2019 Acura RLX Review

Name: 2019 Acura RLX Review
Brand: Acura
Price: 26958 USD
Rating: 4.8 (29 reviews)

Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD Sedan Exterior Shown

Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD Sedan Exterior

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Acura RLX model years

Acura RLX for Sale

Acura RLX types

Sedan
Hybrid

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byWill Kaufman^{Senior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax
Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at Edmunds. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.}

Pros

Quiet, comfortable interior
Spacious cabin and seating, especially for rear passengers
Long list of standard safety and convenience features

Cons

Dual-screen infotainment system is outdated and unintuitive
Interior design looks dated
Subpar ride and handling for the class
Hybrid fails to offer stand-out efficiency

What's new

The RLX is unchanged for 2019
Part of the first RLX generation introduced for 2014

The Acura RLX is a car in need of a redesign. Acura's large luxury sedan boasts some unique features. But beyond some minor tweaks, it hasn't changed much since it launched in 2013, and even then it didn't feel cutting-edge. The RLX is roomy and comfortable, and the interior materials and craftsmanship have a distinctly luxury feel. The design and technology, however, feel generations behind what you'll find in a new Audi or Mercedes-Benz.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 Acura RLX P-AWS 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$231/mo

$219/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The Acura's real party tricks are its novel drivetrains. The base model is front-wheel drive with a rear-wheel steering system to help it feel more nimble. At the top of the range sits the Sport Hybrid, which drives the front wheels with a punchy V6 and the rear wheels with an electric motor. Sadly, the Sport Hybrid doesn't live up to its sporty promises on the road. And it is no more frugal than other luxury hybrids that are better to drive and come in more modern packages or offer significantly better mpg.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (3.5L V6 hybrid | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic | AWD).

Driving

The RLX is quick in a straight line, but other facets of its dynamic repertoire leave the driver disconnected. The frustrating brake feel and bump-sensitive handling undo any sporting pretensions suggested by the power delivery. But the hybrid system is smooth, and the transmission feels natural.

Acceleration

The electric-augmented torque off the line is seamless, blending smoothly with the robust V6 power. Although it's quick from a launch, the engine's responses at freeway speeds are less impressive. Its 5.6-second sprint to 60 mph is quick, but in the company of similar-priced competitors this does not stand out.

Braking

The brake pedal feels normal at light pressure but is awkward in moderate-to-hard use, like stepping on a spring connected to nothing else. The RLX's blending of regenerative and traditional brakes reminds us of earlier, cruder efforts. A lengthy stopping distance of 126 feet from 60 mph is below average for the class.

Steering

The steering feels well-weighted but numb and slightly artificial. It's geared well, neither too quick nor too slow. The car is easy to keep pointed straight.

Handling

Turn-in is good, but any elegance evaporates on roads with bumps where it is easily unsettled. An unorthodox technique is demanded to extract the most speed through a corner — SH-AWD requires you apply more throttle to erase this car's understeer. Grip is good but not great, and body roll is moderate.

Drivability

The RLX responds briskly off the line, and its stepped transmission provides a more natural experience than a CVT automatic. Manual mode is so unresponsive that it's nearly useless. It lacks any meaningful regen or engine braking upon throttle lift, forcing a "gas-brake-gas-brake" pedal dance in freeway slogs. Sport mode favors higher revs.

Comfort

A poorly sorted ride stands out among otherwise competent luxury appointments. The cabin is hushed, and the engine imperceptibly turns on and off (because it's a hybrid, remember). Its seats are quite comfortable for long trips, and their meek side bolsters are fine since the car's no joy to hustle around corners anyway.

Seat comfort

The seats are very comfortable. They're plush and wide, with modest bolsters. The lack of lateral support coupled with slippery leather means a lot of sliding around.

Ride comfort

Rubbery, constantly busy ride motions make roads seem bumpier than you ever knew. The car is coping (poorly) with too much weight — underdamped and easily unsettled by midcorner bumps. Body motions are excessive on textured roads. The powertrain jiggles around when the accelerator is pushed or released quickly.

Noise & vibration

The integration of the engine and electric motor is seamless. At low speeds you hear rather than feel the engine turn on. Beyond 40 mph, the engine is largely silent, and it sounds good at full whack. Road noise is what you hear the most. Engine vibration is noticeable during idle-stop restarts and low-speed driving.

