It’s been well over a year since I started reviewing for Honda/Acura, and sadly as goes with most, all good things must come to and end. At least for 2011-2012 models. I had a lot of fun, and what better way to wind it all down than by reviewing their highest-end car? So, this time around we are talking about Acura’s very notorious RL luxury sedan, Japans stab at affordable luxury.

Read on to find out my thoughts.

First Impressions:

Big, bold and sporty, however still sporting the same look it has for a number of years. It has the mix of comfort, technology, and elegance that you’d expect from a $65k car, however still feels like its missing something when compared to other cars in its category. Maybe I am being too meticulous.

The one stand-out feature of this car was the plush, cushioned, hand-stitched leather seats. They were big and inviting, whether in the back or front.

Technology:

Let’s get one thing straight: this car is locked and loaded with features. I mean loaded. It has a fantastic, easy to use navigation screen that is super intuitive to enter information into. The Bluetooth integration is a bit tricky to figure out, i’ll only admit once that I was confused at first, but once you get going usability is a breeze; especially with A2DP music streaming. Something that kind of confused me was the ‘keyless’ ignition; it’s more of a stub sticking out of the right side of the steering wheel that emanates the act of triggering the ignition. Why not make it push-to-start like most of the other Acura’s we’ve spoken about? Also, Acura’s decision to part with a touchscreen display, opting for an excess of buttons and knobs - I often found it confusing to decipher what did what for what.

Performance:

The 300-HP, V6-engine performs. There is no better way to put it. The paddle-shifters make the experience that much more fun when hitting the highway for take-off.

Despite having the power literally at my foot, this car is a luxury sedan and I felt inclined to treat it as such. I found myself sitting back more often than not and just enjoying the smooth ride. Exactly what the RL was designed for.

Fuel Efficiency:

Not for nor against it really. At 17 mpg city, 24 highway it falls squarely where it is supposed to in its class.

Overall:

Driving the RL opened my eyes to a different kind of drive. As I get older, I find myself appreciating comfort and stability over speed and performance (relax, I still adore my sports cars). This car appeased the domestic man in me, rather than the former girl-chasing guy I once was. At just under $65k, the RL has a lot of potential to do well, hopefully a redesign / update comes out for it soon.

Learn more about the 2012 Acura RL via Acura here

Tweet