Acura’s dramatic new “Diamond Pentagon” grille is making sweeping changes to the way its entire lineup looks, and now we see it manifested in the Japanese luxury brand’s RLX flagship sedan. I…

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite Road Test

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
A much more expressive new design gives the 2018 RLX Sport Hybrid the style it’s always needed. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Acura’s dramatic new “Diamond Pentagon” grille is making sweeping changes to the way its entire lineup looks, and now we see it manifested in the Japanese luxury brand’s RLX flagship sedan.

I certainly like the look. Acura first applied it to their mid-size 2017 MDX crossover SUV and more recently the 2018 TLX sport-luxury sedan, both having seen year-over-year sales growth since their updates, while the refreshed 2018 RLX Sport Hybrid has experienced a significant 33.3-percent uptick in its Canadian deliveries since it arrived in January.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
The rocker mouldings, trunk lid, taillights, bumper and lower rear valance have changed for the better too, making this a comprehensive refresh. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Of course, there’s much more to the redesign than a new grille. For starters, Acura’s Precision Crafted Performance design language affects the entire front fascia, hood, side skirts, trunk lid, rear bumper, diffuser-like lower valance, new dual exhaust finishers, and machine-finished alloy wheels, not to mention its modernized set of five-element Jewel-Eye LED headlights displaying new LED character strips around their outside edges, and totally reshaped LED taillights. From front to back the new RLX is a much sportier, much more emotive design, which should really appeal to the car’s loyal fan base and hopefully attract more would-be buyers to the value-packed model’s camp.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
A closer look shows some nice detail within Acura’s new “Diamond Pentagon” grille. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Anyone who’s driven Acura’s RLX Sport Hybrid knows it’s an especially impressive sport-luxury sedan, especially in top-line Elite trim. It has simply suffered from forgetful styling, which has arguably been fixed with this effective mid-cycle makeover. Fortunately its performance-oriented hybrid drivetrain and wonderfully balanced suspension needed no modification, the former carrying forward with 377 net horsepower and 341 lb-ft of torque.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
Those are new five-element Jewel-Eye LED headlights, standard of course. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Similar to Acura’s fabulous NSX Sport Hybrid supercar and the brand’s most family-oriented MDX Sport Hybrid, the RLX Sport Hybrid uses a three-motor powertrain with electric torque vectoring. A tried and tested naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 powers the front wheels in concert with an electric assist motor, this most fuel-efficient combination used as a default in dry weather or under light loads, but if increased throttle input, hard cornering, or driving on slippery surfaces causes the need for rear-wheel propulsion an electrified version of Acura’s torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) provides traction from all four tires via two rear wheel-mounted electric motors.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
The new RLX Sport Hybrid now possesses the kind of performance-oriented styling to match its similarly sporting inner character. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Acura calls this system Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (Sport Hybrid SH-AWD), resulting in a long enough name to make any Teutonic carmaker proud, and while it’s a particularly advanced hybrid powertrain, its sophistication only scrapes the surface of all the technology aboard the RLX.

Before delving too deeply into the latter, take note that the front-wheel drive-only version of the RLX, available in the U.S., is not sold in Canada, which means its 310 horsepower V6, new 10-speed automatic transmission, Precision All-Wheel Steering (P-AWS), and lower price point remains exclusive to our friends to the south. Of course, if there were a reasonable enough market for it here, we’d see it. Let’s just be glad Acura Canada chose to provide us with the much more formidable RLX Sport Hybrid instead of the opposite scenario, as I certainly wouldn’t have enjoyed my weeklong test anywhere near as much.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
New LED taillights help modernize the rear design, while also enhancing safety. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Yes, where the previous RLX Sport Hybrid was surprisingly fun to drive for its conservative appearance, the new model lives up to its sporty outward character. It moves of the line with zero hesitation, shooting from standstill to 100km/h in just 5.6 seconds, and shifts through its seven-speed dual-clutch Sequential SportShift gearbox with slap shot responsiveness, Acura providing steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, Grade Logic Control and a Sport mode to make the process as engaging as possible, yet smooth and composed.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
Acura has improved interior refinement and materials quality for a better overall experience. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

