DEAD ON ARRIVAL? CR Magazine Claims Acura's New RLX Is Outclassed On Almost Every Level

After more than 400 miles of driving the new Acura RLX, I can think of little good to say about it. Being neither luxurious nor sporty, the RLX fails to excite. And that's putting it mildly.

The brand-new RLX—Acura's flagship sedan and successor to the unsuccessful RL—is likely destined for deep levels of obscurity, aiding by bland styling. The RLX is slab-sided and devoid of any visual impact whatsoever. In contrast, when I was driving the new Lincoln MKZ weeks ago, onlookers actually approached me with comments like, "This car looks dynamite." The RLX has yet to garner a single "ooh" or "ah," nor so much as a second glance. As my coworker Michelle Tsai Podlaha said in a previous video, the RLX is well suited to drivers in a witness protection program.
 

While the RLX is upscale, its lacks the true luxury feel common in the segment, as well as some equipment.

Heated steering wheel? Not available.
Heated rear seats? No.
Power rear sunshade? Absent.
Sunshades for the rear side windows? Non-existent.
Fog lights? Not here.
Back-up parking sensors? Nope.
Cross-traffic alert? Nada.

 

Firewombat - 4/10/2013 1:29:20 PM

+5 Boost

This guy is a joke

Agent009 - 4/10/2013 2:56:15 PM

-5 Boost

-Stype

Yeah that stuff happens when to attach your dreams to the wrong pony.

Agent009 - 4/10/2013 3:40:48 PM

-3 Boost

stype banned for being a derp

Firewombat - 4/10/2013 1:30:23 PM

0 Boost

This idiot tried to "school me earlier" by claiming figures that are imaginary and don't exist, best to ignore him, I think he's also 14

Firewombat - 4/10/2013 3:12:06 PM

+2 Boost

Do you want me to embarrass you more by showing the links? So everyone can see? Or will you post them first troll?

Firewombat - 4/10/2013 3:42:21 PM

+1 Boost

4 seconds difference is miles apart Cleveland, if you knew anything about cars you would accept that, but guess is dark and dingy in that basement hey?

You states the 0-60 times to be identical, there is a massive difference, no person who pretends to know anything about cars would compare those engines.

I will not stop with you, it's people like you who are ruining sites like these, if you had to drop of out of school, which seems to be the case, then I realize no homework to do.

Do something else, your arguments and statements are not only pathetic but actually worthless.

Firewombat - 4/13/2013 3:26:28 PM

0 Boost

But you said they both did it in 5.9secs Cleveland? How can they have the same time and be 4 seconds apart?

Again, please find a dictionary to learn about the word "literally", which you only started using once you were caught out lying and tried to back track. Loser.

Firewombat - 4/15/2013 9:39:33 AM

+1 Boost

@Cleveland lol, the difference is 4 seconds, are you trying to make-up figures again to prove your pointless argument? You can't just lie in order to make a point, those 2 engines are so different and trying to say they're the same shows what a troll you are.

freeagent - 4/10/2013 11:23:36 AM

-1 Boost

very odd how Honda/Acura can be so clueless, but clueless they are

cidflekken - 4/10/2013 11:40:40 AM

+7 Boost

LOL. No, Cleveland. No coronaries here, though I'm sure you've pleasured yourself multiple times already from reading this.

The only comment I will make is that I find it interesting how the writer points out what's missing from this RLX with Tech package and mentions them as if they were not available at all. Yet, with the 5/E/A6 at the same price point, you pretty much don't get all of those "missing" items, either. Option up comparable models and all of the other cars command almost almost a $10k premium over the RLX (with Advanced package).

USNA1999 - 4/10/2013 12:56:17 PM

-4 Boost

What's funny about is that most consumers will pay the extra money for the 4cyl BMW 5 series or Audi A6 knowing that they will get less luxury items while the cars manage to outsell the competition. I don't get it either but it's funny.

gatoreight - 4/10/2013 4:05:41 PM

-1 Boost

Because they're better cars! Plain and simple!

Agent009 - 4/10/2013 3:00:54 PM

-5 Boost

Please find some positive news about Acura and get back to us.

trmckin - 4/10/2013 3:14:54 PM

+2 Boost

hey, there was a somewhat positive article about the ilx and the baby buick...

haha! i can't believe i typed that with a straight face

mrcassis - 4/10/2013 11:54:38 AM

-4 Boost

Since my 2005 TSX, Acura has been the most disappointing luxury brand on the market.Grades...
A:0
B:TL (last and this generation)
C:ILX,RDX,MDX
D:RL,RLX
F:ZDX
Did I leave anything out?

Drerx8 - 4/10/2013 1:47:15 PM

-1 Boost

I can't understand how Acura/Honda really thought that this vehicle would have been a success. The last RL was abysmal at best when considering its price. Why in the hell would you build upon the weaknesses of the outgoing model and give us this $60K monstrosity. They seriously thought this was a good attempt?

Agent009 - 4/10/2013 2:59:31 PM

-5 Boost

I KNOW Honda/Acura has brilliant designers and talent. But they are caught in one HUGE brain fart right now.

They need to somehow infuse cutting edge technology and desirable styling. It seems they are stuck in decade old designs.

Maybe they need to steal some Audi/VW talent right now. Everyone else is doing it.

Henanamani1 - 4/10/2013 4:01:11 PM

+1 Boost

Acura was at it's best when they had the Legend, Legend Coupe, and the Integra!!! As soon as they started with the TL,RL,RLX,ZDX,,RDX,MDX (hell why not DMX or XXX!!!) mumbo jumbo, they started falling off. Farewell Bird beaks!!!

mike756 - 4/11/2013 10:37:56 AM

-3 Boost

The folk at Acura are seriously clueless. The RLX is a joke, just like the old RL. Whoever is in charge of their design department should be fired. It's sad when the new Kias and Hyundais look SO MUCH better then Honda's "high end" line.

Come on Acura, FAKE WOOD? Save that junk for the Civic...

tecnopolis - 4/11/2013 11:04:25 AM

-2 Boost

60K for an Acura? Ah, no thanks!
Hyundai must be laughing.

skytop - 4/11/2013 11:45:25 PM

+4 Boost

Everything you listed is NON issues. Who is going to decline a car purchase because it lacks a rear window shade? Heated rear seats that are almost never used?
Get real! The RLX will fail because it is nothing but an optioned up Honda and the public can see it and sense it. Honda is trying to pull off a shell game and it will NOT work. Honda will have to redesign the car or else the Acura name will be mocked and laughed at.

skytop - 4/11/2013 11:47:10 PM

-1 Boost

For Sale: One new optioned up Honda disguised as an "Acura." Price is double that of the Honda. Such a deal!

The public is running, not walking away from Acura showrooms.

iamdabest1 - 4/12/2013 12:28:00 AM

-3 Boost

saw this car at the ny auto show, just sad how bland this car is. the kia optima looks better.
no joke, there was like nobody looking at this car.

85bmw745i - 4/12/2013 11:42:11 PM

-3 Boost

The only two cars it has a chance of competing with is the Buick LaCrosse, Lincoln MKS and Lexus ES, but with that price tag it takes it out of the league of cars it can compete with, and puts it in a league where it stands no chance at all. Sad that Acura, the people that gave us the Legend, Vigor and NSX only has this to offer. It doesn't have one car in its lineup that can compete with its competition, except the ILX, and its only competition is a re-badged Chevy Cruz, which happens to ride smother and quieter, but isn't as sporty. Acura needs to start over with some RWD and RWD based AWD cars or just throw in the towell