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The 2009 Acura RL is a low, sleek midsize luxury car that seats five. It has a
great looking beltline and a tight, mean looking front and rear. In all, it's a
look that puts the fun back into a midsize car. The tail lights sort of tuck
into the trunk in a way that says speed while the headlights broaden the grill
in a manner that bespeaks character. Even when this car is standing still it's
easy to imagine it stretching around the curves on a mountain road or slipping
into a tight spot in freeway traffic.
The interior is just as exciting. Bucket seats, stick shift, fingertip controls
and well laid out gauges all scream sport and comfort. And the standard leather
upholstery and leather wrapped steering wheel add their touch of class.
Priced from $46,280, it isn't cheap, but that's expected from Acura. The
question is whether it delivers more than less expensive luxury sedans like the
Lincoln MKZ. Powered by an overhead cam V6 300 horsepower 3.8 liter engine, the
fuel efficiency rating is 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The five
speed automatic transmission delivers whatever is asked of it. And you can add
to that a better than industry average warranty.
The Acura RL comes in three models, all four-door sedans - the base, the
Technology Package and the Technology and CMBS package. As you would expect,
there are a host of great gadgets available. The base model comes standard with
dual-zone climate control, 10-way power bucket seats, keyless access and
starting, power sunroof, Bose sound system, wireless cell phone link and several
other goodies. The other packages add even more freebies.
According to the NHTSA the Acura RL is just about as safe as you can get, with a
five star rating in every area they measure. The RL sports the high end braking
system and airbags everywhere that you would expect, along with front-seat
active head restraints and an emergency inside trunk lid release.
Well then, is there anything wrong with the Acura RL? Actually, there are a
couple of issues. One is the mileage. 16/22 is just too low for a car this size,
especially with today's high fuel costs. Another is the seating capacity. As
noted, the car is rated for five passengers, but only two adults can ride
comfortably. The front seat is fine, but the back seat is just too small.
Another problem is the price. A car this size is usually for young adults,
either single or with new families. At this point in their lives, many of them
cannot afford even to look at the RL.
Still, with great styling inside and out, the 2009 Acura RL seems to be Japanese
engineering at its best. It's worth looking at if you want a luxury mid-size
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