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.

Should You Buy This Car?

Among the complaints of the reader who jotted off his missive was that the RL has wretched trunk space. On this score, he's right. All of the aforementioned competition gets at least a few more cubic feet of volume, and that can be the difference between carrying four sets of golf clubs (his concern) and not being able to.

What's interesting is that two "near-luxury" cars not mentioned in this discussion that, like the German trio from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes, are on the performance-not-pillow end of the spectrum are both roomier inside than the Acura and have much lower sticker prices. The Chrysler 300 has comparable or better leg, shoulder, hip, and head room than the RL in the front quarters, and backseaters get four full inches more legroom. Whoa!

And the 300's trunk holds nearly three cubic feet more than that of the Acura. The Cadillac CTS, a wonderful handling car -- particularly the amped-up CTS-V -- has comparable or better space inside on all key factors, including an inch more legroom in back. Unfortunately the CTS has a trunk as cramped as that of the Acura. Still, both the CTS and the 300 come fully loaded for about $15,000 less than the price of the RL. Hey, you want a bigger interior, great handling, and in the case of the 300, Hemi V-8 acceleration? Two words: Buy American.

Or maybe you want Honda reliability and a few grumbling buddies the next time you go golfing? Hmmm.

You could also wait until spring. The new, 2006 M35/M45 Infiniti sedans are coming, promise more head and legroom up front, and an inch more legroom in back than the Acura. You can also choose an all-wheel-drive V-6 model or a stomping, 335hp V-8 edition. The shorthand: If you are in the market for a $40,000 to $50,000 luxury sedan, your life, and your choices are only going to get better, and whether it's this splendidly put-together Acura or another car, the toys just keep getting more impressive.