2020 Acura RLX

Starting at a price of MSRP of $54,900, it is pitched as a luxury offering. It seems very tough competition in the form of the Volvo S90, Lexus GS 350 as well as the Lincoln Continental. It is hence very important that Acura remains competitive and fresh because its rivals come across as excellent value propositions. Let us see how it performs in the competition.

The RLX comes as a single trim car, with the technology package and advanced package that makes it a fully loaded trim. The standard trim is priced at $54,900. It comes with a lot of features as a standard, be it safety or convenience features. These include LED headlamps, a twin-screen infotainment display, a 14-speaker audio system, USB and Bluetooth integration, and fancy features such as voice recognition and the like. It is very well equipped and convenient to use.

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There is not much calculation that you have to do while choosing the trim, rather you can’t as there is only one on offer. In this trim, most of the features and gadgets you need to play with are already a standard fitting, all we can say is for the price, there is a lot on offer. There is also a hybrid powertrain on offer, but that is reviewed as a separate car and hence beyond the scope of this in-depth review. The optional packages offered are called the Advanced Package and the Technology Package.

The engine inside the car is a 3.5-liter V6 engine and is the only engine option available; a hybrid engine is available which is reviewed separately. The V6 has a power output of 310 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired to a ten-speed automatic transmission which is 22 pounds lighter than the available six-speed and this transmission also helps to give the engine better performance. 

The transmission has a unique feature which is a four gear direct downshift, which helps it to perform overtaking maneuvers with ease. The 3.5-liter engine is from an i-Vtec unit, just like we see in a lot of other Acura cars, and Honda cars as well. The engine is powerful, and being naturally aspirated, it has a good sound to it while it is also quite efficient. It has a standard FWD drivetrain, and there is no optional AWD available. With a 0-60 time of six seconds, and 155 MPH the engine is a decent performer, and a single-engine and drivetrain option makes the RLX limited in the segment. 

The Volvo S90 has the most amount of torque on offer as well as power, but the FWD Acura is the fastest to 60 MPH and also has better top speed than Lexus and Volvo. It also matches the top speed of the Continental. The Lincoln and the Acura come with front-wheel drive while the Volvo has an all-wheel-drive system and the Lexus comes with rear-wheel-drive. In terms of straight-line performance, the Acura will not attract complaints from anyone. 

How well does the 2020 Acura RLX handle?

While an AWD is reserved for the hybrid version, the gas version is equipped with the Acura P-AWS system or the Precision All-wheel steering. This system provides independent toe angle control of the rear wheels which improves the agility, stability, and responsiveness of the car. This system also makes the car more maneuverable for its size. At low speed, the steering feels light making parking easy and at higher speeds, it becomes slightly heavy and more predictable which offers better control at highway speeds. 

The driving dynamics are acceptable as it is not as sporty or exciting to drive, but is not dull either. It feels quite balanced and composed. Ride quality, however, is compromised a bit as at high speed or on rough roads, the bumps creep in making the ride jittery, but on smoother surfaces and modest speed, the car feels comfortable. The RLX is a good overall package that lacks the finishing touch which would make it just an excellent car. The steering feel is not great and hence needs some improvement.

2020 Acura RLX Braking Performance

The brakes on the Acura are quite refined and offer good stopping power. Just like every other car in the segment, it comes with disc brakes all around with added features like ABS and EBD that further help to provide strong and hassle-free braking in emergencies. It has 12.3-inch rotors up front and 12.2-inch rotors at the rear. These brakes have nothing special about them, but perform well for the car and offer good braking power. The pedal also feels responsive and there is no play in the pedal. 

The Volvo S90 is heavier than the Japanese rivals and also has smaller brakes in the rear, it still takes the least distance to come to a halt which is an example of excellent engineering. The stopping distance of the Continental is not yet known, and among the available distances, Acura takes the longest to come to a halt. The Lexus is the lightest car of the bunch and has decent braking as well.

The V6 engine lacks any turbocharging or any sort of assistance and is a naturally aspirated motor, but it still has decent MPG figures on offer. If you desire exceptional MPG figures, there is always the hybrid engine waiting for you but even the standard MPG figures are quite respectable. EPA estimates that the RLX will return 20, 29, and 23 MPG for city, highway, and combined cycles respectively. Equipped with an 18.5-gallon fuel tank, the car will allow for a range of 425 miles in mixed driving conditions. 

The Volvo is slightly more fuel-efficient than the Acura but with the smallest fuel tank, and hence it fails to match the range of the others. The Acura with the biggest tank and respectable MPG figures is the best choice in terms of fuel economy in the segment. Its range of 537 miles on the highway is unmatched by any of its competitors. The Lincoln has the worst figures in the category while the Lexus has very similar numbers in terms of fuel efficiency.

All the basic things that you expect from a mid-size luxury sedan can be found in the interior of the RLX. From better utilization of space, comfortable seats, luxurious materials all around, and all sorts of creature comforts and gadgets to play with, you are presented with an amazing platter in the RLX. What it lacks is the refined quality and the fact that the design hasn’t aged well. The overall interior design is not exciting or appealing and you will get bored of it after a while. 

