2003 Acura RL Review

Want an upscale foreign sedan that secretive, unpretentious millionaire Howard Hughes would have loved?

Try the refined, composed Acura 3.5RL flagship sedan, which has such conservative styling that it often gets lost in the luxury auto market--and parking lots.

The full-size 3.5RL from Honda's upscale Acura division is entering its eighth year with minimal updates. But its quality, refinement, reliability, rigid structure and decent performance don't let it feel dated.

Last year's 3.5RL became more "driver-oriented,'' said Dennis Manns, assistant vice president of national sales for Acura. That model got a firmer chassis, wider tires, improved braking and a horsepower increase from 210 to 225.

Acura is slow to change the 3.5RL, so the latest model only has minor updates. They include a new taillight design, redesigned alloy wheels and three new colors. Owners of last year's 3.5RL would have to look hard to recognize the newest 3.5RL as a 2003 model.

As always, this Acura is so well equipped that it comes only as a $43,150 model. The wood-and-leather interior has every comfort, safety and convenience item you could expect, including heated leather seats, killer sound system and side air bags.

Advanced technical items include a Vehicle Stability Assist anti-skid system. General Motors' OnStar emergency assistance service can come in handy during an accident of if a driver accidentally locks keys in the car.

The dashboard is generally well designed. But the audio system on-off and volume control still is a long reach for drivers. It almost seems as if Acura only wants the front passenger to work audio controls.

The sole option is an above-average touch-screen navigation system, which raises the price to $45,150.

The 3.5RL should be doing better. After all, Acura got a four-year jump on other Japanese automakers by establishing the first Japanese luxury car division in America in 1986. And it was the first such division to offer a credible Asian luxury car with its stylish 1986 Legend sedan, which the 3.5RL succeeded in 1996 when Acura began its European-style alphanumeric model naming system. The "Legend'' name--one of the best in the industry--thus was trashed.

The LS 400 sedan from Toyota's new Lexus luxury division, established here in 1990, quickly outran the front-drive V-6 Legend. The LS 400 had a V-8 and a rear-drive setup also found in BMW and Mercedes-Benz luxury sedans.

It didn't help that Nissan's upscale Infiniti division, also established here in 1990, offered its Q45 rear-drive V-8 luxury sedan that year--although the grille-less, oddly promoted Q45 couldn't touch the LS 400, either.

The Legend's front-drive setup was on most common cars, and it also had a V-6. That's because Honda believes in not giving cars one more cylinder than it thinks is necessary.

The 3.5RL's front-drive and V-6 puzzled many Acura dealers, who were waiting for at least a V-8.

They're still waiting. The 3.5RL has a sophisticated 24-valve V-6. But it doesn't make the car very fast off the line and lacks mid-range V-8 punch during highway driving. The 3.5RL isn't slow, but it isn't especially fast, either, for a $43,000-plus foreign sedan. Figure on 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds.

You won't get run over in the 3.5RL, but it won't run over any other expensive luxury sedan, either.

Honda engineers strongly argue that the V-6 is quite adequate for a car the size and weight of the 3.5RL. But the luxury car market is about excess--not just adequacy.

The V-6 provides decent estimated fuel economy for a fairly large, 3,869-pound luxury car: 18 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway, with premium fuel required. However, the faster rival Lexus LS 430 has a 290-horsepower V-8 that provides 18 and 25, so one might wonder what advantage the V-6 has.

The 3.5RL probably would at least match the LS 430 highway fuel economy if it had a five-speed automatic transmission that gave it a more economical overdrive gear. But this Acura is stuck with a four-speed automatic. Still, 70-mph cruising is relaxed.

The 3.5RL is no BMW 5-Series sports sedan, but has solid handing with its double-wishbone, all-independent suspension, despite a nose-heavy 60-40 weight distribution.

The brakes are strong, although the pedal is rather soft. And the speed-sensitive, variable-assist steering is responsive, although it has a rather artificial feel. The chassis is taut, and the ride is very comfortable.

The church-quiet interior provides room for four 6-footers. The front bucket seats are just right for long-distance drives, controls are nicely sized and the backlit gauges can be quickly read even in bright sunlight.

The roomy, usefully shaped trunk has a low, wide opening and is easily loaded.

The 3.5RL doesn't jump out at you in a parking lot, but a close look shows that the car offers a lot for a competitive price.


ACURA 3.5RL
Prices:
$43,150-$45,150

Likes:
Agile. Smooth ride. Very refined. High quality.

Dislikes:
Average highway performance. Plain styling. Long-reach radio controls.