2020 Acura RLX

Acura cars are typical Japanese luxury cars, much like Infiniti and Lexus. You get a lot of space and practicality, but not much excitement. Luxury is usually German car rivaling, but the price tags are usually on the lower side. So, would the Acura RLX make a great deal for someone wanting to upgrade to a higher state of luxury? Or should you look elsewhere, maybe even go higher still?

The 2020 Acura RLX comes in two variants, just like the 2018 variant. There's the base RLX, known as the "Technology Package", and a hybrid variant, known as the "Advance Package". The Hybrid variant has been reviewed separately (check that out if you will) and only the Base variant will be discussed here.

Trim	Technology Package
MSRP	$54,900
Key Features	Twin Screen Infotainment display
	Acura Navigation System
	AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Rerouting system
	Voice recognition
	Jewel eyed LED Headlamps
	LED Taillights
	14 speaker audio system
	Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio
	USB Audio Interface
	7-inch Driver Information Interface (DII)

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The technology package is a singular variant, with no trims and options, and that is quite a nice car. If you're thinking of buying this car, go ahead and buy it already!

It's a solid engine with decent acceleration, but the real star of the RLX's driving experience is in the ride, which is expertly dampened and plenty quiet. -The Car Connection

Engine and Transmission

The 2020 model offers the same engine as the 2018 Acura RLX. The 3.5 Liter naturally aspirated V6 isn't a very exciting engine, even though it is quite a powerful unit, churning out 310 horsepower. Even with over 300 horses under the hood, the car doesn't have a sporty character, as reflected by the front-wheel-drive setup.

The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, which is a few gears too much for comfort. This isn't a dual-clutch gearbox, but you do get paddle shifters behind the wheels. Still, driving around in auto-mode is much more preferable as 10-gears a little too many to operate.

Models	Acura RLX P-AWS sedan	Lexus GS 300 sedan	Jaguar XF 25t Premium Sedan	Infiniti Q70 3.7LUXE sedan
MSRP	$55,895	$47,635	$50,960	$51,295
Engine	3.5L V6 Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4	2.0L i4	3.7L V6
Transmission	10 Speed Automatic	8 Speed Automatic	8 Speed Automatic	7 Speed Automatic
Horsepower	310 hp @ 6500rpm	241 hp@ 5800rpm	247 hp@ 5500rpm	330 hp@ 7000rpm
Torque	272 ft-lbs. @ 4500rpm	258 ft-lbs.@ 1650 rpm	269 ft-lbs.@ 1200rpm	270 ft-lbs.@ 5200rpm

Lexus GS series of sedans give a tough competition to the Acura RLX while undercutting the price a significant margin as well. The Jaguar is less pricey than the Acura too, but it both the Lexus and Jag are available with a smaller base engine, 2-liter as opposed to the 3.5-liter base engine on the Acura. Infiniti Q70 does get a similar engine spec as the RLX though and still saves a couple of thousand bucks on the price.

Acceleration

The 2020 RLX uses its 310 horsepower to a good effect. While the Acura sedan doesn't claim to be a performance-centric car, it isn't a slouch either. 0-60 MPH comes up in 5.6 seconds, while the quarter-mile run takes about 14.3 seconds. Behind the wheel, you can clearly feel the car's weight hindering its performance.

Models	Acura RLX P-AWS sedan	Lexus GS 300 sedan	Jaguar XF 25t Premium Sedan	Infiniti Q70 3.7LUXE sedan
0-60 MPH	5.6 sec	7 sec	5 sec	5.6 sec
Quarter mile	14.3 sec	15.1 sec	13.5 sec	14.2 sec
Engine	3.5L V6 Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4	2.0L i4	3.7L V6
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	N/A	N/A	6.3	8.4

Ride and Handling

The RLX is a luxury sedan, and luxury sedans usually favor ride quality over handling prowess. On top of that, Acura cars are particularly known for a supple ride, which is quite lovely. If you plan to use this car primarily for ferrying your family around, then this is the perfect tool for the job. The driver though won't love the car as much as the passengers. The handling isn't bad, but cornering abilities are certainly limited in this car. The weight, along with the soft suspension, gives this car a considerable amount of body roll.

Braking

Just like any other modern car, you get a disc brake setup all four wheels in this car. The brake discs have a substantial diameter, at 12.3 and 12.2. Under a panic braking situation, the car holds up quite well.

Model	Acura RLX P-AWS sedan	Lexus GS 300 sedan	Jaguar XF 25t Premium Sedan	Infiniti Q70 3.7LUXE sedan
Brake Front (in.)	12.3	N/A	12.8	12.6
Brake Rear (in.)	12.2	N/A	12.8	12.1
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3977	3805	3590	3876
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	174	170	167

In the 2020 Acura RLX sedan, the economy takes the spacious backseat. The large V6 motor is a thirsty unit and gulps down a gallon for every 20 miles of city riding. Out on the highway, this figure increases up to 29. This brings the combined fuel economy figure to 23 MPG, behind its rivals such as the Jaguar XF and Lexus GS 300.

