Say hi to the Acura RLX. It’s actually been around since 2013, but slow sales make it a rare sight on Canadian roads so you may not have seen many. The RLX is Acura’s flagship sedan, but it’s no…

2017 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite

17 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
Conservative yes, but the RLX wears its Acura shield well, and was the first to sport the brand’s Jewel-eye LED headlamps. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Say hi to the Acura RLX. It’s actually been around since 2013, but slow sales make it a rare sight on Canadian roads so you may not have seen many.

The RLX is Acura’s flagship sedan, but it’s no larger than Mercedes-Benz’ E-Class sedan, which is the most popular luxury model in the mid-size premium segment. By comparison Merc sells about 28 Es to every single RLX, but Acura isn’t the only brand that gets beaten up by the three-pointed star in this category.

2017 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
The RLX’ tall roofline provides excellent interior headroom. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Mercedes sells almost a third more Es than BMW purveys 5s, while it outpaces Audi’s A6 by approximately 3.5 to 1, Jaguar’s XF by about 5.5 to 1, Lexus’ GS by more than 7 to 1, Infiniti’s Q70 by 19 to 1, and so on. The only car in the segment to outsell it is Chrysler’s 300 that ironically is based on a much older E-Class architecture, and to be fair the near premium 300 is priced much lower and therefore isn’t really targeting the same luxury audience.

2017 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
A well-built cabin with Acura’s latest features makes the RLX one comfortable ride. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

So it’s an uphill battle for the RLX and many of its peers, but that didn’t stop Acura from investing thousands of Bordens (my Canadian twist on Benjamins, although I probably should have called them Fukuzawas being that we’re talking yen) into this innovative car.

2017 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
Go ahead and get comfortable with powered, heatable and cooled front seats. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

I say innovative because it’s the only car in its class available solely as a hybrid, and a performance-oriented hybrid at that. Acura claims net output of 377 horsepower and 341 lb-ft of torque via a 3.5-litre V6 and a rear-wheel mounted dual electric motor/lithium-ion battery combination, with the internal combustion engine (ICE) powering the front wheels until rear-wheel traction is needed, which prompts intervention of the electrified AWD. A seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission provides quick shifting duties enhanced by steering wheel paddles no less, heightening the RLX’ sporty nature, but I best leave it there or you’ll have no reason to return for the full review.

2017 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
Rear seat room is very generous. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

We’ll be covering the top-line Elite model, so everything Acura has to offer is included. Whether you’re seriously interested in purchasing or simply curious, I recommend coming back to take a look as the RLX has long been the mule used for developing much of the sophisticated powertrain technology now harnessed by the fabulous new NSX supercar.

For the time being, enjoy a small assortment of gallery photos that we’ll expand upon when the review arrives…

Everybody wants a good deal, but sometimes the “great” price paid at purchase, even after factoring in a deep discount, doesn’t seem as good later on. Kelley Blue Book tries to remedy this problem…

Acura has lowest cost of ownership over five years amongst luxury brands

Everybody wants a good deal, but sometimes the "great" price paid at purchase, even after factoring in a deep discount, doesn't seem as good later on. Kelley Blue Book tries to remedy this problem by educating consumers about the real cost of owning a vehicle, and then recommends models it believes drive real long-term value. As part of this exercise its 5-Year Cost to Own Awards program recognizes high achieving vehicles and brands. Acura earns KBB 5-Year Cost to Own Luxury Award two years straight For the second consecutive year Acura took home KBB's 5-Year Cost to Own Luxury Brand award thanks to its entire lineup placing either first or second in more than half of seven total 5-Year Cost to Own factors, which include the vehicle's upfront price, depreciation, finance and insurance fees, expected fuel costs, maintenance and repair costs, and jurisdictional fees. With all totals tallied up, KBB projects Acura models will incur the lowest ownership costs over the next five years. "This Read Full Story
When can a base model compete with competitors’ mid and even top-line trims? When it’s an Acura, the base RDX filled with standard features like V6 power, paddles, AWD, full LED headlamps, proximity…

2017 Acura RDX AWD Road Test

If you want to know what makes a brand tick, drive its most inexpensive models in their most basic trims. With respect to Acura's SUV lineup, that would be this RDX. The SUV you're looking at has zero options, which means it hits the road at just $42,190 plus freight and dealer fees yet comes packed full of high value features and is loads of fun to drive. A shortlist includes standard V6 power, AWD, Acura's Jewel Eye LED headlights, LED taillights, 18-inch alloys, proximity-sensing keyless entry, pushbutton ignition (that's made from anodized red metal for a sporty touch), ambient cabin lighting, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, dual-zone auto climate control with large dials at each side for easy operation while wearing winter gloves, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, five-inch colour infotainment, a multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, a 360-watt seven-speaker stereo, satellite radio, Siri Eyes Free, text messaging Read Full Story
5,425 Canadian luxury SUV buyers can’t be wrong. Last year’s bestselling 7-passenger luxury SUV is a winner. To prove the point we test the Acura MDX in top-line Elite trim with its 6 Passenger layout,…

2017 Acura MDX Elite 6 Passenger Road Test Review

Now this is an MDX I can easily warm up to. Not that lesser trims leave me cold. It's just that a luxury SUV should make its owner feel rich, or at least richly pampered, and this top-line MDX Elite 6 Passenger is one nicely tailored ride.

After ogling the stunning open-pore hardwood trim and beautiful satin-finish aluminum across the Elite's instrument panel, doors, and centre console, take a closer look at its unique seat upholstery, complete with off-white piping and stitching on perforated Ebony Milano black hides. It's all a cut above. And the second-row would never have me calling shotgun if I weren't always in the driver's seat. It's as luxuriously appointed as the row up front, with individual captain's chairs to each side and a wonderfully detailed brushed metal, wood and leather trimmed centre console down the middle. The usual third row sits behind, giving this particular MDX six-occupant seating, so it's not quite as capable for family hauling, but those second-row Read Full Story
It should hardly come as a surprise to hear that Acura’s recently updated 2017 MDX received the highest possible safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), as the MDX earned…

Acura MDX earns Top Safety Pick Plus rating for fourth year in a row

It should hardly come as a surprise to hear that Acura's recently updated 2017 MDX received the highest possible safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), as the MDX earned Top Safety Pick Plus status for its three previous years.

If it was an easy feat then all of the MDX' competitors would have done likewise, but only two of its 16 mid-size rivals measured up, the Mercedes-Benz GLE and Lexus RX. That makes the MDX one of Canada's safest luxury SUVs, while the smaller RDX utility also achieved a Top Safety Pick Plus rating, and Acura's ILX compact sedan and flagship RLX luxury sedan managed Top Safety Pick ratings.

The impressive IIHS safety score came thanks to the Japanese brand's advanced AcuraWatch suite of active safety and driver-assistive technologies that comes standard with every 2017 MDX and RDX model. AcuraWatch includes Collision Mitigation Braking with Forward Collision Warning, Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Read Full Story