• a1
• a2
• a3
• a4
• a5
• a6

• Home
• Build & Price
• News & Reviews
• Dealer Ratings
• See What Others Paid
• About Us

Acura RL News & Reviews

   2009 Acura RL Road Test Review

Pity the team in charge of Acura's flagship RL: Battling to banish memories of the car's nice but somewhat bland predecessors, and to further distinguish the RL as the Acura flagship,

Acura's new design language is producing bolder looking cars than in the past, though not everyone loves the new corporate grille. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

they've developed a host of impressive suspension and handling technology to make the RL a truly outstanding road machine. They've given it a healthy power boost, packed it full of leading-edge conveniences, and redesigned and restyled the bodywork so it looks as sharp as it drives.

Then the team in charge of the TL (the RL's less expensive baby sibling) got their hands on many of the goodies, leading some critics to complain that the RL doesn't offer enough extra to justify the price difference between the cars. Is it a fair criticism? Well, before we get to that, let's look at the RL on its own merits.

At first glance, Acura's restyling of the 2009 RL is polarizing. While the most generous description of the previous RL would be that it was relatively classy looking and inoffensive, the '09 retains the class but now has attitude. Acura's new design language is creating cars with chiseled lines and bold features, and to my eye it works better in the RL than in some of Acura's other models. Not everyone likes Acura's prominent new corporate grille, but it appears to sit a little lower on the RL's nose than on other Acuras, with character lines to either side. This makes it a touch less prominent (especially on a light-coloured car like our Alberta White Pearl tester) and therefore better looking. The RL is a tad longer than the TL (4,973 mm vs. 4,966 mm) and a tiny bit taller (1,455 mm vs. 1,452 mm), but is actually not as wide (1,847 mm for the RL vs. 1,880 mm for the TL). <Read More>

   Acura teases with 2012 TL rump shot

Acura has polarized luxury car buyers with its edgy new design language, and while it's difficult to say whether a drop in TL sales

The new 2012 TL looks like the outgoing 2011 TL from the rear. (Photo: Acura)

has been directly related to styling or just the weak economy, Honda's luxury brand isn't about to head into an expected auto sector rebound without making sure it's most popular sedan isn't ready to claim its market share.

A teaser photo is all the company is prepared to debut right now, however, just ahead of the entire car being unveiled at the Chicago auto show later this week. And that photo only shows the middle, bottom portion of the car's hindquarters, the least criticized design element, which appears to remain mostly unchanged. Even the taillights, visible through the folds of material, appear the same in size and shape as the outgoing car, so this tease is more of an official announcement that the revised 2012 TL is about to be revealed.

The <Read More>

   2011 Acura CSX iTech Road Test Review

Five years after its introduction, the Acura CSX still can't seem to get any respect. Sure, Canadian automotive journalists gloat

A better looking Civic, the Acura CSX offers a premium badge, some luxury fittings and a little more performance for a nominal price increase. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

that the CSX is an exclusive model developed in Canada for Canadians, and not available in the U.S. They boast about how the styling was so well liked in Japan that Honda based their domestic-market Civic on the CSX rather than on design used in North America. But then these same journalists invariably complain that the CSX isn't exclusive or up-market enough to justify its extra cost compared to a similarly equipped Civic, and conclude that given the choice they'd take a loaded Civic instead, thanks.

But that was then. Evidently Acura Canada got the message, because since 2009 they've been tweaking the model lineup (bye-bye, Type-S) and trimming the price so that now, in the last year of its current model run (a redesign is expected in 2012), the CSX is suddenly worthy of second look, and perhaps a little respect.

First, let's be clear <Read More>

   2011 Acura MDX Road Test Review

What is luxury? Some would say leather embellishments, wood grain adornments, plush carpeting, top-drawer technologies, superb

Acura's MDX delivers quality, luxury and reliability in a stylish 7-seat package. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

workmanship and thrilling performance would fit the bill in the automotive world, but what about the peace of mind that comes with driving a vehicle from a brand with the fewest initial defects in its class. At least, it has the best initial quality if you can't afford a Porsche.

And the sad reality is most of us can't afford that Cayenne if it's loaded up with anywhere near the MDX's level of standard features. In reality, even when totally loaded with everything Acura has to throw at it the MDX is only a few thousand more than the comparatively barebones Cayenne. If your needs happen to include seven seats that eliminates the Porsche altogether and narrows the field of potential competitors to fewer than you can count on one hand – well, as many if you include Hyundai's Veracruz which is extremely good but hardly from a brand with premium status, although that sentiment <Read More>

   2010 Acura ZDX Technology Road Test Review

There are some things in life that might questionable on paper but befitting in reality. For example, buttered popcorn flavoured

A unique design, the new ZDX joins BMW's X6 as a sports car among crossovers. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

Jelly Belly jelly beans. Gross, huh? Well, they are, hands down, my favourite flavour. Or wasabi-flavoured ice cream. Ok, that's even more gross but some people really love it. So when Acura introduced their all-new 2010 ZDX 4-door-sedan-slash-crossover-utility-vehicle-meets-sports-coupe, I didn't know how well those multiple mediums would mesh. Then again, BMW did it with their X6 and Infiniti with their FX line so it seems as though the concept is working. It wasn't until I experienced the ZDX firsthand that I could really grasp what Acura was trying to portray, and it wasn't half bad, either.
 
