DRIVEN: Dan Neil EXECUTES The Acura RLX And SAYS Exactly What Everyone's Thinking

I can only laugh at this. Seriously. So amazing how the one truly negative review that's been published holds every ounce of believability and relevance, right. YET, when the negative reviews are published on a BMW or an Audi, those "publications lie". And that is an EXACT quote from almost EVERY agent here. Not being disrespectful. Just being truthful. How many reviews that were pretty positive about the RLX did you NOT post here? BTW, just read this writer's review of the Lexus 300h, and see that he could easily be mistaken for an Auto Spies Agent. I won't elaborate.

And does anyone else find it quite ironic that the WSJ seemingly so loathes this RLX, YET, they are so willing to take part of Acura's advertising budget to place an RLX ad RIGHT NEXT to this article?

"So they can build an Acura that drives itself. Can they make one that buys itself?"

I don't know, I thought that was pretty funny.

I am pretty sure you have NO idea how the advertising business works with the web.

What's your next conspiracy theory?

Wacura... Why are they even still building cars? Just brand them as Hondas already. There's nothing premium about them to justify another brand name.

Wait, maybe i figured it out. Considering how late to the game he is with his review, maybe Mr. Neil is bitter, like the Agents, that they weren't specially invited to the RLX's press release event.

Unlike the other folks in this business we don't play "the game." That's because we're diversified and not betting all our chips on red.

Trust us, missing an Honda/Acura event doesn't upset us nor would missing any other event.

So, stop being a fanboi and just accept it. Acura is on the slide — still — and we hope that Honda's recent $1 billion dollar injection actually HELPS this desperate car company.

If this car was so great, they would be all over the road. But wait, I only see one once in a blue moon. That is why the article holds true. The style is off and the packaging is wrong in the segment. This is why it struggles. There is no value here.

Hopefully the AWD version can do something in terms of sales.

jeffgall, if you had any clue at all, you'd know that official sales of this car started on 3/15 or thereabouts. How would you expect these to be "all over the road" in 2 weeks?

LOL@ 00R: "we dont' play the game". Yeah, ok. It's not about conspiracy theories. It's about reality.

a very nice Buick for those who like Buicks and want bulletproof reliability. for everyone else, milk toast

This is like a jeweled up Accord. Same basic proportions, nothing screams luxury. Take any of it's major competiors, E Class, 5 Series, Audi A6, Lexus GS, Infiniti M, now an all new larger and more luxurious Cadillac CTS, and this car is a joke. Sure it has a few of Honda's unique engineering like 4 wheel steering, etc. but so what. All of the new cars are getting props for new engineering ideas and putting great features in production. This car would be a nice car for high $30,000's given the level of equipt, and nicer interior than an Accord. But $50,000 to $60,000 for a car on the same architecture and proportions as an Accord is absurd. This car may have been making headlines 10 years ago if it came out then, not now. That's how far behind they are and the way they are going, they may never catch up. Take the brands that have parent companies like Toyota, Nissan with the Infiniti M and the Lexus GS for example. Do you see any resemblance to the Camry in the GS or the Altima or Maxima even in the M? No. These are completely different models with different everything. There is nothing in common. The Acura RLX on the other hand is based on the Accord and even resembles it and doesn't look like a luxury car compared to it's rivals.

I've been living abroad for the last 10+ years, just moved back to the West Coast and my view is still the same as in 2002. I simply don't think of Acura or Infinity or Licoln when it comes to premium car brands, and my feeling remains the same today. And now I can add Hyundai to the same "meh" category, when it comes to this segment. I can safely say I think of MB, BMW, Audi, Lexus and Cadillac as legitimate premium brand cars (personal preference would be for the German makes). For whatever reason, I put Jaguar into the Bentley, Porsche, etc. segment which for a lack of better term, boutique premium brand. This RLX does nothing to change my mind. And I do admire and respect the Japanese car manufacturers a great deal but Acura should just stop. Come to think of it, the recent Honda cars also lack that sense of innovation as well, be it feature or exterior designs.

You're hitting it right on the head.

I can agree with some of this. But really, RWD vs. FWD? 90% of the buyers in this segment are not aware of the differences and, in fact, better off with FWD. There are more than a few enthusiasts lurking here, so yeah, I hear ya.
I'm disappointed with this RLX. And I'm somewhat of a fan of Honda products. The styling is too conservative and where is the value?
As far as sterility, I think it's a sign of the times. After all, I think that applies to almost every new car. To me, very few Asian or American cars have ever been fun to drive. And now, since the wide use of electric power steering, or for whatever reasons, the Euro-cars have become duds, as well. There is not one offering in this class that I find desirable right now.