A BMW M5 it’s not, nor a Mercedes-AMG E63, but the RLX Sport Hybrid is a stimulating drive that provides a proper upgrade for those trading in their TLX A-Spec. The Sport Hybrid’s unique SH-AWD system defies the big sedan’s obvious girth, its actual curb weight measuring in at 1,993 kilos (4,394 lbs) in top-line Elite trim, which is a mere 18 kilograms (40 lbs) more than the base model. Still, it never feels overly heavy thanks to a nice flat stance during sharp transitional moves, positive engagement from its big, sticky 245/40R19 all-seasons, and strong braking despite repeated stomps, the RLX confidence-inspiring when driving quickly.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
While the quality is obvious, the instrument panel now needs a wholesale redesign too. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Ease off the throttle and it’ll pay dividends at the pump too, the Sport Hybrid combining idle start/stop and cylinder deactivation with its electrified powertrain for a claimed 8.4 L/100km in the city, 8.2 on the highway and 8.4 combined, which is superb when compared to similarly capable competitors such as the Audi A6 3.0 TFSI Quattro that gets an 11.5 L/100km city, 8.2 highway and 10.0 combined rating despite its lower engine output of 340-hp and 325 lb-ft of torque (albeit quicker 5.2-second sprint to 100km/h), the BMW 540i xDrive that achieves 11.6 city, 8.1 highway and 10.0 combined with even less go-power at 335-hp and 332 lb-ft (yet an even quicker 4.8-second sprint to 100km/h), the Mercedes-Benz E 400 4Matic that sucks back 11.8 city, 8.7 highway and 10.4 combined with even less output at 329-hp and 354 lb-ft (yet another 5.2-second charge to 100km/h), and the list goes on. I don’t know about you, but I’d be willing to give up a few tenths off the line for such significant fuel savings.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
Bright and legible, the primary gauges work well yet don’t offer the segment’s usual fully configurable option. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

The RLX Sport Hybrid provides big initial savings as well. With a starting price of just $65,490 it hits the road for $1,360 less than the just noted Audi, $4,310 more affordably than the Mercedes, and $5,060 easier on the wallet than the BMW, while its list of standard features should at the very least make the Germans feel awkward.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
Acura was ahead of the curve when this two-tiered infotainment system debuted, but it’s now beyond time for retirement. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

On top of the standard full LED headlights noted earlier, the RLX Sport Hybrid includes standard heatable power-folding side mirrors with driver recognition, reverse gear tilt-down, and integrated LED turn signals, LED fog lamps, ambient interior lighting, remote start, passive keyless access with pushbutton ignition, an electromechanical parking brake, a heatable leather-wrapped powered tilt and telescopic multifunction steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a garage door opener, a powered moonroof, colour head-up display, dual-zone auto climate control, AcuraLink infotainment with a multi-angle backup camera, navigation, voice recognition, Siri Eyes Free, SMS text message and email reading and response capability, Bluetooth with streaming audio, a 14-speaker surround-sound ELS audio system with hard disc storage and satellite radio, 12-way powered front seats with driver’s side memory, heatable front and rear seats, Milano leather upholstery, capless fuel filling, and the list goes on.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
The navigation system works well, yet the infotainment system needs some serious modernization to keep it current. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

The updated 2018 RLX carries forward with the AcuraWatch suite of advanced driver-assistance systems too, including forward collision warning with autonomous collision mitigation braking, blindspot monitoring and lane departure warning with lane keeping assist and road departure mitigation, plus rear cross-traffic alert, which once again earns it an IIHS Top Safety Pick rating, while new for 2018 is Traffic Jam Assist that uses the Low Speed Follow function of the adaptive cruise control system to semi-autonomously maintain the flow of slow-moving congested traffic, a first for Acura.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
The Elite’s surround-view camera is really helpful when parking. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

AcuraWatch combines millimeter wave radar together with monocular camera sensing technology in order to detect lane markings and surrounding vehicles, which not only keeps the car within its lane, but can also intervene in order to prevent a collision or mitigate the severity of impact.

The move up to Elite trim adds $4,500 to the bottom line yet includes plenty of features to make up for it including extra exterior chrome, auto-dimming side mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree surround-view parking monitor, ventilated front seats, ambient rear passenger’s footwell lighting, rear side sunshades, a powered rear sunshade, and a sensational Krell ultra-premium audio system that might be worth the price of entry alone.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
These seats are superb, plus include heat and ventilation. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

All of this comes in a cabin that’s even more upscale than last year’s RLX, due to higher grade materials in key areas, soft touch surfaces throughout, beautiful aluminum and wood trim, well damped, nicely fitted switchgear that includes one of the more innovative pushbutton gear selectors in the industry, plus redesigned seats that are oh-so comfortable and supportive while trimmed out with sporty contrast stitching. Mine were done in Ebony to complement the Lunar Silver metallic paint, but no-cost Seacoast beige, Greystone light grey, and Saddle Brown are available as well, depending on your exterior colour choice.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
Rear seat comfort is excellent, living up to this model’s flagship sedan status. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

