2001 Acura RL Review
Price Estimate: $1,846 - $2,993
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Full load of equipment, DVD navigation system, reputation for quality and reliability.
Cons
- Front-drive with a V6 in a sea of V8 RWD competitors, bland exterior styling.
What’s new
Floor mats become standard, leaving the DVD-based navigation system alone on the factory options list. Also new is an emergency trunk release located on the inside of the cargo area.
Edmunds says
The wallflower in the luxury sedan class.
For sale near Laurel, MS
Vehicle overview
The 3.5 RL, Acura's flagship, is athletic, extremely quiet, luxurious and priced right: All of which makes it a serious contender in the luxury sedan market despite its V6, front-drive layout.
We're most impressed by the efforts taken by Acura engineers to make the RL as quiet, smooth and solid as possible. Mission accomplished. The RL rides like a cloud on greased rails. This welcome feat was accomplished by adding low-friction ball joints in the suspension, Teflon seals on the valves, a liquid-filled rear-trailing arm, foam-filled B- and C-pillars, honeycomb floor panels and vibration-absorbing seats.
Their efforts, however, would have been for naught if the interior designers had slipped even a little. No fear. Switchgear and controls possess the same Acura quality we've counted on for years, the seats are a utopian dream of comfort and the multi-zone climate-control system allows all passengers, including those in the rear, control over their environment.
And don't worry about the sticker being run up when you select a few options -- the RL is available in one trim level only and includes everything you'd expect in a luxury sedan, including safety equipment such as high-intensity headlights, side airbags and a new, highly advanced handling control system called Vehicle Stability Assist. And, for 2001, Acura decided it was a bad idea to ding its luxury car buyers for floor mats (well, duh!), so they're now standard. The automaker also added an emergency trunk release located on the inside of the cargo area.
The only thing still optional is the navigation system. We loved it when it was redesigned last year and we still think it's one of the best systems out there. It covers the entire continental United States on a single DVD and supplies verbal instructions that allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.
Last year we wondered why a V8 engine wasn't included with all the 3.5RL's other advancements, especially considering most of its competitors do offer eight cylinders. We will continue to ask until we are satisfied. It's important to note, though, that we're not complaining about the RL's 210-horsepower V6 - it's an athletic and spirited drive, but we figure a V8, coupled to proper rear-wheel drive, would put the RL over the top.
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Mississippi
$235/mo for RL 3.5
RL 3.5
vs
$174/mo
Avg. Large Car
Acura RL Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Life or Death!
5 out of 5 starsAlive!, 08/13/2002
2000 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan
After reading the other reviews, I
thought it important to discuss
features other than power and cup
holders...like safety. I just totaled
my 2000 RL. I hit the cement dividing
wall of an interstate...head on at 60
mph. I walked away from the accident.
If you saw the vehicle, you would not
believe what I just told you.
RL Rules!!
4.75 out of 5 starschanceme, 07/27/2011
2000 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan
Great car best I have ever owned,take care of the car,it will take care of you! All the features you would ever want and
need,great leather,love the sunroof.
Florida to California to Alaska.
5 out of 5 starsBob, 11/16/2018
2000 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan
Awesome car! I purchased this car in Florida in December of 2017 then road tripped to the above mentioned places and it performed perfectly in all places terrain and weather conditions. Now it is a daily driver in Alaska, and I will run it as long as I can. This car is still running Great as of 11/2019. Being used as a daily driver in Alaska.
05/18/20 Still running Great after … another Alaska winter!!
Flawless
5 out of 5 starsbeancounternc, 07/06/2011
2000 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan
I bought my RL new with 6 miles on it. It now has over 205,000. This rascal has never let me down and while components have failed they have been silly things (trim across back glass, and cup holder gets stuck now and again).
The EGR system and driver/passenger seat belt buckles were repaired/replaced under warranty. I've had to pay to have a passenger window regulator replaced ($450), … front chin spoiler two times ($125ea) and the rear window trip three times ($125ea). Other than that...everything works as it should.
Others complain about power but I don't have any complaints at all. This car moves when I want it to.
My "older" car is a 1988 Legend L 5sp coupe with close to 380,000 miles.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2001 Acura RL, so we've included reviews for other years of the RL since its last redesign.
2001 RL Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $42,150 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $235/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the RL include:
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintPoor
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