Acura RL Review

2011 Acura RL 4dr Sedan AWD

As a flagship luxury sedan, the Acura RL has long been a bit of an oddity. It's never been notably large or roomy, and it's always had a V6 engine as its sole engine choice. Nor has the RL been a standout in terms of style or design. It's almost as if Acura purposely meant for its RL to remain anonymous.

As such, the RL has never attained much popularity and typically lives in the shadow of more prestigious makes and well-known models. Older first-generation Acura RLs, in particular, are rather ho-hum. But Acura has been making changes to rectify this, and the latest model is the most engaging RL yet.

Current Acura RL

The latest RL sports a face-lift that shows off Acura's latest controversial design language. The front grille, in particular, has been described in rather unflattering terms, as a bagel slicer and the snout of an elephant seal.

Better news is under the skin, where a 3.7-liter V6 makes 300 horsepower and an advanced all-wheel-drive system gives the RL enhanced traction and handling abilities. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard.

Although it doesn't offer the posh reputation of other luxury vehicles, the Acura RL nevertheless features a classy, sumptuous interior adorned in high-quality materials, leather and real wood trim. The dash is awash in buttons, but they serve a welcome alternative to the navigation system's iDrive-like control knob and voice commands. The RL's 10-speaker surround-sound stereo with six-CD/DVD audio changer, satellite radio and optional iPod integration is one of the best in the business. An optional Technology package includes a voice-activated navigation system.

In road tests, we found that the Acura RL gets better the harder it's driven thanks to the SH-AWD system that tenaciously maintains traction. The ride is tuned more on the cushier side of the spectrum, so despite offering notable handling abilities, it is still principally designed to be a comfortable cruiser. Our chief complaint has been a lack of low-end grunt. Unlike its competitors, the RL is not offered with a V8.

Used Acura RL Models

The (current) second-generation RL was introduced for the 2005 model year. It originally debuted with a 290-hp V6 and only one trim level: loaded. The following year saw the addition of a Technology package that included adaptive cruise control, run-flat tires and a collision-preventing radar-based active braking system. In addition, the previously optional navigation system was made standard. Models from 2008 and older lack the current model's additional horsepower and revised styling.

Consumers interested in used Acura RLs built before 2005 will be dealing with the first-generation Acura RL (known as the 3.5 RL) produced from 1996-2004. The 3.5 RL debuted as a replacement for the popular Acura Legend, but its unimaginative name demonstrated an unfortunate change in Acura's philosophy that saw it move in a more staid, Lexus-like direction. This generation also had a high level of standard equipment and typically cost less than its competition, but it couldn't overcome its anonymous styling, unexciting V6 engine and lax driving dynamics.

While front-wheel drive is beneficial in smaller cars, most luxury car buyers seem to prefer the extra performance and handling that come from rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. This wasn't such a big issue during the RL's early years, but as newer competing models debuted with more power and more features, the Acura RL became increasingly outclassed.

Acura didn't change the 3.5 RL much during its first generation. In 2000, it received a standard stability control system and an improved navigation system. The most significant changes were made in 2002, when it gained a bit more power and a more firmly tuned suspension.

The RL's predecessor was the Acura Legend. Available in coupe and sedan body styles, the Legend largely lived up to its name, being praised for its sporty nature, strong performance and impeccable fit and finish. As with most Acura/Honda products, reliability was very good.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.