
|
|
2013 Acura RLX - The build quality is excellent.
The Acura RLX is an executive car manufactured by Honda and sold under their Acura division, released in 2013. Succeeding the Acura RL, the RLX offers two versions, a front-wheel drive base model equipped with Acura's Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) four-wheel steering system, and a hybrid variant featuring SH-AWD that serves as Acura's flagship. However in Honda Legend, front-wheel drive is not offered.
Story
The 2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is like the old story. If you consider the fact that it is one of the most evolved cars at Acura and in the whole industry. It is Acura's the top of the line vehicle, at least until the Acura NSX.
Pros
Elegant styling. It is evident that Acura worked hard to enhance the appearance of the 2016 Acura RLX. The sedan does not have any over-the-top styling cues. Onlookers will immediately notice the RLX’s beautiful LED headlights. All models come standard with a set of 19-inch wheels. Prospective buyers can also choose from six exciting colors, including Graphite Luster and Pomegranate. Proven engine. The Acura RLX’s 3.5-liter, V-6 engine has proven itself to be an outstanding performer. Acura has tuned the engine to pump out a thrilling 310 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque. With this ... (more)
Cons
Standard model doesn’t offer AWD. In order to get an all-wheel-drive system, buyers will have to opt for the hybrid model. The hybrid version costs at least $10,000 more than the standard model. No manual gearbox. The Acura RLX will not be available with a stick-shift transmission. Some driving enthusiasts may be disappointed. Slightly expensive. Prices for the Acura RLX start at around $51,000. This is quite a bit more expensive than some American-made luxury sedans.
2015 Acura RLX - I love my car
I got this car back in April 2015. I have 9k miles on it now. Car drives without any issues whatsoever. When driving around 70 miles on the freeway car gets about 34 mpg, even though by the book it is 31 mpg. Mixed driving I get 26-27 mpg, which is great considering how big car is. Car is definitely not the softest on the planet, since I saw few people complain about it, which is true I agree with that, however car is luxury/sport and some sport cars are not the most soft cars out-there. I really like a lot of standard options such as LED Headlights, P-AWS rear wheel steering technology 19" luxury wheels, acoustic windshield and front glass and etc., This car is definitely worth getting considering this car cost a lot less than competition with similar options, less by about 15k. Also ... (more)
Story
Few month back I went long trip with my friends. We enjoyed a lot in my car. I could drive the car. It is so fun and made us happy. We spent good times in the car.
Pros
Abundant standard features; spacious cabin.
Cons
Harsh ride with the 19-inch wheels and tires; disconnected steering feel; so-so display screen graphics with distracting interface; front seats get uncomfortable on longer drives.
2012 Acura RLX - Good performance of the car.
The design of the car is attractive when compared to other types of branded cars. The black color increases the style of the car when compared to other types of branded cars. The interior design is important and made this the car more attractive when compared to the other types of cars.
Story
One day my friend wanted to drive this car in my lawn. He drives very well. He drove the car into a pit. That was a memorable moment in my life.
Pros
The performance of the car is very good. The fuel economy of the car is better when compared to other types of branded cars. This car consumes the fuel at a very low rate and that increases the mileage. The fuel efficiency of the car is too good when compared to other types of cars.
Cons
The maintenance of the car is too high when compared to other types of cars. The parts of the car easily get weared. You need to change the car parts often.
|
Autolist rating: 5/5
But would we buy it? Yes
Price range: $55,865 – $62,865
TLDR: Acura’s unsung hero sedan.
Acura is the luxury division of Honda, and the RLX is the largest and most luxurious sedan it makes. It sits atop Acura’s three-model sedan lineup, followed by the midsize TLX and the compact ILX.
The RLX competes against a wide variety of luxury sedans, including the BMW 530e xDrive, Mercedes-Benz E400, Audi A6, Lexus GS 450h, Infiniti Q70 Hybrid, Cadillac CT6 and CTS, Lincoln Continental, Volvo S90 and Genesis G80 Sport.
For the 2018 model year, Acura refreshed the exterior design of the RLX, added a wider color palette, redesigned the seats and made minor changes to the car’s powertrain and chassis. The result is a car that’s generally more exciting to look at (the earlier iteration was way too vanilla) and one that finally feels like it can compete against its storied rivals.
There are two versions of the RLX: the base front-wheel-drive version and the optional all-wheel-drive hybrid model; we tested the hybrid model, which Acura calls the Sport Hybrid.
