GCBC LOWDOWN - Acura RL

Acura's history is but a brief one. Built to offer Honda an upscale tier in North America, Acura's incarnation occurred around the time as Lexus and Infiniti hit the USofA.

Infiniti swelled, lulled, and is swelling again. Lexus took off and never look back. Acura has been steady, but at the lower end of the luxury spectrum. Cars like the Integra (see GCBC Memorial here) and TSX made Acura one of the default choices for young, well-off professionals.

Read other instances where The Good Car Guy offered straight-goods Lowdown here

But for those spending more money, Acura dealerships haven't proved so tempting. What some parts of the world see as the Honda Legend, we see as the Acura RL. Before the RL was the appropriately named 3.5RL; which was preceeded by the Acura Legend. The Legend/RL family is far more than a legend - it's true and has been since the late 80's - but by another definition, the Legend/RL duo is no legend. Not in the sense that a Mercedes S-class is a legend; not in any way approaching the status of even its little brother Integra.

However, the buyer of an Acura RL will enjoy a tremendous ownership experience. Few would deny that. Before reading The Good Car Guy's 5-pointed Lowdown, here are five Acura RL facts.

ACURA'S FACTS

1 - Acura RL's are the brand's most expensive model, with the NSX departed and not yet reincarnated.
2 - The 7-passenger crossover utility MDX bases $6,085 USD lower than the RL.
3 - Acura's 3.5L V6 makes 290 horsepower at 6200rpm.
4 - Every RL features Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive.
5 - The RL has a 6-point Technology Package, with the sixth item entitled, "Genuine, curly maple dashboard trim".

GOODCARBADCAR LOWDOWN

1 - Not only is the RL $6,085 more than the MDX, it's $12,555 more than the TL, and $8,055 more than a TL Type-S.
2 - The RL's styling is completely inoffensive. Which is to say.... blah.
3 - Acura has positioned the RL's price directly between Audi's A6 six-cylinder and V8 versions. That's it's main AWD competitor.
4 - Acura's V6 makes plenty of power way up in the rev-range. Doesn't sound luxo-sedan to you? This is a Honda, man. The engine rocks.
5 - Building your RL is easy. No, not for the manufacturer; for you. Acura's come fairly loaded. Pick a colour, a package or two, and be done with it. It's not so easy at your friendly Merc-Benz dealer.