AskMen.com’s review of the 2009 Acura RL fair as far as we can tell. Typical to AskMen.com form, they summarize their review with a number between 1 – 100 and a variant of some symbol we all learned in 7th grade biology class. There are a total of 3 scoring categories; performance, design and overall.

While the RL is the flagship for Acura, it’s also the most outdated vehicle in the 5 car line up. It is now smaller in stature and provides less horsepower than its “lower-level” 2009 TL sibling. However, the RL still packs enough new features and technology to keep it fresh. And what’s more, it proves that Acura can take a clean-sheet design and build a proper luxury car.

In the performance category, AskMen.com gave the RL a 75. According to Justin Kaehler, “Pressing the “go” pedal results in a lazy yet quick shove of acceleration. The car feels more alert should the gear selector find its way into sport mode, but the transmission has obviously been tuned more for smoothness than speed.”

In the design category, AskMen.com gave the 2009 RL a 55. As we mentioned earlier, the RL is the oldest car in Acura’s line up, so its design is a bit dated. Though it was slightly refreshed this year with the new Acura standard issue grill and sweeping taillights, the RL blends in to a sea of nondescript sedans.

AskMen.com concluded the review of the 2009 Acura RL by saying, “It may not have devastatingly good looks or track-worthy performance, but the RL is one of the nicer sedans we’ve ever been in.”

[Source: AskMen.com]

Perhaps the most anticipated Consumer Reports issue each year is the one that comes out every April and outlines the best and worst, new and used cars.  We’re happy to report that Acura had several positive mentions.

New car recommendations are defined by Consumer Reports “Bucks per bang” scoring system. Within categories, the bucks per bang is determined by dividing each vehicle’s five-year owner cost by its overall road-test score. All listed models have above average reliability Ratings.

• Upscale Cars – Acura TL was third on the list with a $505 bucks per bang
• Luxury Cars – Acura RL was third on the list with a $725 bucks per bang
• Luxury SUVs – Acura RDX was second on the list with $645 bucks per bang and the Acura MDX was fourth on the list with $670 bucks per bang.

According to Consumer Reports, “On average, Honda continues to make better all-around vehicles than any other automaker. The reliability of all Honda and Acura models is still the best of any automaker, although Toyota follows closely behind. Last year, Honda was the only automaker that had excellent reliability overall; this year it has dropped slightly.”

In the used car category, Consumer Reports focused on model years 1999 – 2008 and of course separated their recommendations into categories. Practically every category included a recommendation for Acura:

• Upscale Cars – Acura TL and Acura TSX
• Luxury Cars – Acura RL
• Sports & Sporty Cars – Acura RSX and Acura Integra
• Midsized and Large SUVs – Acura MDX

Consumer Reports also reported on several categories that fell under the heading of “The best used cars for under $20,000”. As expected, Acura had a lot of representation here.

• $4,000 – $6,000 – Acura CL ’99; Integra ’99-00; TL ‘99-00
• $6,000 – $8,000 – Acura CL ’01-02; Integra ’01; RL ’99-00; RSX ’02; TL ‘01
• $8,000 – $10,000 – Acura CL ’03; MDX ’01; RL ’02; RSX ’03; TL ‘02-03
• $10,000 – $12,000 – Acura MDX ’02-03; RSX ‘04
• $12,000 – $14,000 – Acura MDX ’04; RL ’04; RSX ‘05
• $14,000 – $16,000 – Acura TL ’04; TSX ‘04-05
• $16,000 – $18,000 – Acura MDX ’05; RSX ’06; TL ’05; TSX ‘06
• $18,000 – $20,000 – Acura MDX ’06; RL ’05; TSX ‘07

For full insight, details and ratings, we encourage you to subscribe to Consumer Reports to ensure you make the best purchasing decision possible for your next car.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

In all, the Automobile Mag sixsome of reviewers (Jennifer Misaros, Evan McCausland, Rusty Blackwell, David Zenlea, Joe DeMatio, Phil Floraday) provided a lengthy and fair assessment of the 2009 Acura RL SH-AWD.

To sum it up everybody was pleased with the SH-AWD system as most people are. Having the ability to test it on dry asphalt as well as snow-cover roads, Acura’s all wheel drive system again reminded them why it so boastfully earns the moniker of “super handling”.

Joe DeMatio commented “Price complaints aside, the RL has a spectacular all-wheel-drive system. I had a blast drifting around corners last night on the snowy roads, and there was a lot of power going to the rear wheels. The chassis still isn’t as brilliant as a BMW, but an all-wheel-drive 5-series would be a lot more money with a comparable engine.”

The exterior styling, sans Acura’s new power plenum grille, didn’t offend anyone, however, it didn’t excite anyone either. Unlike the RL’s TL sibling, the RL truly blends in with all of the other blandly styled sedans on the road. Evan McCausland summed it p by saying, “I’m not the biggest fan of Acura’s latest design DNA, but the RL’s exterior is the least offensive to my tastes. Then again, as Phil mentioned, it’s also a bit generic. Remove the ungainly proboscis, and it’s there’s little that identifies the car as being an Acura.”

Jump over to Automobile Mag to read the review in detail. It’s a very fair assessment of the 2009 Acura TL SH-AWD

[Source: Automobile Mag]

[Photography by Evan McCausland]