CD Article: 2009 Acura RL

[CD_Editor]

         
Test Drive:


The 2009 Acura RL has been given a fairly extensive mid-cycle makeover that includes a new engine and transmission, revised styling and new safety features.  Contributor Bob McHugh calls it "a technically brilliant and a sophisticated luxury sedan."
 More: View the photos | All the Test Drives

[mmret]

So bad.

[Schmengie]

That buck-tooth chrome grill is about the only distinguishing feature I can see on the RL, kind of like a wart on your plain-Jane girlfriend's nose. This thing's so anonymous it's almost invisible. Beauty may only be skin deep, but at this price, a little personality would be the least I would expect. The RL doesn't seem to have either. 

Park the RL next to a Kia Soul and it wouldn't get a second glance.

Note to Acura:
  Please ditch the pretentious 'Elite' moniker. Oh, and the those horrendous grill 'shields'.

[ovr50]

That buck-tooth chrome grill is about the only distinguishing feature I can see on the RL, kind of like a wart on your plain-Jane girlfriend's nose. This thing's so anonymous it's almost invisible. Beauty may only be skin deep, but at this price, a little personality would be the least I would expect. The RL doesn't seem to have either. 

Park the RL next to a Kia Soul and it wouldn't get a second glance.

Note to Acura:
  Please ditch the pretentious 'Elite' moniker. Oh, and the those horrendous grill 'shields'.

OTOH, I could say the RL's front end does make it unique and not so bland...!! The front treatment works very well on the MDX IMO, on this RL, not quite so good. The rear view is very Mercedes-like. As with any styling, different ppl will have different opinions on the look of the car.

I have a bit of trouble comparing it to a KIA Soul, tho. 

Given the cars that the RL competes with (BMW 5ers, Benz, Lexus, etc), I think the RL might not be anywhere near the top of that list. Just my opinion.

[Schmengie]

That buck-tooth chrome grill is about the only distinguishing feature I can see on the RL, kind of like a wart on your plain-Jane girlfriend's nose. This thing's so anonymous it's almost invisible. Beauty may only be skin deep, but at this price, a little personality would be the least I would expect. The RL doesn't seem to have either. 

Park the RL next to a Kia Soul and it wouldn't get a second glance.

Note to Acura:
  Please ditch the pretentious 'Elite' moniker. Oh, and the those horrendous grill 'shields'.

OTOH, I could say the RL's front end does make it unique and not so bland...!! The front treatment works very well on the MDX IMO, on this RL, not quite so good. The rear view is very Mercedes-like. As with any styling, different ppl will have different opinions on the look of the car.

I have a bit of trouble comparing it to a KIA Soul, tho. 

Given the cars that the RL competes with (BMW 5ers, Benz, Lexus, etc), I think the RL might not be anywhere near the top of that list. Just my opinion.

I was only comparing it in the sense that the Soul is a far more distinctive and attractive design, one that people won't mistake for anything else. You should expect at least as much from a car as expensive as the RL.

[ggweci]

That buck-tooth chrome grill is about the only distinguishing feature I can see on the RL, kind of like a wart on your plain-Jane girlfriend's nose. This thing's so anonymous it's almost invisible. Beauty may only be skin deep, but at this price, a little personality would be the least I would expect. The RL doesn't seem to have either. 

Park the RL next to a Kia Soul and it wouldn't get a second glance.

Note to Acura:
  Please ditch the pretentious 'Elite' moniker. Oh, and the those horrendous grill 'shields'.

OTOH, I could say the RL's front end does make it unique and not so bland...!! The front treatment works very well on the MDX IMO, on this RL, not quite so good. The rear view is very Mercedes-like. As with any styling, different ppl will have different opinions on the look of the car.

I have a bit of trouble comparing it to a KIA Soul, tho. 

Given the cars that the RL competes with (BMW 5ers, Benz, Lexus, etc), I think the RL might not be anywhere near the top of that list. Just my opinion.

I was only comparing it in the sense that the Soul is a far more distinctive and attractive design, one that people won't mistake for anything else. You should expect at least as much from a car as expensive as the RL.

The Lexus LS costs $10K - $30K more than the RL and I wouldn't say it's styling is all that distinctive.  It does look nice though.

Not a huge fan of the RL, but the rear does look very nice and Mercedes-ish as ovr50 stated.

[Jaeger]

Acura has two styling streams: a) freakishly ugly, b) boring as a bar of soap - with a chrome beak stuck on it.

Jaeger