2012 Acura RL - Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews from Around the Web
We have scoured the web for expert reviews of this car and found the best ones for you to read. Found 15 reviews. This list is displayed in ranked order based the reviews we think are the best.| Ranking | Details |
|---|---|
| #1 |
1996 Acura RL Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Remember, we were almost broadsided - on my side, of course - in the RL on a Saturday night while you were driving. I'm assuming the car gets a lot of credit in the quick swerve? He: Well, it wasn't just my superior reflexes, honey. But I was just as impressed by the way the RL soaked up all the spring potholes on Gratiot Avenue. And I've got to admit that these are about the most comfortable seats that Acura has ever put in one of its cars. They also did a nice job on the leather-and-walnut trim and all the snazzy accessories, including the two-position heated seats and the killer Bose sound... |
| #2 |
2011 Acura RL: Flash DriveSource: MSN Autos...Some might like the experience, but I find it disconcerting. However, I do like the updated styling, and inside, the RL is luxurious, but understated, as expected. –Mike MeredithThe RL is a very nice premium sedan. It has comfortable leather seats, plenty of high-end features, a quiet ride - everything that's expected in a luxury car. The problem with the RL is that it just isn't very exciting. It wears the signature Acura grille, but overall the style doesn't stand out from the crowd. The V6 puts out good power, and the Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive works well to improve handling, but I... |
| #3 |
1996 Acura RL Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...you need add only $495 for freight--the $44,000 price tag is stiff and surely will send some folks to the Mercedes E-Class sedans in a similar price range or perhaps even to the LeSabre, which is bigger, roomier and almost $20,000 less expensive. Some noteworthy items include a massive trunk with a 90-degree lid opening to make loading/unloading very easy; a lockable ski pass-through between the rear seat backs so you can slip skis into the trunk and have them hidden in the car; a fold-down center armrest for rear-seat occupants that houses dual cupholders; a deck-lid opener release button... |
| #4 |
2012 acura rl Professional Edmunds ReviewSource: Edmunds...Safety: Standard safety features for the Acura RL include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. The available collision warning system can help prevent or minimize a frontal accident by providing warnings to the driver or actually applying emergency braking if a collision seems unavoidable. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the RL its highest rating of "Good" in its frontal-offset and side-collision tests. It scored the second-worst rating of "Marginal," however, in... |
| #5 |
2011 acura rl Professional Edmunds ReviewSource: Edmunds...Safety: Standard safety features for the Acura RL include antilock disc brakes with brake assist, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, active front head restraints and a stability-control system. The optional CMBS can help prevent or minimize a frontal accident by providing warnings to the driver or actually applying emergency braking if a collision seems unavoidable. The RL has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash-testing procedures. Its 2010 ratings (which aren't comparable to 2011 tests) resulted in top five-star ratings for... |
| #6 |
2012 Acura RL OverviewSource: CarGurus...All equipment is available for the Advance trim, which also includes power-folding side mirrors, real wood cabin accents and adaptive cruise control. Options for all trims include a deck lid spoiler, front and rear splash guards, and an engine block heater.Numerous safety features are standard in all 2012 RL trims, including 6 airbags (2 front, 2 front-side and 2 full-length side curtain airbags) with an occupant position detection system, active head restraints, antilock disc brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist systems, vehicle stability assist system and tire pressure... |
| #7 |
1996 Acura RL Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...The wheelbase is 114.6 inches, the overall length 195.1 inches. At 3,660 pounds, the car is heavy enough to supply an excellent ride, providing the suspension is sufficiently sophisticated. Acura has handled this requirement by deviating from the MacPherson strut design used on some luxury cars for their front-suspension system. The RL utilizes double wishbone long/short arm suspension which allows precise control of the movement of the front wheels. Rear suspension is a combination of a longitudinal trailing arm, three lateral links, and a tubular stabilizer rather than a stabilizer bar... |