Acura has never had a clue about class of car, everything with a RL badge has not only failed but spectacularly failed, the new RLX is no exception. The old cliché about bring a knife to a gunfight comes to mind speaking about having the only FWD car in the segment. Mediocre handling and unattractive exterior leaving sparring for last in class. I not saying the RLX is a bad car, it’s a good car, that’s the problem every other car in the class is fabulous. Just yesterday I drove the new Lexus GS, it was wonderfully put together, beautifully designed and a great ride and a better price point with AWD (which is here now). Not for one second would I consider a RLX over the GS. Then the European automakers are light years ahead in cachet and market strength. I’ve always heard that the only company more arrogant the Honda is BMW, now I’m not so sure, just look at the stupid beak.

Maybe final judgement of this model should be reserved when the SH-AWD version hits the streets in a few months. Yes, I do believe Acura made a mistake by introducing the FWD first since "car enthusiasts" clearly dislike FWD. Yet, I don't hear a f*cking peep out of ANYONE criticizing Audi for offering FWD and AWD in their A6.

And 00R, I present one challenge to you: Answer the following question - Since the RLX introduction, there have been no less than 10 articles that I've personally read, that were published within the first 2 weeks of its introduction that were, overall, very positive about the RLX. Not a single one of them was published here. Not one. YET, when this article, which supports your own opinion, is published, you post it here as if angels were singing to you. And don't use the "well, we don't like the RLX". Well, that's fine and all, but you've posted many other articles of cars that you don't like, but another writer is presenting an opposing view and you, as a professional would, publish it encouraging everyone's perspectives. Yet, anytime you've posted a review about an Acura, you're position on it is very clear. Even the articles posted about the NSX are lukewarm as it was ever-so-graciously dissed by the BMW i8 article. You claim no bias, but you exercise it routinely.

@cidwhatever

You see that BIG red "submit" button? Use it! Stop talking trash in the comments.

Just a couple of suggestions:

1) DON'T post the entire copy of the story into the box. Post a paragraph.

2) Feel free to editorialize but don't use foul language.

3) Click "submit."

I look forward to seeing your positive RLX reviews...

One other thing. Also explain to me, if FWD was so bad in a luxury car, why is the ES and RX (FWD-based and offered) by far, the highest sellers for Lexus?

Jesus, you're relentless.

The problem is not just the whole FWD thing. WE KNOW IT'S COMING IN AN AWD SET UP! It's product differentiation!

I spoke to an Acura DEALER OWNER and he said that people have come to look at the RLX in the showroom and don't understand why the center stack is so similar to the Accord.

00R, I've tried to submit several articles using that fabulous "submit" button, and not a single one has been published (and I'm not the only one who has stated that here). Yet, when Germanflake wants to post 10 different articles extolling the Glory That Is Audi, there's no problem with his articles being published. So, why would I even try? More importantly, why would I even try on a Honda/Acura product on here?

Yes, I am relentless. And you still haven't answered the question.

Do it correctly and maybe you'll get somewhere.

LOL. Still haven't answered the question. Shocker.

BTW, if product differentiation was so key, why is the Lexus ES and RX running away with that marque's sales, as they both essentially mimick their lower-class Toyota brethren? Why is the RWD cars going, well, nowhere and/or haven't challenged for top sales spots? Oh, i forgot, just more questions for you not to answer.

You're comparing apples and oranges, dude.

Stay on topic. This is about mid-size luxury sedans, that specific class and how the RL/RLX was/is not a player.

You can't talk about completely different classes, STRONG product offerings and ask — frankly — dumb questions.

A $50k offering that is too similar to the Honda Accord from a buyer's lens is NOT a good thing no matter how you want to slice it.

When you've got your own dealers saying that, you're in trouble.

@zoomy @sportylexhaha

I know you're the same person. You're pathetic.

maybe i can help out the agents by explaining a little bit. it seems that the agents feel that a FWD sedan at this price point is not competitive. the fact that the lexus ES sells well is because it is a value leader starting at the mid to upper 30's in the size category. the same rule applies to the audi a6, it has a lower sticker price when your talking about the base FWD model. im not arguing about which car has more standard equipment either, im well aware that the rlx (like most acuras) comes with a whole bunch of tech standard.

i dont see a point in the car and cant imagine anyone wanting one over the lexus gs350 or even the infiniti m37

LOL. In other words, 00R, you CAN'T answer the questions. That's all we need to know.

Acura should have introduced two versions of the sports hybrid, super handling all-wheel drive RLX that will be released in a few months (e.g., 330 combined HP and 400 combined HP). This current RLX with all-wheel steering is unnecessary and was probably another bad executive decision: it might have been relevant had it been introduced in 2008 or 2009, but it seems to be a bit underpowered and uderwhelming as a new 2013 model. It was a mistake to introduce this PAWS version. Acura should have simply incorporated elements of the all-wheel steering technology into its hybrid SH SH-AWD model. The forthcoming hybrid SH SH-AWD model, if it can accelerate at 5 seconds and handles better than the outgoing RL's SH-AWD, is really the car "everyone" should be interested in.

