2004 Acura RL Review
Price Estimate: $545 - $882





+31
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Quiet cabin, smooth ride, standardized features list, excellent build quality.
Cons
- Lackadaisical acceleration, some luxury features not available, little inclination for sport, costs as much as more modern European sedans.
What’s new
The RL receives only minor changes for the 2004 model year. The dash has been slightly revised to accommodate a newly available XM radio. To accompany the digital-quality sound from XM radio, there's a new Bose audio system with two additional speakers and an in-dash six-disc CD changer. The previously optional navigation system is now standard on the RL, as is driver-side power lumbar adjustment.
Edmunds says
With an overdue redesign on the way, the RL is hard to recommend against equally priced but considerably more modern competitors.
For sale near Littleton, CO
8 listings
- $5,900fair price$267 above market
- 193,875 miles
- 1 accident, 2 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 16 City / 22 Hwy MPG
- Santa Barbara Auto Connection (885 mi away)
- Heated seats
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Goleta, CA
2004 Acura RL Automatic, 6 Cyl with 3.5 Liter, All power interior with leather, AM FM CD with Navigation, Alloy wheels and Much more.... The Acura RL ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/22 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JH4KA96694C004203
Stock: 004203
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 12-27-2024 - $6,499great price$3,197 below market
- 106,000 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 16 City / 22 Hwy MPG
- Always Affordable Auto (891 mi away)
- Heated seats
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Davis, CA
JUST ARRIVED//CLEAN TITLE//LOW MILES// BELOW RETAIL VALUE//BIG SALE Call or text Now (ED) 5**-7**-6*** 2004 ACURA RL W/NAVIGATION. Runs and Drives gre...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/22 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JH4KA96614C006415
Stock: 006415
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 06-30-2025
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Colorado
$256/mo for RL 3.5
RL 3.5
vs
$190/mo
Avg. Large Car
Acura RL Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Perfect sedan for the Money
5 out of 5 starsjasonwipf, 07/16/2012
2004 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 4A)
Perfect Used sedan for the money.
Why spend 40-70k for luxury sedans when you can get a 2004 Acura for 10-13K??? They changed the styling in 2005 and its completely different.
The newer ones are sporty and pre-2005 they are luxury.
I have owned 2 so far they are that great. my 1998 RL I ran to 265,000 before giving to my sister inlaw who is still running it today.
And my 2004 I picked up … with 88K and know it will go easily to 300K miles. thats over 200,000 of luxury car for only $14K (thats on the high side for buying it in 2012 but it was a cherry! and worth every penny).
Just Love the RL
5 out of 5 starsjasminebree, 07/07/2012
2004 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 4A)
I just bought my 4th RL.
This was a 1 owner with 60,000 miles and it is just like new.
The Navigation works great, the power lumbar support is phenomenal, moving the CD's to a more accessible location helps...
A must have
4.5 out of 5 starsluvmyrl, 04/22/2003
2004 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 4A)
I love this car, XM radio, Voice
activated navigational system. Better
sounds system. I didn't think they
could improve on the RL, I was wrong.
Fun car to drive packed with luxury (04 RL)
5 out of 5 starsmike900, 06/05/2014
2004 Acura RL 3.5 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 4A)
I bought this car more than two years ago with 78000 miles on it. I've put more than 13000 miles on my 04 RL and there's absolutely zero issue! So you can see the reliability of this car. I only changed the air filter myself, one of the headlight hit its lifetime I did it myself too. It is easy to DIY with these common consumables.
This generation of RL is the last of the honda legend. … It kinds of combines the luxury and sporty driving experience. The horsepower of the engine is not really impressive giving the weight of the car is like an mid size SUV. But the acceleration is pretty good. I live in midwest and the front wheel drive has good traction in the winter too. mpg is crappy..
2004 RL Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $45,600 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $256/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 14.8 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the RL include:
- Alarm
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
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 RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic 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 – OriginalAcceptable
- 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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