First Drive: 2014 Acura RLX

2014 Acura RLX. Click image to enlarge

Review and photos by Peter Bleakney

At a time when most luxury car manufacturers can’t get on the all-wheel-drive bandwagon fast enough, Acura is swimming upstream with its all-new 2014 RLX flagship sedan. As a replacement for the SH-AWD RL, this larger and more luxurious offering is front-drive only.

Whatever Acura’s reasoning for this, they have at least bestowed this full-size sedan with a clever rear-wheel steering system that gives the Acura people something to talk about when the inevitable “Why-no-all-wheel-drive?” questions start.

Arriving in the fall of 2013 will be a pricier and more powerful AWD hybrid RLX.

But for now, if having all four wheels driven is not a high priority, the RLX makes for a compelling offering in the luxury tourer segment.

Powering the front wheels through a six-speed auto is a direct-injection SOHC 3.5L V6 making 310 hp and 272 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm. Like all naturally aspirated Honda engines, it is strong and smooth and shows an appetite for revs. This muscular V6 also generates a fair bit of torque steer if you’re liberal with the throttle.

Apart from the unique “Jewel-Eye” LED headlights and squid-beak grill, the 2014 RLX styling is largely forgettable. Yes, it looks like a big, fancy car, but the lines hardly inspire anything more than a “meh”.

However, if interior space what you want, the RLX is claiming best in class. Call this compensation for the outgoing RL, which had a very cozy cabin and tight back seat.

Against the RL, this 2014 RLX gains 10 mm in height and 45 mm in width. While overall length increases by only 5 mm, there is a 50-mm stretch in the wheelbase, which pays dividends for back seat passengers. The trunk is big (433 L) and features a huge opening.

Airport limo drivers rejoice.

Indeed, the cabin feels spacious and airy, featuring quality materials and fine build quality. The leather is creamy, the wood rich, and, as is expected in this class of car, Acura is offering a host of technologies and luxury features.

2014 Acura RLX. Click image to enlarge

Acura is notorious for fashioning interiors with a riot of buttons. The RLX leaves that practice behind, utilizing the dual screen system found in the Honda Accord – the upper eight-inch LCD displays navigation, audio and phone functions while the one below acts as a touchscreen control panel.

Yes, it’s a solution for reducing clutter, but ultimately is compromised by the need to accurately poke your digit in the right spot. At least it has haptic feedback, which lets you know the message has been received.

Another top-of-class aspect of the RLX is shoulder room, thanks to its wide greenhouse.

By “class”, Acura is pointing to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Lexus GS.

Would I put it up against these rear-drive or AWD sedans that trade in equal parts luxury and performance? Not really. I’m thinking more Cadillac XTS, Buick Lacrosse, Lincoln MKS, Lexus ES350 and Volvo S80.

Perhaps Acura is citing these big dogs to make its pricing look a tad more favourable. The base model, at $49,900, gives 18-inch alloys, proximity key with push-button start, back-up camera, 10-speaker audio with XM, eight-way heated power driver’s seat, sunroof, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and headlamp washers.

Moving up to the $55,990 Tech adds 19-inch wheels, premium Milano leather, navigation, blind spot warning, rain sensing wipers, heated steering wheel, power folding mirrors, 14-speaker audio, Acuralink (like GM’s OnStar) and a colour TFT display in the main gauge cluster that shows navigation route guidance, audio, phone and, if so equipped, adaptive cruise info.

Our testers were (you guessed it) the all-singing and all-dancing $62,190 Elite that layer on adaptive cruise with full-stop capability (look Ma, no feet in stop-and-go traffic), Lane Keep Assist (nudges car back in line), auto-dimming side mirrors, collision mitigation, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, rear sunshades, parking sensors, head-up collision warning and a crystal-clear Krell audio system.

2014 Acura RLX. Click image to enlarge

All very nice, but perhaps the ultimate techno gee-wizardry is something that Acura has had around for a while, and it always makes me grin when I hear about it. The climate control is linked to the navi, and on a sunny day (it knows when the sun is shining) it checks in with those GPS satellites circling our planet to see which side of your Acura is getting the most sun. Then it adjusts the dual-zone air con accordingly.

Acura is calling its rear-wheel steering P-AWS (precision all-wheel-steer). It’s a clever system that can adjust the individual toe angle of the rear wheels depending on the driving situation. Under braking, the rear wheels toe in to aid in deceleration. While cornering or in tight parking situations, the rear wheels steer opposite to the front, boosting maneuverability. To improve stability while performing quick lane changes at higher speeds, the front and rear wheels turn in unison.

P-AWS works with AHA (agile handling assist) – a torque vectoring system that brakes the inside rear wheel during cornering.

Indeed, the 2014 Acura RLX has a super tight turning circle, and the lane change/slalom exercises set up for the assembled journalists at Toronto Motorsports Park showed the sedan to very responsive to quick steering inputs.

Beyond that, the RLX is a competent if not particularly inspired handler.

Another best-in-class claim for the RLX is fuel economy. The Transport Canada numbers are 10.5 L/100 km city, 6.4 L/100 highway, and 8.6 L/100 combined.

On the road, the RLX’s cabin is tomb quiet. Perusing the press info shows Acura went to great lengths here – active engine mounts, active noise cancellation, front and side insulating glass – jeez, there’s even a damper installed in the alloy wheels to reduce middle-frequency road noise.

A button marked Sport just behind the shifter changes the parameters of the P-AWS, tightens steering feel and calls up more aggressive transmission mapping. It does make this big sedan feel more alert on the road.

What Acura hasn’t quite figured out is the suspension tuning. Despite the “Amplitude Reactive Dampers”, the ride is too busy and stiff for this class of car. More jiggles filter into the cabin than expected, and it only really settles down on smooth pavement.

In 2012, Acura sold only 29 RL sedans in Canada. Acura is predicting 300 sales for the RLX in its first year. A modest goal, and small potatoes when considering its major competitors.

2014 Acura RLX. Click image to enlarge

Does Acura’s new flagship sedan have the goods to make inroads into a segment that is so well populated with outstanding vehicles? Indeed, it’s cheaper than the European marques, but I doubt there will be much cross-shopping there.

The RLX is priced right in line with the Cadillac XTS – a high-stylin’ rig with standard Magnetic Ride Control and available AWD. Yeah, it’s tough out there.

Pricing: 2014 Acura RLX
RLX: $49,900
Features: 18-inch alloys, proximity key with push-button start, back-up camera, 10-speaker audio with XM, eight-way heated power driver’s seat, sunroof, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, headlamp washers
RLX Tech: $55,990
Features: 19-inch wheels, premium Milano leather, navigation, blind spot warning, rain sensing wipers, heated steering wheel, power folding mirrors, 14-speaker audio, Acuralink, colour TFT info display
RLX Elite: $62,190
Features: Adaptive cruise with full-stop, Lane Keep Assist, auto-dimming side mirrors, collision mitigation, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, rear sunshades, parking sensors, head-up collision warning, Krell audio system

Competitors:
Audi A6
BMW 5 Series
Buick Lacrosse
Cadillac XTS
Infiniti M
Lexus ES
Lexus GS
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Volvo S80