Climate control

The climate controls are split between hard keys (temp, power, auto, defrost, defog) and the touchscreen (mode, recirc, fan speed). Heated and cooled front seats are tepid — maximum cooling is merely adequate. The back seat gets sunshades on all three rear windows, heated seats and temperature control for vents.

Interior

The RLX nails the fundamentals of cabin layout and accommodation. Interior space is a strong suit, particularly in backseat legroom. It's easy to climb into and out of. And once seated, the driver will immediately feel at home. However, the dual-screen setup is clunky.

Ease of use

The dual-screen setup takes getting used to: One is a touchscreen; the other uses a push-knob rotary selector. The menus aren't overly intuitive, and not having a hard switch for fan speed is a poor choice. More thought needs to go into organization.

Getting in/getting out

This Acura is easy to live with. The front door swings wide open, and the sill is on the broad side but not high. The modest seat bolsters and a fairly trim dash aid entry. Bonus: The steering wheel and seat move aside to ease your exit. The rear doors open wide, though the roofline drops a bit and the sill is a touch wide.

Driving position

The natural driving position is thanks in part to a wide pedal box and a right-size steering wheel. There's enough range of travel in the seats and steering wheel to accommodate a variety of body proportions. The scalloped door panel accentuates the sense of width in the cabin.

Roominess

The ample headroom for tall drivers is helped by the lack of a panoramic sunroof (there's a conventional one). Elbow room is generous, too. The back seat has a good sense of width and a higher seating position than the front. There's plenty of rear kneeroom but lackluster headroom — that's the one demerit. Otherwise, this sedan offers a lot of space.

Visibility

The RLX presents a mix of panoramic and average sightlines. There's a broad view over the cowl and beltline. But the windshield pillar base plus the tweeter and mirror mechanism create a sizable blockage. The tall rear deck and wide pillars compromise the rear view. Camera views — front, mirrors, back — provide a bird's-eye view, but the display offers mediocre resolution.

Quality

The cabin is well-built with premium materials (supple leather, flawless stitching) and consistent panel gaps. That its design looks and feels old is unfortunate because it's clearly assembled with care.

Utility

The RLX isn't a standout in cargo management. The hybrid battery impinges on trunk space, and the Sport Hybrid's back seat neither folds nor has a pass-through. Front-seat occupants enjoy quite a large and clever console bin, although there's next to no storage options in the back seat.

Small-item storage

The center console bin is spacious and clever — the top flips up in either direction and slides back, and it has a removable tray. The two cupholders have some accommodation for various sizes. A little pocket resides near the 12-volt outlet, and door pockets will hold a small bottle and little else. There's no backseat storage other than map pockets on the back of the front seats. The armrest has dual cupholders.

Cargo space

Although the Sport Hybrid's trunk is small at 12 cubic feet, it's easy to use. It has a wide opening and an average liftover height. But the hybrid battery limits its depth and precludes a pass-through or a folding seat. The trunklid isn't power-operated.

Child safety seat accommodation

The spacious back seat offers enough room for all but the biggest rear-facing seats. But the center portion is higher, and it's not practical to fit three seats at once. The LATCH anchors are fairly easy to find and reach.

Technology

The RLX really disappoints with the dated infotainment and too-conservative driver assistance features. While the audio system's sound quality is quite enjoyable, the RLX lacks modern smartphone integration, and the infotainment system's slow responses and crummy graphics are a letdown.

Audio & navigation

The RLX's infotainment system looks and feels old, and in fact, it is at least one generation behind the current Acura system. The graphics on the top map display are old-school. Screen flow between top and bottom is terrible. The screen is slow to respond to touches.

Smartphone integration

We needed two attempts in our test vehicle to connect to Bluetooth, and the process wasn't particularly quick. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay aren't supported. You can use the AcuraLink app on your phone, but it's a poor substitute.

Driver aids

While it has a slate of driver aids, most of them are far too conservative and frustrating. One aid pushes your foot off the accelerator too eagerly. Adaptive cruise is a mess — it overshoots and undershoots the target set speed, leading to an odd surge/relent/surge trait, and the minimum following distance is quite far.

Voice control

Voice controls require the user to follow a rigid menu of choices, and the system is not especially good at discerning commands. Skip the voice controls. They're not useful.

