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2012 Acura RL

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Overview

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2012 Acura RL Review

By KBB.com Editors

The 2012 Acura RL's strong points are a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, a comfortable and quiet interior and a strong V6 engine. Yet, the RL is often lost amid stiff competition from the likes of the BMW 5 and 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and even its own not-so-little brother, the Acura TL, which has many of the same features as the RL and costs less. This marks the final year for the long-running RL before its successor, the Acura RLX, arrives in 2013 with even more advanced and innovative technology.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you want a largish, premium sedan that has a quiet cabin, sophisticated all-wheel drive, Japanese reliability and understated competence, the RL is worth considering. In addition, being an RL owner also means driving a car that's somewhat out of the ordinary.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If exhilarating V8 performance, stand-out looks or badge recognition are your automotive requirements, look to German and Japanese competitors, or even the Cadillac CTS.

How It Ranks

#19

out of 22

MPG

#18

out of 23

Horsepower

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Consumer Rating

9.0 out of 10

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consumer ratings

What's New for 2012

With a revised fascia and new, 6-speed transmission introduced in the 2011 model year, the final-year model of the Acura RL carries over mostly unchanged. An upgraded navigation system now features updated traffic maps covering 130 areas within the United States and Canada.

Driving the RL

Driving Impressions Quiet and competent describe the 2012 RL. The quiet is accomplished with noise reduction technology that literally extends to the wheels, which are specially designed for less resonation. The competence...

is from a 3.7-liter V6 engine that makes 300 horsepower and moves the comfortable sedan with responsive performance, and from its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. With all four wheels driving the vehicle through a torque vectoring technology that keeps delivering the power to the wheels that can best use it, the Acura feels supremely planted even on wet, slippery roads. The Acura RL is a very comfortable car to drive, and strongly favors that attribute over the sportier sort of characteristics found with, say, the BMW 5 Series or the Cadillac CTS. When more quickness is desired a sport mode delivers faster acceleration. The RL is very good at soaking up unwanted noise, awkward bumps and road irregularities, and always feels at ease.

Favorite Features

SUPER-HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
Dubbed "SH-AWD," this system drives all four wheels, gives the 2012 RL superior traction and is particularly beneficial on slippery surfaces.

FIT AND FINISH
Ease into its posh cabin and the 2012 Acura RL feels even more expensive than its price might suggest. Super-soft leather and available maple wood trim add to the luxury.

2012 Acura RL Details

2012 Acura RL Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

The Acura RL's interior is showing its age. Its vertically-spread dash buttons, a thick steering wheel and flat colors might have worked a few years ago, but not so much today. That said, the RL's creature comforts are up to par with other luxury vehicles and include ventilated front seats, backup sensors and a Bose 10-speaker audio system that can play USB drives, iPods, DVD audio discs and CDs. The front seats are very comfortable and rear legroom is generous. At just over 13 cubic feet, the RL's trunk capacity is on the small side among this class.

Exterior

The 2012 Acura RL's understated nature includes its somewhat innocuous appearance. In fact, you'd be forgiven if, at first glance, you mistook it for a Honda Accord. It's not that the RL is not good-looking; it just doesn't particularly stand out from the crowd. The RL's front and rear ends do have some character, but are much more conservative than the recent looks of the Acura TL. Large 18-inch alloy wheels and twin tailpipes convey a hint of performance.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The 2012 Acura RL has a 3.7-liter V6, all-wheel-drive, a 6-speed automatic transmission, power moonroof, power rear sunshade and manual rear-door sunshades, a 260-watt 10-speaker audio system with voice recognition and six airbags. As with other Acura vehicles, the RL comes with Total Luxury Care, which offers roadside assistance, concierge service and emergency travel assistance.

Optional Equipment

Major options for the Acura RL are bundled into packages. The Technology Package adds satellite navigation with real-time traffic and GPS-linked climate control, rear-view camera, backup sensors and ventilated front seats. The top-of-the-line Advance Package includes a collision-mitigation system, adaptive cruise control and power-folding side mirrors.

Under the Hood

The 2012 Acura RL is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 that makes 300 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque, more than enough power to move this comfortable all-wheel drive sedan with easy response. Premium unleaded fuel is recommended. The transmission is a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic that can be manually shifted via steering wheel-mounted paddles; the transmission contributes to the RL's EPA highway fuel-economy rating of 24 mpg.

3.7-liter V6
300 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
271 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/24 mpg

Pricing Notes

The 2012 Acura RL starts at just over $49,000 and a fully-optioned RL with Advance Package will be about $57,000. The RL's starting price is less than that of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class and 6-cylinder BMW 5 Series, similar to a 6-cylinder Audi A6 and more than an Infiniti M37, Cadillac CTS, Volvo S80, Buick LaCrosse or Hyundai Genesis. The Acura RL also faces competition from its sibling, the TL, which is almost the same size as the RL and available with the same engine and all-wheel drive; a comparable version of the TL can be had for about $10,000 less than the RL. Be sure to check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are actually paying for the 2012 Acura RL. The 2012 Acura RL's resale value is predicted to be marginal over the next five years, below those of competitors such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Lexus GS, but above the Cadillac CTS and Volvo S80.

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2012 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."

5 people out of 5 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