3.5 4dr Sedan
2008 Acura RL
Click the Acura RL for a high-res gallery Being first to the party is often not a guarantee that you'll be the most popular. Diamond Multimedia was one of the first to introduce a portable MP3 player with the Rio 500, but it wasn't until some other company brought out a device called the iPod that the market broke wide open. Similarly, Toyota's Lexus division is currently the big dog among Japanese luxury car brands, but it was by no means the first. In 1986, Honda opened up 18 new stores with a brand called Acura. Over the years, the Acura Legend evolved into the RL as Acura changed its nomenclature. Honda seemed to struggle, however, with what its top sedan was supposed to be. It went from what looked like a fancy Accord to a soft and underpowered Lexus wannabe and finally took a sharp left turn with this latest iteration. The current third generation RL first appeared back in 2005 when it was reintroduced as a luxury sport sedan. We were actually first exposed to the RL in late summer when Acura held its 2008 model preview at the Waterford Hills race track just north of Detroit. Immediately following that session of thrashing the RL on the track, we asked Acura if we could spend more time with an RL and got one for a week shortly afterward. %Gallery-10061% All photos ©2007 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. click any image to enlarge The previous generation RL wasa distinctly bland and more upright sedan that was strongly reminiscent of the first generation Lexus LS. In sharp contrast to virtually every other car made, the latest iteration actually got smaller than its predecessor. While the current RL's styling likely won't set your heart aflutter at first glance, it does have perfect proportions and trim mid-sized dimensions. The grille and headlights sweep back smoothly into the hood and fenders with none of the bulging light clusters like on the new Accord and other recent models. The bodywork is devoid of any current styling cliches like clear lens taillights, fender vents or "Bangelized" flame surfacing. The roof-line curves cleanly from the front fenders to the rear, and there are no odd cut-lines for the trunk lid like you would find on recent cars from Munich. It's just a handsome car that will probably look as good a decade from now as it did on introduction. It may not grab eyes like the new 2008 CadillacCTS, but it won't embarrass you either. PETA supporters need not apply to the RL club. The inside of the RL is upholstered in marvelously soft cream-colored animal hides. Even on this example that arrived with only a few hundred miles on the clock, the leather looked new but felt like a well worn glove. Like the Accord, the front seats coddle their occupants while providing just the right amount of support in the right places. When we drove the RL at the track, the seats never felt …
Full Review
Click the Acura RL for a high-res gallery Being first to the party is often not a guarantee that you'll be the most popular. Diamond Multimedia was one of the first to introduce a portable MP3 player with the Rio 500, but it wasn't until some other company brought out a device called the iPod that the market broke wide open. Similarly, Toyota's Lexus division is currently the big dog among Japanese luxury car brands, but it was by no means the first. In 1986, Honda opened up 18 new stores with a brand called Acura. Over the years, the Acura Legend evolved into the RL as Acura changed its nomenclature. Honda seemed to struggle, however, with what its top sedan was supposed to be. It went from what looked like a fancy Accord to a soft and underpowered Lexus wannabe and finally took a sharp left turn with this latest iteration. The current third generation RL first appeared back in 2005 when it was reintroduced as a luxury sport sedan. We were actually first exposed to the RL in late summer when Acura held its 2008 model preview at the Waterford Hills race track just north of Detroit. Immediately following that session of thrashing the RL on the track, we asked Acura if we could spend more time with an RL and got one for a week shortly afterward. %Gallery-10061% All photos ©2007 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. click any image to enlarge The previous generation RL wasa distinctly bland and more upright sedan that was strongly reminiscent of the first generation Lexus LS. In sharp contrast to virtually every other car made, the latest iteration actually got smaller than its predecessor. While the current RL's styling likely won't set your heart aflutter at first glance, it does have perfect proportions and trim mid-sized dimensions. The grille and headlights sweep back smoothly into the hood and fenders with none of the bulging light clusters like on the new Accord and other recent models. The bodywork is devoid of any current styling cliches like clear lens taillights, fender vents or "Bangelized" flame surfacing. The roof-line curves cleanly from the front fenders to the rear, and there are no odd cut-lines for the trunk lid like you would find on recent cars from Munich. It's just a handsome car that will probably look as good a decade from now as it did on introduction. It may not grab eyes like the new 2008 CadillacCTS, but it won't embarrass you either. PETA supporters need not apply to the RL club. The inside of the RL is upholstered in marvelously soft cream-colored animal hides. Even on this example that arrived with only a few hundred miles on the clock, the leather looked new but felt like a well worn glove. Like the Accord, the front seats coddle their occupants while providing just the right amount of support in the right places. When we drove the RL at the track, the seats never felt …
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Retail Price
$46,280
MSRP / Window Sticker Price
| Engine | 3.5L V-6 |
| MPG | 16 City / 24 Hwy |
| Seating | 5 Passengers |
| Transmission | 5-spd w/OD |
| Power | 290 @ 6200 rpm |
| Drivetrain | SH-AWD all wheel |
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