From the signature Acura front grille, to its chiseled shoulders, to its wide-hipped rear end, the engineers and designers at Acura effectively communicated the above elements into the ZDX's styling. The Japanese auto manufacturer has definitely created an eye-catching vehicle thanks to the <Read More>

   2010 Acura RDX SH-AWD Tech Road Test Review

The Acura RDX and I go back, way back. And even though it's been quite some time since I last drove one, it feels like just yesterday

A great little SUV, the RDX gets some subtle sheet metal updates and the addition of the new corporate grille. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

that I was loading one up with my husband and going on a road trip to Vancouver Island.  That was about three years ago. 

This sudden rush of nostalgia hit me as I hopped into the latest version of Acura's Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV).  All the good times, the good drives and more came back and reminded me of what a great vehicle it was and how much I liked it.  Needless to say, the 2010 version of the RDX looks better, drives better and is better all around, and has created some new impressions in my mind that I'm sure will continue to last. 

There are quite a few upgrades for the 2010 model year.  The most notable is the exterior with new front and rear bumper fascias, revised headlights and taillights, new exhaust tips and redesigned 18" aluminum-alloy wheels, which come standard with P235/55R18 all-season tires.  <Read More>

   2010 Acura RDX Technology Road Test Review

Have you ever noticed that when you get a new car, the moment you climb in and start driving you start seeing people driving the

Acura has upgraded its RDX with its new corporate "shield" grille, which cleans up the design substantially. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

same model more often than ever before? That happens to me every week, and this week I certainly saw a lot of Acura RDX crossovers on the road. Actually, after my first few minutes with it I was prepared to start my review with something like, "This is a great little CUV! Why aren't more people buying it?" but I didn't need to. Rather, I'm saying, "This is a great little SUV and I understand why it's caught on!"

First and foremost, Honda, Acura's parent company, sells many more compact CR-V crossovers than most manufacturers do in the same segment, and where does a CR-V owner go when he or she starts making more money? Certainly they can go large and buy a Pilot or even an MDX, but those Honda buyers who like the size, agility and fuel economy of a compact vehicle yet can now afford something with a little more prestige and features look to the RDX.

The RDX <Read More>

   2010 Acura TL SH-AWD Road Test Review

For the 2010 model year, Acura has a major trick up its sleeve that makes the TL SH-AWD one very appealing vehicle (well, to

All Acura models now sport the brand's distinctive "shield" nose job, which has come under some controversy by conservative buyers. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

me at least!) Yes, it looks good and is well endowed, but it's more than that. Six speeds more than that.

From the outside, the TL is quite remarkable. It was completely redesigned for the 2009 model year making it look a lot more grown up and less like its competition. What's cool about the new styling is that I don't just notice individuals that would fit the profile of a midsized sedan buyer turning their heads for second looks, but a lot of younger people get pretty excited when they see this car driving by. I'm not sure if it's the platinum plated grille or the exclusive 18" aluminum-alloy wheels on P245/R18 all season tires, but this is one eye catching car. 

When it comes to what's under the hood, the TL comes with the choice of two engines. <Read More>

Newsflash… wagons are hot!  In the premium segment, at least.  Longtime wagon traditionalists Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Saab

Acura joins the premium 5-door segment with a Sport Wagon of its own. (Photo: Acura)

and Volvo were recently joined by Cadillac, which added an all-new CTS Sport Wagon into its lineup for 2010.  Lexus played around in this segment a while back with the previous generation IS 300 SportCross, the only Japanese luxury brand to do so, but now it's Acura's turn with a new configuration for its TSX model. 

The TSX was previously only available as a four-door sedan.  And while sedan sales are expected to continue as dominant within the model's lineup, the new wagon will be sure to lure in buyers wanting a more sport sedan-like experience than a crossover can give them with the added benefit of extra rear cargo space and accessibility. 

"The TSX Sport <Read More>

   2010 Acura TSX V6 Road Test Review

The 2010 Acura TSX is much the same as the 2009, except for one important ingredient, the availability of a high-performance V6. 

Too much fun, the new TSX with its powerful V6 is a ton of fun to drive. (Photo: Acura)

And while that might not seem like much on the outside, it makes all the difference in the world when the pedal hits the floor. 

I was initially concerned the big 3.5-litre would throw this delectably agile four-door off balance, but no worries here.  This is Acura after all, the premium division of Honda… an automaker well known for building cars with superb handling dynamics. 

Too much torque going through the front-wheels challenged early V6-powered Acuras, causing a noticeable tug on the steering wheel when accelerating quickly. The TSX V6 seems to have eradicated the problem, however, so it's just gobs of fun whenever <Read More>