Space, however, is not an issue in the RLX; it comes with enough space upfront and at the rear, and 5 people can be seated comfortably inside for long journeys. There are various seats and steering adjustments that allow for the driver to find the best driving position and no matter where you are seated in the cabin, you will be comfortable. A small hump in the rear takes up a little bit of foot space but it does make the occupants uncomfortable. One thing that gives the car an edge over the others, is the fact that it comes loaded with features, and by features, we mean a lot of features. 

The Lincoln is the most spacious car in the lot, and while the trunk space is not known, it cannot be compared in those terms. With the available information, we can see that Acura has the biggest trunk. The Lexus has the least legroom at the rear. Upfront, all the cars are almost identical in terms of interior space. They are all pretty comfortable and spacious. Some standout features include:

• Tri-zone automatic climate control with humidity control
• Power adjustable front seats
• Heated front seats
• Power lumbar support
• Ambient interior lighting
• Keyless access

What’s there to keep you entertained?

One thing that is unique about the infotainment system of the RLX is that it uses not one, but two screens, which is something to be questioned as it makes no difference and further makes using the infotainment system quite fussy. The system consists of an eight-inch screen on top, and a seven-inch screen below, but both perform different functions, and getting the hang of both will take quite a while. Another thing worth noting is the fact that smartphone integration in the form of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay remains absent till now. The system itself is not as responsive and the graphics are not as quick as well. The sound inside the cabin comes from a 14-speaker Acura/ELS premium audio sound system. Other available features with the system include:

• USB audio ports
• SiriusXM Satellite radio
• Auxiliary port
• 14-speaker Acura premium sound system
• Pandora
• Aha
• AcuraLink
• Rearview camera
• Song by Voice

Just like every other factor about the car, the exterior remains as neutral as ever. It is not boring or ugly, but is not very exciting or indulging as well which makes the car blend in with the city traffic, while usually cars like these are supposed to stand out. The 2018 model brought about a change in the design with the new grille and this makes the car look handsome. Add to that the new Jewel Eye lights which come together to make the car a looker. 

The Continental is the heaviest car, and Lexus is the lightest. The better interior space of the Lincoln can also be explained by the fact that it is the longest car whereas Volvo has the longest wheelbase. The Acura has the least ground clearance which would make its bottom prone to hitting big bumps and potholes. All are pretty decent in terms of overall dimensions. Some distinct exterior features that come with the car include :

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• New front grille
• Power Moonroof
• Jewel's eye LED headlights
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Acoustic windshield
• Acoustic front/rear side glass

Acura looks after the safety of their customers, this can be seen in the safety ratings and scores that the car has gained over time. The NHTSA gave the car a full five out of five-star rating just like the previous model year, and in most of the tests conducted by IIHS, it managed to score an overall rating of ‘Good’. It missed out on the title of ‘Top Safety Pick’ for the 2020 model. Acura equips the RLX with a lot of safety and driver assistance features. Standard features like airbags, ABS, EBD, traction control, and stability control are features that are available in almost every other car of the day, and the fact that it comes with many advanced safety features and driver aids as standard bring about peace of mind for the driver as well as the occupants. The long list of safety features include features like:

• Forward collision warning
• Lane departure warning
• Rear parking sensors
• Rear-view camera
• AcuraWatch
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Traffic-jam assist
• Head-up warning
• Lane keep assist
• Motion adaptive steering
• Adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow

2020 Acura RLX vs Volvo S90 T6 Momentum

The Volvo S90 is quite a good choice in the segment. It is striking to look at from the outside and has an elegant interior. It is also efficient and offers a lot of creature comforts. The Acura however will be able to survive the test of time for a longer time than the Volvo as reliability is a strong point for the Acura. The Swedish elegance that the Volvo embodies is a much bigger attraction for us however.

2020 Acura RLX vs Lexus GS 350

The Lexus GS 350 looks better and both the Japanese cars are equally reliable and what makes the Lexus have an edge over the Acura is the standard available RWD system and the better-looking exterior of the Lexus. Also the fact that it comes at a less expensive price tag than the Acura is a very attractive point. The Lexus is also equally reliable. 

2020 Acura RLX vs Lincoln Continental

The American rival in the segment might be equal in terms of power and performance but it offers slightly better space inside. In fact, this is the only thing that is good about the Lincoln Continental. Apart from that, everything in the Acura is way better than what you will find in the Continental. There is not much competition between the two.

Acura is the luxury division of Honda, which means reliability and safety can be some of your concerns, and so are fuel efficiency and refinement. The Acura manages to deliver on these aspects but for the 2020 Acura RLX, these are the only points that stand strong with the car. A design that is aged now, and has not aged well for that matter gives it a low priority among buyers. It has a price that is affordable for the segment, but the overall feeling that the car gives is still mediocre, and the sales figures and not even great. This makes the RLX a choice that might come to your mind after a lot of other available options in the segment.