2005 Acura RL Test Drives

2005 Acura RL

Despite complaints that it's too cramped, the new RL offers impressive handling and very intelligent design.

From The Driver's Seat

One of the nicest things about the RL's interior is that it's not overblown. Some might argue that in fact it's too subtle, but cars that have very ornate cockpits tend to get wearying to look at over time. Classic is superior to cute.

Also, Acura has done an excellent job of restraining the "Final Frontier" approach to technological baubles. The car is high tech, but only where it actually benefits the driver. For instance, a trio of gauges (including mph, tach, temperature, fuel) are always backlit, but the numbers themselves are painted on clear plastic. The advantage here is that no amount of sunlight can wash out visibility. The appearance is very slick, but the tech is incredibly straightforward and, instead of being over thought, merely elegant.

Such intelligence is evident elsewhere. For instance, unlike BMW's iDrive and Audi's MME systems, Acura doesn't slam you on the skull with a world of geekdom you don't need or want. Say you want to adjust the temperature and climate mode without using the included navigation system? Go ahead! (Although you need to use that system to manually alter the fan speed.) You can also change the radio station, or change to a CD or satellite radio, all without using the navigation screen. Nice.

We also like having buttons on the steering wheel for audio volume, mode, audio presets, and of course, cruise control. There are also voice commands that you can activate by pushing a switch on the steering wheel, as well as a Bluetooth-equipped link for your phone so you can talk wirelessly.

The coolest feature may be the active traffic feature of the navigation system. Using XM Satellite Radio Holdings' technology with your vehicle (and by monitoring accident information and traffic flow, including EMS radio bulletins), the map that shows you your commute can also show you major jam ups along the way. Using this feature on a recent two-hour drive through suburban New York, I had a few instances where I quickly avoided congestion and the attendant headaches that come along with driving in a major urban area. (One caveat: This feature will have a subscriber fee, naturally, and will only be available in 20 major U.S. cities.)

This feedback loop also allows any major faults or warnings to be instantly relayed to Acura so that the fault can be analyzed. If something goes wrong with your RL and you should stop driving your car immediately, a message will appear to let you know. This is either creepy or cool; I can't decide.

If Acura is singing any particularly off-key note with this cockpit, it's probably the bend of wood that stretches across the dash and around the front passenger doors. Yes, it's artistic, but in the otherwise fairly subtle cabin it looks like a ham-fisted nod to American luxury -- Americans like their trees slathered on our dashboards apparently, even if, like BMW, some carmakers are finally realizing that the right plastics and metals can look far more refreshing.

What we can't fault Acura for is how well this car handles, and that's thanks to a tremendously clever innovation with the all-wheel drive system. Yeah, okay, it's called Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive (insert your jokes about the marketing department at Acura here), but there's almost no hyperbole in that phrase, despite how goofy it sounds.

First, the concept: In a turn, most cars want to understeer, that is, steer wider than the actual arc of the turn. To prevent this from happening, especially in hard cornering, the RL's system sends up to 70 percent of the power to the rear wheels, and more power is sent to the outside rear wheel, essentially pushing the car around a corner and in the direction that the steering wheel is turning.

The effect is tremendous; the RL corners with great poise, and the harder you drive it the more astounded you'll be by what it can do. It corners with just as much agility as a BMW 5 series, although that doesn't mean it handles as well. The RL is a more softly sprung car, so it's far more compliant on bumpy or rough roads, and for a long drive, like its E-Class competition, it would be smoother than that 5 series. Unlike the Benz, though, the RL is great fun in corners, even if at the very limit of adhesion the BMW feels more intuitive and capable. The bottom line though is that you get a car that's great for everyday driving and that can also do 99% of what a 530i can. That's a great compromise if you ask us.

One thing that is missing -- no manual gearbox. Yes, there are paddle shifters for the five-speed automatic, but real sports sedans need manual transmissions in our book.

Then again, with standard all-wheel-drive we'd much rather have the Acura in the snow belt; especially when you know that the E-Class 4Matic is no bargain at more than $51,000.