isuzu add on-the-fly 4wd to the Trooper as part of the vehicle's metamorphosis into the Acura SLX--especially since it's being positioned as an upmarket vehicle pushing the $40,000 envelope.
Generally speaking, the SLX performed admirably. The all-aluminum 3.2-liter, 24-valve V6 generates 190 hp, with 188 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm. Although the SLX is big, that's sufficient muscle for most situations, whether it's a freeway merge or pulling yourself through a muddy, rutted road.
The minimum ground clearance--i.e., the amount of space between the ground and the differential--is a rut-clearing 8.5 inches.
However, a few quibbles:
As we indicated earlier, sport-utes need to be versatile--which means some compromises have to be made in order for a sport-ute to function on every surface from smooth, well-traveled highways to rugged, uncharted terrain. And although the majority of buyers will only be rolling down the highway in the SLX, no one really expects the cushiony ride comfort of a Cadillac or the cornering agility of a 300ZX.
Like most sport-utilities today, especially those in the luxury category, the SLX and Trooper favor ride over handling. Although an abrupt 90-degree turn at 25 mph was fairly routine, the body roll was significant. And when negotiating a tight hairpin--especially on the slightly wet surface we encountered--the combination of height and comparitively narrow track led to a feeling of not being firmly planted. However, that's an element of sport-utility driving that takes some getting used to. Underneath all the finery, they are, after all, trucks.
More appealing is the SLX's sturdy 4-speed automatic transmission, which comes equipped with "power mode" and "winter mode" functions, both of which can be engaged with the push of a button. The power mode makes upshifts higher in the rev band, allowing for more rapid acceleration. The winter mode starts the vehicle in third gear to maximize traction and control on snowy or icy surfaces. The standard limited-slip differential helps in this respect, too.
Braking performance, augmented by standard ABS and discs at all four corners, was good, particularly in view of this vehicle's mass.