If the RLX has a weakness it’s the digital interfaces displayed throughout, the highly legible analogue gauge cluster incorporating a fairly simple colour TFT multi-information display at centre instead of a fully configurable gauge package, while the centre stack houses Acura’s now outdated two-tiered infotainment system. It gets bonus points for providing multiple functions simultaneously, a process that normally requires a split screen and therefore a reduction in space for individual functions, but the setup looks and feels a bit old school when compared to those used by most mid-size sedan peers, especially the aforementioned E-Class that can be had with a massive 24.6-inch tablet-style primary gauge/infotainment system (comprised of two seamlessly fused 12.3-inch displays) that makes anything else look passé. Acura isn’t alone with this problem, but none of the mid-size E-segment’s top sellers suffer from first-generation iPad syndrome (hey, I could’ve compared it to the Palm Pilot, Samsung’s GRiDPad or Apple’s Newton). Its graphics are stale, colours and depth of contrast lacklustre, and functionality remedial when compared to some of the better systems now on offer, but its surround camera is very good and navigation extremely accurate.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite
The 339-litre trunk is short on space, but this should be expected with an AWD hybrid. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

I like the RLX Sport Hybrid too much to leave this review on such a sour note, so suffice to say if you don’t find yourself glued to a smartphone or tablet every hour of the day you’ll probably be more than happy with the big Acura’s electronics, while the rest of the car has long been a joy to drive or be driven in. Now that it’s outward appeal matches its inner qualities, performance being key, I think it’s one of the more intelligent sport-luxury sedan purchases available today.

Acura, Honda’s luxury division, topped 20,000 sales in Canada for the third consecutive calendar year in 2017, a solid effort that was given an image boost by the all-new NSX Sport Hybrid supercar and…

Acura tops 20,000 sales in Canada for third year in a row

2018 Acura RDX
Acura’s RDX was once again the star of the show, growing sales despite the current generation being in its last full year of availability. (Photo: Acura)

Acura, Honda’s luxury division, topped 20,000 sales in Canada for the third consecutive calendar year in 2017, a solid effort that was given an image boost by the all-new NSX Sport Hybrid supercar and a real shot in the arm by the refreshed 2017 MDX mid-size SUV, both having arrived partway through the previous year, while an upgraded 2018 TLX sedan that went on sale halfway through 2017 pushed the premium brand over the top.

Acura’s 20,299 2017 deliveries beat last year’s 20,227-unit total, although in a refreshingly honest Honda Canada Inc. (HCI) press release the brand’s parent company called this modest gain “relatively flat sales versus the previous year.” HCI was clearly proud of its combined Acura and Honda brand sales, however, with its 197,251 unit total showing an annual increase of six percent over the same 12 months in 2016, which resulted in an all-time annual sales record for the fourth consecutive year.

2018 Acura MDX
The MDX continues to be a powerhouse in the three-row luxury SUV sector, topping overall sales. (Photo: Acura)

In a comparatively small way next to the 50,443 Honda CR-V deliveries in 2017, HCI’s total was nevertheless helped along by Acura’s top-selling RDX compact SUV that achieved its best-ever sales of 8,101 units despite being near the end of its current lifecycle. This marks six years of consecutive sales growth for the RDX, a vehicle that also managed an impressive second in sales volume out of 17 competitive nameplates, only beaten by Audi’s redesigned Q5 that broke five figures at 10,271 units.

“Acura’s RDX luxury SUV served as the brand’s success story last year, driving sales to surpass the coveted 20,000-unit mark for the third consecutive year, despite being in its final product cycle year,” said Jean Marc Leclerc, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Honda Canada Inc. “Representing the most extensive Acura redesign in more than a decade, the all-new RDX will launch later this year, signaling the beginning of a new era for Acura products inspired by Precision Crafted Performance.”

