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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2009 Acura RL

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2012 Acura RL

Overview

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2009 Acura RL Review

By KBB.com Editors

Though many suggest that the prescription for a genuine luxury sedan must include an available V8 engine and rear-wheel drive, the 2009 Acura RL continues to be built for buyers interested in an alternative approach. Hitting dealer lots with a refreshed appearance and a bright new grille, Acura's top-of-the-line four-door also boasts a more powerful V6 engine, refined all-wheel-drive and suspension systems, a couple extra inches of body length, a quieter cabin, and an available Technology Package stocked with modern conveniences designed to make your time behind the wheel more comfortable and enjoyable. There's plenty to admire in the 2009 Acura RL, especially by those not intent on owning the quickest luxury sedan on the cul-de-sac.

You'll Like This Car If...

Shoppers of luxury sedans will applaud the 2009 Acura RL's long list of standard equipment and its simple pricing structure, while those with a zest for driving may find themselves on curvy roads testing the capabilities of Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD).

You May Not Like This Car If...

Despite its powerful V6, shoppers considering the 2009 Acura RL may be turned off by the lack of rear-wheel drive and a V8 engine. Competitors from Audi and Mercedes-Benz promise superior fuel economy, and models like the Hyundai Genesis deliver surprising levels of luxury at a significant discount.

What's New for 2009

Acura has treated its flagship RL sedan to a new look and numerous mechanical and technological advancements for 2009. Situated under the hood is a more powerful V6 engine, while the interior offers features such as Bluetooth audio and up-to-the-minute weather and traffic information.

Driving the RL

Driving Impressions For everyday driving, the 2009 Acura RL's 300-horsepower V6 performs admirably, matches the EPA's fuel economy estimates, and delivers plenty of refined momentum for mingling with lead-footed commuters. Power is...

on par with cars such as the Lexus GS 350 but arrives at higher rpm and, as a result, makes the RL feel relatively sluggish when starting from a standstill. The accompanying five-speed transmission is smooth but can be slow to downshift, a trait that's noticeable when attempting to pass another vehicle; drivers can shift on their own schedule by using paddles on the steering wheel. Serving to offset any engine and transmission deficiencies is Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), technology that makes the RL sure-footed in inclement conditions and a delight on twisty roads. Braking is usually a worry-free endeavor, though we did notice a slight loss in effectiveness after an afternoon of spirited driving.

Favorite Features

XM Note
With the touch of a button on the 2009 Acura RL's console, XM Note allows you to capture up to 10 seconds of up to 30 songs heard on XM Satellite Radio, as well as the artist name and song title.

AcuraLink
Falling under the AcuraLink umbrella are real-time traffic information, up-to-date weather forecasts, and a rerouting feature that steers drivers away from heavy congestion. Navigating your way through the chaotic evening rush hour just became more palatable.

2009 Acura RL Details

Interior

As a flagship model, the 2009 Acura RL's interior disappoints as much as it impresses. Kudos go out for spacious accommodations, the Technology Package's triple-setting heated and cooled front seats, padding in all the right places, and a cabin that's both quiet and easy to enter and exit. We were less enamored by the driver seat's lack of lower support during long drives, perforated leather upholstery that felt like it had been borrowed from a Honda, an utter lack of storage provisions for rear seat passengers, and a sunken cargo floor that made taking heavy items out of the trunk a difficult task.

Exterior

Most obvious among the 2009 Acura RL's exterior revisions is the large, shiny grille that is quickly becoming the marker for every model within the Acura lineup. Also new for 2009 are standard 18-inch alloy wheels, a reshaped rear end with revised taillights, and a more pronounced lip on the trunk lid that helps to make the sedan more aerodynamic. Overall, there's more RL to love, thanks to 70 pounds of added weight and a body that's been stretched by two inches.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Given the RL's luxury car status, Acura has fitted its largest sedan with not only the usual bits like a Bose sound system and power features tied to a driver-side memory function, but also a USB port located in the center console that offers quick and seamless access to tunes on your iPod, and an Active Sound Control system that does a commendable job of muting engine noise. Safety is addressed by a plethora of airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist, and a strong passenger compartment that helped the 2009 Acura RL achieve five-star ratings in government crash tests.

Optional Equipment

An available Technology Package has been designed to make commuting a bit less stressful in the 2009 Acura RL. At the heart of it all is a voice-activated navigation system that delivers current traffic and weather information, a timesaving traffic rerouting function, xenon headlights that swivel to illuminate the direction of travel, and heated and cooled front seats. The Technology Package can be ordered with Acura's Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS). CMBS is paired with adaptive cruise control and prepares the driver in the event of a sudden emergency by tightening the driver's seatbelt and applying brake pressure.