Model	Acura RLX P-AWS sedan	Lexus GS 300 sedan	Jaguar XF 25t Premium Sedan	Infiniti Q70 3.7LUXE sedan
MPG (city)	20	22	25	18
MPG (highway)	29	32	34	25
MPG (combined)	23	26	28	21
Range (miles) (city/highway)	370/537	17.4	19.5	20.0
Tank Capacity (gal)	18.5	383/557	488/663	360/500

The craftsmanship and selection of materials inside the 2018 RLX feel top-notch, but the overall effect falls a little flat due to styling that some critics deem unremarkable. A fair amount of road noise also makes its way into the cabin. -Cars.usnews

Seating and Comfort

The RLX is a proper luxury car on the inside, and its interiors are extremely premium. The space in the front seats is very generous, which is primarily due to the generous exterior dimensions. has a very comfortable and spacious interior. The seats are soft but supportive and feel more like a couch than a car seat.

Model	Acura RLX P-AWS sedan	Lexus GS 300 sedan	Jaguar XF 25t Premium Sedan	Infiniti Q70 3.7LUXE sedan
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.6/59.6/42.3	38.0/57.3/42.3	37.5/NA/NA	39.1/58.4/44.4
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.9/57.0/38.8	37.8/55.7/36.8	38.2/NA/NA	37.7/56.7/36.2

The rear seats are also quite spacious, with Mercedes rivaling space, although it isn't as great as the front space. Still, if you prefer a chauffeur-driven ride, this car makes a great choice, owing to its space and comfort.

Infotainment System

Standard Infotainment features in the 2020 RLX get a two-display infotainment setup, one touchscreen and the other a simple unit. The system includes the following features:

• Acura Navigation system and real-time traffic
• USB port
• a six-speaker audio system
• Siri Eyes Free
• 14 speaker audio system
• Steering wheel mounted controls

Even with such advanced features, the system feels a little dated, primarily because it misses out on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Cargo Space

At 14.9 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk, the RLX saloon doesn't have the largest trunk around. The seats don't fold down, which is disappointing, but there is still a lot of usable space in this car, enough for your daily family needs, such as carrying luggage.

Model	Acura RLX P-AWS sedan	Lexus GS 300 sedan	Jaguar XF 25t Premium Sedan	Infiniti Q70 3.7LUXE sedan
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	14.9	14.3	17.8	14.9

Nobody notices this car, which now looks like a cross between a new Acura TLX and a Honda Accord from a few years ago. -Car and Driver

Design and Dimensions

The RLX is a full-size sedan and thus has considerable dimensions. It is larger than, let's say, a Honda Accord or a Toyota Camry. Still, it isn't as high as it is long, and if you look at it from a distance, you'd probably think its quite a low car. The wheelbase isn't too big either, which helps keep the turning circle in check. The weight is just under 2 tons, a lot for a sedan, and you feel the weight under cornering and braking.

Model	Acura RLX P-AWS sedan	Lexus GS 300 sedan	Jaguar XF 25t Premium Sedan	Infiniti Q70 3.7LUXE sedan
Curb weight (lbs.)	3977	3805	3590	3876
Length(in)	198.1	192.1	195.0	196.1
Width(in)	74.4	72.4	78.2	72.6
Height(in)	57.7	57.3	57.4	59.1
Ground clearance (in)	4.5	5.1	4.1	6.0
Wheelbase (in)	112.2	112.2	116.5	114.2
Track width (in) F/R	64.3/64.2	62/62.6	61.4/61.8	62/61.6

The 2020 Acura RLX Sport is quite a distinct looking car, but to call it handsome would be a bit of a stretch. It doesn't necessarily mean it's not a good-looking car, as looks are extremely subjective. The front end of the car barely avoids a fashion disaster, with shapely headlamps and spiderweb style front grille. The rear tries hard to be sporty but isn't much. The proportions are good though, and in the side profile, the car looks quite handsome. The dual-quad tailpipes are the sportiest design detail on this otherwise boring looking car.

The list of standard safety features in the 2020 RLX hybrid sedan includes the following:

• Vehicle Stability Assist Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Blind Spot Information System Blind Spot Sensor
• Collision Mitigation Braking System Forward Collision and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor Rear Collision
• Lane Keeping Assist System Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist System Lane Departure Warning
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Back-Up Camera

Acura RLX vs Jaguar XF

The Jaguar sedan holds the privilege of being one of the most beautiful cars in the world. Its British charm starts working even before you enter the cabin, and once you do, your visual senses will be overwhelmed by the sheer beauty. The seats are lovely, so is the dash. The transmission is operated by a dial instead of a level, and it hides in the center console when you turn the car off. These are the touches that elevate the car well above the simple and practical RLX sedan.

Acura RLX vs Infiniti Q70

Infiniti is a luxury brand by the Japanese auto giant Nissan, much like the relationship between Acura and Honda. Just like Acura, Infiniti offers a lot of equipment, is very practical, and packs a lot of luxury in as well. Both of these get a large V6 engine with upwards of 300 horses pulling the reigns. The Infiniti inches slightly ahead due to its lower price tag, but you can choose any one of these cars and be extremely satisfied.

Acura RLX is very comfy and spacious, with a lot of standard features onboard. The space inside is great for passengers, even in the back. The styling is a bit on the boring side, both on the inside and outside of the car. The large engine does offer a lot of torque to lug you and your family around, although the car isn't particularly fast. If you aren't looking for a flashy performance car, but rather a simpler car with a simpler purpose, this Acura will suit you perfectly.