I got a 2013 JX35 in June of 2012 after shopping MDX's, Highlanders, and Explorers. It has been trouble-free after 103K and I am still enjoying it.
The reasons I went with it were because of the above models mentioned, at the time it was the only mid-size that had a usable and easily accessible 3rd row for anything larger than small children. The 2nd row adjusts for more leg room flexibility and the seats fold up and slide to give a larger opening for an adult to access the 3rd row. We have put 7 adults in it on several occasions and it gets the job done.
Another big reason I chose it was the shallowest of reasons, but I could get it with a burgundy exterior with dark brown leather seats and black carpet. The MDX had a nice maroon exterior color, but you could only get a light tan interior, and I will never have light-colored seats and carpet again. Just too hard to maintain. My JX35 interior still looks great and I know I've had just as many spills in it as previous cars.
Some don't like the CVT, but I like not having to feel the transmission shift through the lower gears, and when I step on it, it responds just fine. I drive in ECO mode 100% of the time. Now that I'm past 100K miles, I'm wondering how the CVT will hold up, but for now I'm completely happy with this car.
The only negative for me is the same as any mid-size
SUV, and that's that I can't haul as much as in my old Yukon XL. But with no kids at home anymore to haul around, I get by.
tl;dr...I have been happy with my JX35.