I recently spent a weekend test driving the Acura MDX Sport Hybrid 2017 on a road trip to Campbell River with a few coffee and food stops along the way.

Leaving Vancouver, driving Highway 1 to take BC Ferries over to the island from Horseshoe Bay, sailing on the Queen of Oak Bay (100 minutes) to the Departure Bay Ferry Terminal in Nanaimo. There is a lot to do once on board the ferry.

Some of the unique features of the MDX Sport Hybrid includes lights that adjust automatically to the road conditions, high beams come on and off at night on the highway and streets as needed, the seat cushions when set on auto, they automatically go on and off based on the outside temperature and road conditions. Inside the car it’s spacious with lots of leg room, the driver seat is adjustable, there is a dvd player for the rear seats controlled in front by the driver.

Had lunch at Gabriel’s Cafe, a restaurant that I had been to earlier this past summer. It is all local with ingredients sourced from farmers and producers in the area. Open daily serving breakfast and lunch from 8am – 3pm.  I had the Quinoa & Chickpea fritter with hummus, chutney & cucumber in a whole wheat wrap this time around.

I had heard of a café in Nanaimo worth visiting which we did for some great coffee at Regard Coffee where they have been roasting their own coffee beans for the past 1-1/2 years. I enjoyed my Espresso Macchiato.

From there, drove North to Campbell River which was about a 90 minute drive, I had never made it this far North on Vancouver Island so it was a perfect time to visit, it is a beautiful area and known to be the salmon capital of Canada.

After walking around the town, we headed to Koto Japanese Restaurant for dinner, a beautiful restaurant that has been serving customers for over the past 37 years.

Here I had the delicious Salmon Teriyaki dinner with ebi sunomono, tempura, miso soup, rice, salmon and bean sprouts and tea. Also had the Campbell Rice Roll (salmon, avocado) and the Tony roll.

The next day visited Milano Coffee in Comox, here I enjoyed a Cortado made with the Milano Conca d’oro espresso. Also had a chance to try a glazed donut from Cumberland Bakery.

All in all the Acura MDX Sport Hybrid 2017 was a great car to drive to Vancouver Island visiting Nanaimo, Campbell River and Comox on a beautiful fall weekend.

By: Richard Wolak

Disclosure: Acura Canada provided me with the 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid for a week to test drive, and photograph. BC Ferries provided me with the ferry transportation.