2019 Acura RLX models

The 2019 Acura RLX comes in just two trims. The base front-wheel-drive version (referred to as P-AWS) comes with a features list that's more comprehensive than what you'll get on many competitive base models. The Sport Hybrid comes with an all-wheel-drive hybrid drivetrain and even more premium features.

The base RLX P-AWS is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine making 310 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque. It sends power to the front wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Standard equipment on the P-AWS trim includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, a power sunroof, automatic windshield wipers, a rearview camera, and keyless entry with push-button start. Inside, you'll find three-zone automatic climate controls, heated and power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable steering wheel, a dual-screen infotainment system, navigation, Bluetooth, and a 14-speaker sound system with a CD player, HD and satellite radio, a USB-iPod interface, smartphone app integration (Pandora and Aha internet radio integration), and an auxiliary audio jack.

Both the P-AWS and the Sport Hybrid come with a full suite of active safety features and driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

The Sport Hybrid also adds LED foglights, auto-dimming side mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, remote start, and a surround-view camera system. Inside, the Sport Hybrid gets ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a power rear sunshade and manual rear-door sunshades, a head-up display, and a premium 14-speaker stereo system.

Obviously, the biggest upgrade is the hybrid drivetrain. The V6 motor drives the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with a built-in electric motor, and each rear wheel has an independent electric motor. Total system power is 377 horsepower and 341 lb-ft of torque.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#15 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Acura RLX from 2008-2022.}

$569/yr

vs. $607/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.81x/yr

vs. 1.36x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

10.8%

vs. 10.5%
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2019 Acura RLX.

5 (86%)

4 (10%)

3 (4%)

2 (0%)

1 (0%)

4.8

29 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Like driving an NSX

Hobart, 03/10/2018

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 7AM)

The 2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid feels like driving an NSX supercar. The hybrid gas / electric all wheel drive system offers an incredible combination of performance, traction and economy. It’s impressive and exciting to drive. Goes in snow like nothing else you’ve driven. Gas mileage can get well into the 30s. Even though it sips Gas, it will still come out of the hole like crazy …

Great value car - great safety features standard

Brian W Wiatrek, 08/04/2018

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 7AM)

I was looking for a car that would provide some relief to a 52 mile round trip daily commute to work on very congested interstate (I-35 in Texas). I wanted a car that had good performance, fuel economy, and semi-autonomous driving features. I looked at BMW, Mercedes, Cadillac, and Acura. I choose the Acura RLX Hybrid because of Traffic Jam Assist, good fuel economy, and fantastic …

Unfairly Overlooked and Ridiculously Underrated!

Acura host, 04/18/2017

2017 Acura RLX Technology Package 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)

I test drove just about every luxury sedan in this price range--BMW, Audi, Lexus, Infinity, Porsche (suv), and some midlevel sedans as well, and I can honestly say this is the best one out there. Why? Well,....it depends on what you want. I wanted Quality (I've always loved the way Acura's drive and last), Safety (NHTSA and IIS best ratings --with suite of safety features), Visibility …

Can't go back

Boscodamus, 12/08/2018

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 7AM)

After having driven this car (RLX hybrid) for the past year I can say I could never go back to a pure gas design ever. The sense of instant response (torque!) at the pedal has to be felt to be truly appreciated. And interestingly enough in city driving it is also quite noticeable making it an enjoyable experience rather than the usual drudge. Touch the pedal and you feel the car respond. …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2019 Acura RLX, so we've included reviews for other years of the RLX since its last redesign.

See all 29 reviews of the Acura RLX

Write a vehicle review

2019 RLX Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

P-AWS

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$54,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$231/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the RLX models:

Adaptive Cruise Control: Lets you set a desired speed and maintain distance between you and the vehicle ahead, even bringing you to a complete stop.
Collision Mitigation Braking System: Alerts you of obstacles detected ahead. Provides visual alerts first and will automatically brake for you if you don't react.
Lane Keeping Assist System: Detects lane markings and will guide the car back to the middle if you begin to drift out of your lane.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.7%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2019 Acura RLX Review

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Acura RLX P-AWS 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Which RLX does Edmunds recommend?

2019 Acura RLX models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Like driving an NSX

Great value car - great safety features standard

Unfairly Overlooked and Ridiculously Underrated!

Can't go back

2019 RLX Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 Acura RLX P-AWS 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}