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2011 Acura RL SH-AWD - First Drive Review
One more gear and one more year for Acura’s aging flagship.
BY STEVE SILER December 2010
BY STEVE SILER December 2010
What Is It?
A mildly refreshed version of Acura’s generally capable but unremarkable and slow-selling flagship sedan. On sale in much the same form since the 2005 model year, the 2011 Acura RL gets a tweaked front fascia with chrome spears in the outboard air intakes and a slightly toned-down version of the much-maligned, guillotine-esque beak that was fitted a couple of years ago. It’s still unattractive, natch. Also new are the decklid trim; power-folding side mirrors; and 15-spoke, 18-inch wheels. Inside, the infotainment interface has been revised (although the quality of its graphics remains largely the same), and genuine maple trim and a new Sea Coast interior color are now available. (Yes, Sea Coast could refer to just about any color, from sandy beige to watery blue to oil-slicked black. Here, it’s a light tan.) The most significant alteration is the upgrade from the previous five-speed auto to a six-speed box. It’s the only transmission available.
A mildly refreshed version of Acura’s generally capable but unremarkable and slow-selling flagship sedan. On sale in much the same form since the 2005 model year, the 2011 Acura RL gets a tweaked front fascia with chrome spears in the outboard air intakes and a slightly toned-down version of the much-maligned, guillotine-esque beak that was fitted a couple of years ago. It’s still unattractive, natch. Also new are the decklid trim; power-folding side mirrors; and 15-spoke, 18-inch wheels. Inside, the infotainment interface has been revised (although the quality of its graphics remains largely the same), and genuine maple trim and a new Sea Coast interior color are now available. (Yes, Sea Coast could refer to just about any color, from sandy beige to watery blue to oil-slicked black. Here, it’s a light tan.) The most significant alteration is the upgrade from the previous five-speed auto to a six-speed box. It’s the only transmission available.
How Does It Drive?
Just fine, as before. It’s easy to forget what a nice car the RL is to drive—as consumers seemingly do on a regular basis—until you slide back into it. The naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V-6 (generating 300 hp at 6300 rpm and 271 lb-ft of torque at 5000 rpm) pulls with zest and remains silky smooth all the way to its 6800-rpm redline, the latter a consistent trait of Honda’s engines. Acura claims the six-speed automatic’s extra ratio allows the RL to hit 60 about 0.5 second quicker than before, while gaining 1 mpg in the city and 2 on the highway. For reference, the 2011 is rated at 17/24 mpg, and we tested a 2009 RL to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds.
Just fine, as before. It’s easy to forget what a nice car the RL is to drive—as consumers seemingly do on a regular basis—until you slide back into it. The naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V-6 (generating 300 hp at 6300 rpm and 271 lb-ft of torque at 5000 rpm) pulls with zest and remains silky smooth all the way to its 6800-rpm redline, the latter a consistent trait of Honda’s engines. Acura claims the six-speed automatic’s extra ratio allows the RL to hit 60 about 0.5 second quicker than before, while gaining 1 mpg in the city and 2 on the highway. For reference, the 2011 is rated at 17/24 mpg, and we tested a 2009 RL to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds.
And as always, Acura’s torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive makes sure little of the power at hand goes to waste, with absolutely tenacious grip and an impressive ability to mitigate understeer. Indeed, as the nose starts to push, the outside rear wheel gets the lion’s share of the torque, realigning the RL’s pointy snout with the driver’s intended line. If we had to find one nit to pick, it would be the brakes. They need to be a little stronger to match those of the RL’s more-performance-inclined competitors.
Acura claims the 2011 is quieter inside, thanks to resonator devices that are said to chop 1.3 decibels off the tire-noise scale. With the new resonators, the RL isn’t yet as quiet as, say, a Lexus LS, although the Acura’s noise levels can hardly be characterized as loud.
How Does It Stack Up?
The RL is good to drive, but as fine as it is in that area, the fact remains that the car is down on power and/or torque compared with many competitors in the $50,000 arena. This includes the Infiniti M37X, the Lexus GS350, and the BMW 535i—all of which offer V-8 alternatives for those wanting even more power. Just as egregious is the RL’s distinct lack of, well, distinction. Sure, it has the grille that no one likes, but other than that, it has little identity. Shoppers in this segment are often looking for some cachet, and this car doesn’t have it. Further, more room in the rear seat and trunk would help Acura cajole fifty large out of more than 200 to 300 people per month. In other words, the RL needs more than this refresh—it needs a replacement. Fortunately, one is around the corner, likely in a year. See our blog post on the next RL for details.
The RL is good to drive, but as fine as it is in that area, the fact remains that the car is down on power and/or torque compared with many competitors in the $50,000 arena. This includes the Infiniti M37X, the Lexus GS350, and the BMW 535i—all of which offer V-8 alternatives for those wanting even more power. Just as egregious is the RL’s distinct lack of, well, distinction. Sure, it has the grille that no one likes, but other than that, it has little identity. Shoppers in this segment are often looking for some cachet, and this car doesn’t have it. Further, more room in the rear seat and trunk would help Acura cajole fifty large out of more than 200 to 300 people per month. In other words, the RL needs more than this refresh—it needs a replacement. Fortunately, one is around the corner, likely in a year. See our blog post on the next RL for details.
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