This was a low mileage test car and so we didn't do any speed tests with it. Suffice to say that it gets you onto crowded highways easily and passing isn't a problem once the transmission has decided you are serious. There are steering wheel mounted shift levers but I seldom used them because once you turn the wheel they are difficult to activate if you have small hands. I would have preferred a six or even seven speed automatic transmission to get the most out of the electronically whipped up six cylinder engine. Acura claims that their transmission has widely
spaced gears and I have no doubt about that, but I like a little more swag in my luxury car's performance and would gladly tolerate the added cost of more gearing for better low end grunt and more leisurely high speed engine rpm numbers.
The bottom line for me is that this is a great vehicle to drive with exceptional safety numbers and a reassuring ride. All the electronics are helpful, but also worrisome in the long run should they need fixing. A friend of ours just had a luxury car seat fixed at a cost of $500 largely for the electronic component so be prepared to consider this in the long run.
Dad's view: One of the major criticism of the Acura is that it has a six cylinder engine and is marketed as a luxury sedan against potent V8 powered competitors from Jaguar, Lexus, BMW, Infiniti, and Cadillac. We agree that all of these have better performance when passing or pulling onto a highway at speed. However, the 3.5-liter VTEC with its 290 horsepower, 260 lb-ft SOHC 24-valve V-6 does well even with a five speed automatic that is clearly in need of another gear to either help low end grunt or passing power without the wait we experienced. Of course, if we weren't so lazy we could have used the Sequential SportShift or paddle shifters. The paddle shifters are on the steering wheel making them difficult to articulate when cornering. The transmission does have grade logic that helps it hold gears longer when it senses the need such as when driving in the mountains. It should be noted that the Acura does get better output numbers from its six-cylinder powerplant than the competition.
An interesting feature of the Acura R is that the crankshaft of the RL is positioned transversely instead of front to rear to gain more interior room. It may help handling, but with so many electronic aids it is difficult to notice. The mileage is rated at 18/26, which is similar or better than the V8 competition, and it meets the strict LEV-2 ULEV requirements.
Okay, finally, what is it like to drive? Well, in a word, orderly. It doesn't flaunt its electronic doodads, it doesn't scold you with aggressive actions when you are trying to figure out if this luxury car has any sport in it, and there certainly is no breathtaking acceleration. It just flows. It certainly handles better than the LS Lexus, but it isn't as tidy as the BMW 5 Series. When you accelerate the transmission seems to debate for a split second before making the correct gear choice if you don't use the manual mode. Figure 0 to 60 mph scores in the 7.5 second range with most of that energy coming on after 45 mph. Fast, but not quick.
Parking it isn't too bad, but we wish it had the rear monitor and camera that the Infiniti M sprouts due to the high trunk. Even the sharply descending hood makes it difficult to tell where that expensive grill is and the all wheel drive feature makes for a larger turning radius so pick your parking spots carefully or just let the valet do it. By the way, there is no key for the RL. You carry a fob and the car senses your arrival and prepares properly after it unlocks the door. I really like this feature, especially when turning the big ignition switch is so easy for those of us with large hands.
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| 2006 Acura RL (Photo: Acura) |
The bottom line for me is that this is a great vehicle to drive with exceptional safety numbers and a reassuring ride. All the electronics are helpful, but also worrisome in the long run should they need fixing. A friend of ours just had a luxury car seat fixed at a cost of $500 largely for the electronic component so be prepared to consider this in the long run.
Dad's view: One of the major criticism of the Acura is that it has a six cylinder engine and is marketed as a luxury sedan against potent V8 powered competitors from Jaguar, Lexus, BMW, Infiniti, and Cadillac. We agree that all of these have better performance when passing or pulling onto a highway at speed. However, the 3.5-liter VTEC with its 290 horsepower, 260 lb-ft SOHC 24-valve V-6 does well even with a five speed automatic that is clearly in need of another gear to either help low end grunt or passing power without the wait we experienced. Of course, if we weren't so lazy we could have used the Sequential SportShift or paddle shifters. The paddle shifters are on the steering wheel making them difficult to articulate when cornering. The transmission does have grade logic that helps it hold gears longer when it senses the need such as when driving in the mountains. It should be noted that the Acura does get better output numbers from its six-cylinder powerplant than the competition.
An interesting feature of the Acura R is that the crankshaft of the RL is positioned transversely instead of front to rear to gain more interior room. It may help handling, but with so many electronic aids it is difficult to notice. The mileage is rated at 18/26, which is similar or better than the V8 competition, and it meets the strict LEV-2 ULEV requirements.
Okay, finally, what is it like to drive? Well, in a word, orderly. It doesn't flaunt its electronic doodads, it doesn't scold you with aggressive actions when you are trying to figure out if this luxury car has any sport in it, and there certainly is no breathtaking acceleration. It just flows. It certainly handles better than the LS Lexus, but it isn't as tidy as the BMW 5 Series. When you accelerate the transmission seems to debate for a split second before making the correct gear choice if you don't use the manual mode. Figure 0 to 60 mph scores in the 7.5 second range with most of that energy coming on after 45 mph. Fast, but not quick.
Parking it isn't too bad, but we wish it had the rear monitor and camera that the Infiniti M sprouts due to the high trunk. Even the sharply descending hood makes it difficult to tell where that expensive grill is and the all wheel drive feature makes for a larger turning radius so pick your parking spots carefully or just let the valet do it. By the way, there is no key for the RL. You carry a fob and the car senses your arrival and prepares properly after it unlocks the door. I really like this feature, especially when turning the big ignition switch is so easy for those of us with large hands.