Dan Neil is a cherry picker: On a particular feature, he picks a leading alternative car in order to put down the Acura. However he omits to mention other alternative cars which are comparable to the Acura in that feature (or other features where the Acura is superior to that leading car):

- Dan Neil: "the RLX’s turning circle is a still a relatively IMMENSE 40 feet (a Mercedes E350's turning circle is 36.2 feet)"
Yes the 191.7 inch Mercedes has a better turning circle than the 196.1 inch Acura. However, Neil conveniently omitted that the rear-wheel drive 193.1 inch BMW 535i's turning circle at 39.2 feet or the 193.9 inch AWD Audi is 39 feet. Has Neil ever hammered the BMW for its turning circle or is he a hypocrite?

- Dan Neil: "The RLX is indeed FRACTIONALLY larger than many of its would-be competitors—$45,000-to-$55,000 stalwarts such as the Audi A6, BMW 535i, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti M37, Lexus GS 350 and Mercedes-Benz E350."
"fractionally"? The RLX's 102.1 cubic feet of EPA passenger volume is 5% greater than the Audi A6's 97.2 cu ft (Mercedes and BMW are both smaller than the Audi, probably about 96 cu ft). While the RLX has 81.1 in total front and rear legroom, the others have less: Mercedes E350 (77.1 in), BMW 535i (77.5 in), Cadillac CTS (78.5 in), Lexus GS (78.6 in), Audi A6 (78.7 in), Infiniti M37 (80.6 in).

Dan Neil's facts are dubious: "0-60 mph: 7 seconds"
Where did he get 7 seconds from? In Edmunds.com testing, a 2014 RLX went from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Car and Driver estimates Zero to 60 mph at 5.9 seconds. Motor Trend estimates 6 seconds. The hybrid RLX should go faster.

Dan Neil: "Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec sedan with a 429-hp V8 ($46,800)...it’s quicker, lighter, a lot more powerful, with more forward gears (eight vs. the Acura’s six), a richer, more luxurious interior, and…wait for it…rear-wheel drive."
The Genesis (4,046 to 4,154 lbs) is heavier than the RLX (3933 to 3997 lbs). At 18 mpg (combined), the Genesis is also more fuel thirsty than the Acura (24 mpg). Though I can't remember the Genesis's interior, but I did spend 5 minutes sitting in the RLX at the autoshow.
Acura RLX interior
http://tinyurl.com/cek4nrj
Hyundai Genesis inter

Acura RLX interior (just needs a bit more wood paneling)
http://tinyurl.com/cek4nrj

Hyundai Genesis interior
http://tinyurl.com/dyv9amy

Dan Neil: "The RL’s problem, and now the RLX’s, is that the car looks and feels like an exalted, compulsively over-equipped Honda Accord."
Most people who can afford the Acura RLX would not have compulsively scrutined the Honda to see if there are any visual and other similarities. And lined up against its competitors in this segment, the RLX isn't the worst looking car -- but it just does not stand out, and that's an opportunity lost. Acura needs to make better decisions on design -- after all, its new NSX looks nice and even the facelifted/refreshed TL looks decent.

At the auto show, the Infiniti Q50 was one of a handful of cars that caught my eye by the quality of its exterior design. Acura needs senior executives who make more competent decisions on design and/or a better design team.

Do the rear tail lights look HUGE on this vehicle.

I have been stating that Acura's look and drive just like an option adorned Honda. Dan Niel is only echoing what I have been stating for years.

LOL@Cleveland. Apparently, Acura is more relevant than Audi, Infiniti, and Cadillac since it has outsold those three brands for at least the past 2 years.

I'll just leave it at that. If it's not the NSX, then it's a bad car to all of you. Other people used to actually speak up in defense of Acura around here, and I'm the lone man standing I guess. It's not even so much that I'm an Acura fan. I'm a fan of all cars, to be honest. I just don't think of Acura cars as bad cars, at least not as bad as many of you and dear Mr. Neil like to think. I won't even elaborate further on Mr. Neil's article because if was clearly written without an objective perspective.

Anyway, keep the hating alive, folks.

Sales don't mean anything. Toyota outsells Acura yet there isn't a single Toyota that I would even consider for purchase. Question? Is Toyota More relevant than Acura? Only Fanboys bring up sales numbers as justification of their beloved brands.

"stype, she's only back because the rest of the Internet disavowed her completely"

- And why are you back? Because you created another screen name after the last 5 of your accounts here were banned from AutoSpies. Too funny.