The grille and headlights sweep back smoothly into the hood and fenders with none of the bulging light clusters like on the new Accord and other recent models. The bodywork is devoid of any current styling cliches like clear lens taillights, fender vents or “Bangelized” flame surfacing. The roof-line curves cleanly from the front fenders to the rear, and there are no odd cut-lines for the trunk lid like you would find on recent cars from Munich. It’s just a handsome car that will probably look as good a decade from now as it did on introduction. It may not grab eyes like the new 2008 CadillacCTS, but it won’t embarrass you either.
PETA supporters need not apply to the RL club. The inside of the RL is upholstered in marvelously soft cream-colored animal hides. Even on this example that arrived with only a few hundred miles on the clock, the leather looked new but felt like a well worn glove. Like the Accord, the front seats coddle their occupants while providing just the right amount of support in the right places. When we drove the RL at the track, the seats never felt confining and always kept us positioned directly in front of the wheel. That’s important, because this car is capable of some impressive cornering feats on the track thanks to it’s special all-wheel-drive system.
After a day of thrashing the Acura RL at the track and then a week of driving on the freeway, city and back roads, we can say that the Acura RL is probably the most under-appreciated luxury sport sedan on the road.
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