| #8 |
1996 Acura RL Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Externally, length and wheelbase match the departed Legend, which was so close to Lexus and Infiniti that nobody noticed the difference. Internally, little delights abound. There's a special paint that makes vinyl look like matte leather. For the particularly long of shank or large of loafer, the underside of the front seat is carpeted to protect your Ballys. But the hand brake has been replaced by a foot pedal, a dreadful touch of GM that has no place on a luxury automobile. Worse, the brake does not unhook when the transmission is engaged. Glowing tires will be your only warning that the... |
| #9 |
1996 Acura RL Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Both have four-wheel-independent suspension systems. But the 3.5RL's suspension embraces the traditionally soft American ride, whereas the Aurora offers a harder, European-type ride. Both cars seat five passengers comfortably. But the Aurora can carry more of their stuff in 16.1 cubic feet of trunk space, compared with 14 cubic feet available in the 3.5RL. Complaints: About the 3.5RL -- the unbelievably soft wallow of it all. About the Aurora -- I still hate the extreme curvature of the car's rear window, which obsc res rear vision. Praise: The 3.5RL: Honda got the comfort-and-convenience... |
| #10 |
2011 Acura RL OverviewSource: CarGurus...18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, voice command for audio and climate systems and rear-seat climate controls top a long list of standard features. The manufacturer lists three trims for the 2011 Acura RL, but the second two are, in effect, packages that can be added to the base model. The Technology package features a back-up camera, rear parking sensors, front seats that are ventilated as well as heated, upgraded Bluetooth phone and a navigation system with real-time traffic, weather and voice activation. The Advance setup gets adaptive cruise... |
Acura RL Related News
2011 Acura RL: Driven
What makes the RL distinct or alluring among luxury cars? How is it much different than the same-sized TL? And shouldn't a brand flagship feel a little more exclusive, a... May 27, 2011 by Bengt Halvorson 1
2011 Acura RL Priced From $47,200
As Honda and Acura continue to grope around in the dark, trying to find their way back to their former position of design leadership, the 2011 models are basically treading... December 21, 2010 by Nelson Ireson
2011 Acura RL Preview
The current-generation Acura RL has been on the market since late 2004 and since then has only undergone one major facelift to keep it looking fresh amongst a sea of strong... December 14, 2010 by Viknesh Vijayenthiran 5
Acura RL Safe, No Phase-Out Planned
Earlier this morning, reports emerged that the Acura RL, bawdy bionic beavertooth grille and all, might soon be headed to the scrap heap of history, but Acura has released a... July 16, 2010 by Nelson Ireson 4
Week-Long Test Drive: 2010 Acura RL Brings Divine Comfort To Affordable Super-Luxury
Sometimes after a long, hard and invariably stressful day at the office you just want to get into a car that will cosset and calm you on your drive home. Divinely smooth ride... February 17, 2010 by Jim Hamel 2
Why should I also consider these?
Among luxury sport sedans, the 2012 Acura RL lands in an interesting middle ground.
It doesn't quite fit in with the top tier of flagship sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz—mainly because it's neither as bold and stylish nor as dynamically satisfying.
But it's definitely sportier than the Lexus ES 350, without adding any significant harshness.
The all-new Saab 9-5 is one of the more direct rivals; although Saab is still ailing at the time of posting, the new 9-5 is an excellent sport sedan with more character and charm than the RL.
The Volvo S80 is roomier and brighter inside, with Scandinavian styling and lighter handling.
The all-new Audi A6 is also way more stylish and charismatic, sharing its interior and powertrain with the uber-stylish A7 fastback.
The Lincoln MKX EcoBoost seems stuck in a similar middle ground, offering reasonably good performance but a somewhat stodgy feel.
For a lot less money, you could have a V-6 Hyundai Genesis, which isn't as loaded with tech features but is up to comparable levels of refinement.
It's definitely worth keeping in mind that for the same money you could have slightly less well-equipped versions of the BMW 5-Series, Jaguar XF, or Mercedes-Benz E-Class—all of which either have more style and luxury cachet—and for most versions, more driving thrills.
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