2018 Acura TLX
Sales of the new 2018 Acura TLX are up too, despite the D-segment slowing for most rivals. (Photo: Acura)

The RDX follows a value packed strategy that benefits all Acura models, with other strong sellers including the just noted MDX that’s up from 5,425 sales in 2016 to 5,838 deliveries in 2017. The MDX is the most popular dedicated three-row SUV in Canada, while at 4,205 unit sales in 2017, also improving on the previous year’s total, the renewed TLX sport-luxury sedan is the most popular non-German car in the highly competitive D-segment, by a long shot.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid
Acura’s flagship RLX Sport Hybrid gets refreshed for 2018, but that won’t be enough to cause even a ripple in the force. (Photo: Acura)

As for Acura’s entry-level entrant, at just 2,047 deliveries for 2017, down from 2,459 in 2016, 2,551 in 2015, 2,752 in 2014, and a high of 3,192 in 2013, it’s hardly the slowest selling C-segment luxury car. That would be Lexus’ long-in-tooth CT at 367 units, while BMW’s 2 Series also suffered losses with sales coming in at just 1,929 units. Mercedes saw CLA deliveries sag too, albeit at 3,764 units it’s still number two in the segment, while B-Class sales grew to 2,369 units and Audi finished on top with 3,997 A3 sales. Still, Acura dealers (and fans) can hardly wait to get their mitts on the completely redesigned 2020 ILX to be based on Honda’s evermore-popular Civic, which was once again the best-selling car in Canada thanks to 66,935 buyers in 2017.

So what can we expect from Acura in 2018? A fully redesigned 2019 RDX won’t be the only boost to sales this year, albeit despite receiving an attractive refresh for 2018 the brand’s impressive yet slow-as-molasses-selling RLX Sport Hybrid flagship sedan will need a miracle to see it break three figures after finding just 59 buyers in 2017, although a full year with the new TLX should help the Japanese luxury brand grow its sales further.

Anyone who’s driven Acura’s RLX Sport Hybrid knows it’s an especially impressive sport-luxury sedan, especially in top-line Elite trim. It’s just suffering from forgetful styling, which is nothing…

Dramatic new 2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid revealed

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid
Acura has given its RLX a dramatic mid-cycle makeover for 2018, with its sharply chiseled diamond pentagon grille front and centre. (Photo: Acura)

Anyone who’s driven Acura’s RLX Sport Hybrid knows it’s an especially impressive sport-luxury sedan, especially in top-line Elite trim. It’s just suffering from forgetful styling, which is nothing a mid-cycle makeover can’t fix.

That’s what Acura has planned for the 2018 RLX, following the same Precision Crafted Performance design language theme as the recently rejuvenated 2018 TLX, and the MDX that underwent extensive cosmetic surgery for the 2017 model year.

Acura plans to show the new 2018 RLX in the metal at the upcoming Monterey Automotive Week that runs from August 15 through 19 in Monterey, California, where it hopes to find favour with its ideal target market.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid
The new RLX now looks as fast as it actually is. (Photo: Acura)

The most noticeable change to the new RLX is the adaption of Acura’s new signature diamond pentagon grille and more pronounced Acura badge at centre, which transforms its front end while giving a new sense of purpose to the entire car.

“This redesign of the 2018 Acura RLX is transformational, creating road presence and styling that better reflect underlying performance capabilities of the vehicle,” said Gary Gill, Acura Senior Manager, Acura Sales and Marketing.

After decades of searching for a trademark brand identity that’s both unquestionably unique and undeniably attractive, Acura created the new diamond pentagon grille first seen on the dramatic 2016 Acura Precision Concept that debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 2016, a car we’d love to see brought to production as soon as possible.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid
Rear changes are less obvious, but new LED taillights, a revised bumper and reshaped dual exhaust tips complete the refresh. (Photo: Acura)

Additional exterior enhancements with the new RLX include reworked five-element LED headlamps featuring new LED character strips around their outside edges, a totally revised more aggressively styled lower front fascia, a more sharply sculpted hood, more detail along the extended rocker panels including unique chrome mouldings that visually extend from those on the front and rear fascias, redesigned LED taillights, a new rear bumper with an integrated gloss black diffuser, new dual exhaust finishers, and new alloy wheels.

The 2018 RLX is Acura’s third production model to receive the new diamond pentagon grille design, the fabulous NSX Sport Hybrid ironically using a modernized version of the outgoing grille’s general shape, although it might be challenging to graft the bold new look onto the sleek mid-engine supercar’s narrow front fascia.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid
The new LED taillights are quite complex close up. (Photo: Acura)

The NSX marked the second hybrid in Acura’s lineup when it arrived late last year as a 2017 model, the first being the RLX since model year 2015, while the Japanese luxury brand added the new MDX Sport Hybrid earlier this year.