Under the Hood

As part of Acura's redesign of the RL, 2008's 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 was replaced by a new 3.7-liter V6 shared with the 2009 Acura MDX. Coinciding with greater displacement are ratings of 300 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The automaker's five-speed SportShift automatic transmission, complete with paddle shifters, continues to represent the single gearbox offering. In terms of fuel economy, the EPA suggests that the 2009 Acura RL will travel 16 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 22 mpg on the highway (down from 24 mpg in 2008) while burning premium fuel. Those figures are very similar to ratings for the Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC but are slightly less than figures reported for a V8-equipped Audi A6 quattro.

3.7-liter V6
300 horsepower @ 6300 rpm
271 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22

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2009 Acura RL Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

9.0

Out of 10

Based on 124 Ratings for the 2005 - 2012 models.

Review this car

Value

9.0/10

Quality

9.3/10
Reliability

9.3/10

Performance

9.0/10
Comfort

9.3/10

Styling

9.1/10

Magnificent Auto

By Ashegal (NC) on Tuesday, April 09, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 137,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Loce the 6 CD player"

Cons: "exterior paint job should have been better"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"Purchased new in 2006-ours is white-exterior paint job is my only complaint- not a quality job as an Audi or Benz- the interior is lush and roomy- ours has 137,000 miles on it all road as we travel for a living. Purchased with the wood interior-on geer shift-sides and front-very classy. Not one moments worth of problem!! We service it like all our autos at the dealership- put great tires on it and it is a complete joy for all our long distance travels. Only complaint is Acura itself- only coming out with a new RL this fall after 3 years or so. What are they thinking so changing from it=not the cars fault the manufacturers!"

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My favorite car- just edging out my 73 Torino

By 5underafter3 (CA) on Monday, April 08, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 95,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Tops in class in ride, noise, and reliability"

Cons: "Looks too much like accord."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Would have never paid the price for an RL, but got the deal of a lifetime for one in 2007 and now I really doubt I could ever buy anything but an Acura. My main goals were smooth, quiet and reliable. My friends with BMW's and Mercedes all say mine is the nicest ride and quietest. 95K miles and so far it has cost me about 12 oil changes and a set of tires and still drives like new. 2 suggestions- redesign body a bit and scrap the manual paddle shifters-car is too quiet so I drive my 65 mustang for that."

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I'm having a hard time justifying a new ride

By Casual (PA) on Sunday, January 13, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 96,300

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "SH-AWD, build quality, runs like a champ"

Cons: "19 mpg, console components wearing"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"I bought my 05 RL certified used almost 6 years ago for a reasonable price relative to all that it has. Now close to 100k miles I face the dillema of putting $3k into it for the tune up and new tires or trading it in. Thing is, I'm having a hard time finding a new car out there that matches what this car offers, particularly as I'd likely get another 100k miles out of it. The combination of 300hp, SH-AWD (why this system is not in every Acura including the upcoming RLX is a mystery, it works like magic), roominess, and bullet proof reliability is practically impossible to find out there. My one dissapointment is the failing of some of the interior trim pieces around the console including bubbled leather on the arm rests. This is a minor inconvenience when everything else looks as good as the day I bought the car. The greatest complement I can give is that I have considered just buying another used RL with fewer miles, assuming I can find one that is. Honda hasn't sold that many. Too bad, it's a great product."

7 people out of 7 found this review helpful

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Love this car.

By Susan (TX) on Tuesday, August 07, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 80,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 5/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"If you travel a lot then this is the car for you. Great handling, comfort and fair gas mileage for how you feel at the end of the trip. This car has all the bells and whistles so pay attention to the person who talks you through the ownership process. Down side of owning this car is high maintenance and low MPG on city driving."

3 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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Beautiful car. Best value of the Luxury cars

By JINX (WI) on Thursday, August 02, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 69,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Price, quality, exhaust note, comfortable, fast"

Cons: "Acura does poor job advertising. What's an RL?"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This is my third Acura in the past 8 years. Wonderful cars. I traded an 08 Mercedes E350 in for this 07 RL. The Acura RL is superior in everyway to the Mercedes E Class except for the prestige factor. The 09, 10 RL has an ugly front grill piece that looks like a buck tooth. Other than that the lines are beautiful. My 07 is perfect. The only car I would consider as a replacement would be the Lexus LS. If you love quality and value in your car, you will love the Acura RL. If you want to impress the neighbors, pay extra and get Mercedes, BMW, or Lexus. The neighbors will be impressed buy you won't be as satisfied."

6 people out of 6 found this review helpful

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Great RL my 3rd!

By Jim (VA) on Thursday, July 05, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 85,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Fast, Fub and very Comfortable"

Cons: "interior room could be better"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I really enjoy this car. The SHAWD is great, poor condiction or great driving condiction it makes its presence known. The AIM headlamps are really good too!"

5 people out of 7 found this review helpful

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See all 124 reviews