Starting at $62,865, it has a 3.5-liter V6 engine and three electric motors that make a combined 377 horsepower. Not only is that a healthy output, but the RLX’s ace in the hole is the efficiency the hybrid powertrain gives it.
The car is rated by the EPA at 28/29/28 miles per gallon in city/highway/combined. Those are impressive numbers for a full-size, all-wheel-drive sedan, especially one with that much power. The car’s transmission is a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic.
But as mom always said, there’s no free lunch. The biggest drawback to the hybrid model is that its trunk is smaller than the base RLX’s. That’s because the hybrid batteries are stored between the rear seats and the trunk itself, shrinking the hybrid’s useable space down to 12 cubic feet from the 14.9 cubic feet in the base model.
That may not sound like much, but in our testing on a long road trip with four adults and their luggage, the difference meant a few bags had to be crammed into the cabin with the passengers. The hybrid model is also about 300 pounds heavier than the base gas RLX and costs an additional $7,000.
The base front-wheel-drive RLX starts at $55,865 and comes with the same 3.5-liter V6 engine as the Sport Hybrid, minus the hybrid element. This car has 310 horsepower and a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Without the benefit of the electric motors, the gas RLX is significantly less efficient in city driving. Its EPA rating is 20/29/23 miles per gallon in city/highway/combined.
TLDR: Power, efficiency and refinement.
Green power. 377 horsepower is a lot, and the fact that you can have it and all-wheel drive and nearly 30 miles per gallon in combined driving feels almost too good to be true.
Smooth power. Not only does the RLX Sport Hybrid have plenty of power, but it’s delivered smoothly without lags or lurching as the car switches between engine and electric power (or combines the two). The biggest compliment we can give is that passengers can’t feel when the electric power is or is not engaged.
Refinement. Acura has always made nice vehicles, but they usually trail competitors in terms of luxury panache. While some models in Acura’s lineup still have room for improvement, this refreshed 2018 RLX is the company’s biggest step yet towards true luxury legitimacy.
TLDR: Trunk shrinks, weight jumps.
Shrunk trunk. As we mentioned, the hybrid system’s batteries have to be stored somewhere, so Acura put them in between the rear seats and the trunk. This means there’s less cargo space than you’d expect on a full-size luxury sedan. Generally, this is a tradeoff we’re ok with, given the other benefits of the hybrid system, but if you’re going to be doing tons of traveling with lots of luggage, this may be a concern.
Old infotainment. Acura uses a two-screen infotainment setup in most of its current vehicles: a touchscreen in the dashboard and a larger screen at the top of the dashboard that’s controlled by a rotary knob. While Acura made some improvements to it in the RLX for the 2018 model year, it can still be confusing to use since it’s not always clear which function is on which screen. The system is showing its age, and the next new Acura on the market will ditch it altogether.
The weight. A complicated hybrid system like this adds a lot of mass to a car (300 pounds in the case of the RLX). While the car has more than enough horsepower to compensate, it still doesn’t feel like a nimble sports sedan during eager driving. This likely isn’t a concern for most buyers who just want a comfortable, powerful luxury sedan, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
Safety? Yes
Value? Yes
Efficiency? Yes
Driving experience? Yes
Execution? Yes
The base RLX starts at $55,865. It comes with leather seats that are heated up front, moonroof, 14-speaker audio system, navigation system with real-time traffic monitoring, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist and LED headlights and taillights.
The Sport Hybrid model starts at $62,865. It adds to the base model the 377-horsepower all-wheel-drive hybrid system and seven-speed transmission, a 360-degree camera, parking sensors, heads-up display, upgraded audio system, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats.
As we mentioned, every luxury brand in existence has a competitor to the RLX, so there’s a long list of worthy models in this price range.
The BMW 5 Series is one of our favorites in terms of all-around luxury and performance; the 530i xDrive is a plug-in hybrid with all-wheel drive that’s the closest 5 Series competitor to the RLX, and it’s definitely worth a look.
The Volvo S90 is a standout for its design. The Genesis G80 (Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury brand) is a strong value contender.
The Lexus GS 450h and Infiniti Q70 Hybrid both top the RLX in efficiency but both cost more, don’t offer all-wheel drive and are starting to age. If that doesn’t bother you, then test drive both.
The Cadillac CTS is also aging and can probably be skipped. Also skip the Lincoln Continental.
The Audi A6 is outdated as well, but the next generation has been revealed and is set to go on sale within a year.