The RLX Sport Hybrid powertrain bridges the gap between the blisteringly quick NSX Sport Hybrid and the more family-oriented MDX Sport Hybrid. The former utilizes a similar tri-motor electrified setup as the more conventional models, albeit completely reversed due to its mid-engine sports car layout. The NSX puts out a sensational 573 net horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque, which makes it an honest challenger to the Audi R8 e-tron, BMW’s i8, and other hybrid supercars, whereas the MDX Sport Hybrid produces a more modest 321 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque due to a smaller 3.0-litre V6. This makes the 3.5-litre V6-powered RLX Sport Hybrid’s 377 horsepower and 341 lb-ft of torque the mediator, an apropos position to be in for an executive sedan.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid
Acura has reportedly improved interior materials quality, although the outgoing RLX was already nicely put together. (Photo: Acura)

Of note, the 310 horsepower conventionally powered front-wheel drive model sold in the U.S., featuring a new 10-speed automatic transmission as well as Acura’s Precision All-Wheel Steering (P-AWS) won’t be offered in Canada.

Like the other Sport Hybrid models, the RLX Sport Hybrid uses Acura’s three-motor powertrain with electric torque vectoring, featuring an internal combustion engine (ICE) powering the front wheels in concert with an electric assist motor. The RDX defaults to this most fuel-efficient mode in the dry or under light loads, but if increased throttle input, hard cornering, or driving on slippery surfaces causes the need for rear-wheel propulsion an electrified version of Acura’s torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) provides traction from all four tires via two rear wheel-mounted electric motors.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid
There won’t be a fully configurable TFT gauge cluster for this refresh, but the multi-info display is nice and large. (Photo: Acura)

Acura dubs this system Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (Sport Hybrid SH-AWD), resulting in a long enough name to make the German’s proud, and while it’s a particularly advanced hybrid powertrain, its sophistication only scrapes the surface of all the technology aboard the RLX.

Like the 2017 RLX Sport Hybrid we reviewed earlier this year, the new 2018 RLX Sport Hybrid will carry forward with the AcuraWatch suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) including forward collision warning with autonomous collision mitigation braking, blindspot monitoring and lane departure warning with lane keeping assist and road departure mitigation, and rear cross-traffic alert, which was enough to earn the 2017 RLX an IIHS Top Safety Pick rating, while new for 2018 is Traffic Jam Assist, a first for Acura.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid
Acura’s dual-screen infotainment system will soldier on for 2018, complete with standard navigation and more. (Photo: Acura)

Traffic Jam Assist works together with another AcuraWatch feature, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow, helping reduce driver fatigue and stress amid congested traffic by keeping the RLX within its lane at a set interval behind the car ahead. Consider it low-speed autopilot, which is certainly a safer way to implement fully autonomous driving than some premium carmakers.

AcuraWatch combines millimeter wave radar together with monocular camera sensing technology in order to detect lane markings and surrounding vehicles, which not only keeps the car within its lane, but can also intervene in order to prevent a collision or mitigate the severity of impact.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid
The old model’s seats were superb and still appear plenty comfortable and supportive. (Photo: Acura)

Additional standard 2018 RLX Sport Hybrid features include LED fog lamps, remote start, colour head-up display, navigation, voice recognition, a heated steering wheel, heatable front and rear seats, and more, while the sensational Krell audio system will continue forward in the new model.

Acura will offer three new exterior colour choices to 2018 RLX customers, including Brilliant Red Metallic (shown) and Majestic Black Pearl that fall under the premium paint category.

Premium in mind, Acura promises some interior enhancements including improved materials on key touch points, such as redesigned seats featuring high-contrast stitching and piping, plus a new Espresso interior option.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid
The RLX was the first of Acura’s Sport Hybrid models, with three now available. (Photo: Acura)

A more detailed list of features, prices and fuel economy information will be released ahead of the car’s November 2017 on-sale date.

Rarely does a mid-cycle refresh make such a dramatic difference, and no doubt Acura is hoping the new design direction helps raise the RLX Sport Hybrid’s currently slow sales volume, which resulted in just 37 Canadian sales over the first six months of 2017 and a mere 107 during all of last year. This meant that at the close of 2017 the RLX was the sixth slowest selling car in Canada, right behind the seventh slowest selling Infiniti Q70 that’s arguably its closest competitor. At least Acura can take some solace in selling more flagship luxury sedans than Lexus and Kia sold full-size LS and K900 models, the latter Canada’s least popular car of all, whereas Audi, Porsche, Maserati and Jaguar won’t be feeling too smug in ninth, 12th, 13th and 14th slowest for their A8, Panamera, Ghibli and XJ respectively—Lexus’ GS sedan’s 17th placement making it the top-selling direct rival on the bottom 20 list.

Expect the 2018 Acura RLX to climb up through the ranks after November, but don’t count on it catching up to the ultra-popular RDX and MDX crossover SUVs anytime soon.

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…