Acura 3.5RL

Acura 3.5RL Acura 3.5RL
Short Take Road Test

To understand the RL is to understand Acura. Or to understand the RL is to understand the Acura of the past six years, at least. Rarely does one model reveal so much of a company's thinking, self-perception, and struggles. Yet there it is: the Rosetta stone of Acura.

Once you've deciphered the hieroglyphics as we did during at least five different drives of the RL, the clearest message from the big Acura is of a chronic identity crisis. (John Wayne Bobbitt reinvented himself fewer times, albeit with less grace.)

Introduced as a 1996 model, the 3.5RL followed its TL sibling into Acura's alphanumeric naming convention, sending the well-recognized "Legend" tag to the trash heap. Acura also heaved the lithe styling of the original Legend in favor of a heavy slab-sided, three-box design. It was a copy of its rival, the Lexus LS400, which was a copy of Mercedes' luxury sedans. Acura was following and floundering, trying to capture some of the Lexus magic. But the RL lacks the Lexus's V-8 power, rear-wheel drive, roominess, and remarkably smooth and silent operation.

Acura then resorted to the oldest trick in the auto book, creating a "Special Edition" RL in 1998 that was notable for its two-tone paint job. The next year, Acura tried to sweeten the RL pot with more standard equipment and a slightly sportier suspension. The 2000 model would get even more standard equipment in an effort to stay up with a market that was quickly outpacing the RL.

Which brings us to the 2002 3.5RL and Acura's most recent attempt at applying identity to its flagship. Now Acura describes the staid RL as an "autobahn tourer." In mechanical terms that translates to a stiffer suspension (taken from the European version of the car) and 15 more horsepower and 7 more pound-feet of torque from its 3.5-liter V-6 engine. In marketing terms, these changes are an attempt to bring the RL into the modern Acura fold. The current lineup includes high-power Type-S versions of the CL, TL, and RSX models, and even the base-level TL is a far more sporting machine than in years past.

We're not sure even faithful 3.5RL owners will notice the difference between this 2002 model and previous iterations. A lower-restriction intake manifold and a muffler with a valve that opens when the engine runs above 3500 rpm to reduce back pressure bring a total of 225 horsepower. That's equal to the power of the base 3.2TL and well below the 260 horsepower of the 3.2TL Type-S version, to say nothing of the RL's bevy of mostly V-8-powered competitors that make about 300 horsepower.

Worse, the 3.5-liter V-6 lacks what luxury drivers want most: confident, ample low-end torque. From a stop, the RL accelerates weakly, and indeed its 8.4-second 0-to-60-mph sprint is bested by every competitor in its price class save the Jaguar S-type 3.0. The V-6 makes most of its power high in the rev range. Unfortunately, at about 3500 rpm the engine emits an uncharacteristic amount of noise for a Honda piece.

The engineering culture of Honda might say that a V-6 is perfectly adequate for this size and weight of car. And technically that is correct, as it was when Honda resisted putting a V-6 into the Accord. But the luxury segment is not about adequacy - it's about feel, and it's about excess.

The suspension changes, including stiffer springs and dampers front and rear and thicker solid anti-roll bars in place of hollow ones, are more noticeable. The car no longer wallows or floats uncomfortably over undulations. But "autobahn tourer"? Nah. The new suspension tuning, along with wider, lower-aspect-ratio tires, also makes the ride slightly harsher and noisier. A little sound-deadening material would help here, but the culture of Honda engineering won't allow for the extra weight. At least the new tires give the slow steering a newfound conviction.

The 3.5RL is still the in-betweener of the luxury market, still lost in the mix. Priced at $45,935, including Acura's excellent navigation system, our test car is cheaper, less powerful, and smaller than the Lexus LS430 or the Infiniti Q45 and slightly larger and way more expensive than a Lincoln LS, although even the LS has considerably more interior room. The RL's interior is cramped for tall drivers - unforgivable for a full-size sedan.

Here's the good news: Because of the length of design and development time, the 3.5RL represents the Acura of several years ago. Acura is hard at work on a new RL, to be introduced in two or three years. And the guy in charge of designing this 3.5RL is no longer in charge. For now, though, Acura is stuck with it