2009 Acura RL Quality Review

The 2009 Acura RL meets with general approval in delivering luxury car qualities of comfort and quality.

“As a flagship model, the 2009 Acura RL's interior disappoints as much as it impresses,” says Kelley Blue Book. “Kudos go out for spacious accommodations, the Technology Package's triple-setting heated and cooled front seats, padding in all the right places, and a cabin that's both quiet and easy to enter and exit.”

ConsumerGuide says, “Most adults will find sufficient headroom and legroom. Some shorter drivers may feel a bit 'buried,' but ample seat adjustments and a standard tilt and telescopic steering wheel help compensate.” Edmunds comments on the ease of entering and exiting the RL due to its wide door openings and “for the driver, 10-way power-adjustable seats make finding just the right position easy.” Kelley Blue Book isn't as impressed with the RL's front accommodations: “We were less enamored by the driver seat's lack of lower support during long drives, [and] perforated leather upholstery that felt like it had been borrowed from a Honda.”

The reviewer at MotherProof says the backseat of the RL “is roomier than last year’s and fit three kids in booster seats with no problem.” They add, “There’s a power sunshade on the rear window and manual, retractable sunshades in the rear doors.” ConsumerGuide asserts the rear of the RL has “enough headroom for all but the very tall. There's fine knee space behind all but the tallest front occupants, though foot space is limited.”

Automobile Magazine says the RL's interior is very well appointed, comfortable, and well crafted, but "the HMI (human-machine interface) factors definitely need a re-think. Despite the plethora of buttons, knobs, and displays, none of the functions - ranging from adjusting the temperature to changing a radio station - strike me as intuitive.” Edmunds notes, “At first, all the buttons on the center stack can be confusing since there are just so many. Still, most buttons are nicely labeled, plus the size and shape vary depending on the function.” ConsumerGuide Automotive also remarks on the center console controls, pointing out, “Centered on the console is a tilting and rotating knob that acts as the primary control for the navigation system; mastering its use requires time and patience.”

According to MotherProof, “The interior is quiet, with some noticeable engine noise but very little noise from the road.” Car and Driver comments, “A new interior noise-canceling system really does suck up the road rumble.” And Edmunds remarks, “Around town and on the highway, the cabin remains as hushed as a public library on a Friday night.”

The RL provides ample trunk space but fails to deliver interior storage. “Cabin storage is unexceptional,” observes ConsumerGuide. Also commenting on the RL's quality of build, ConsumerGuide says the RL's cabin is "an exercise in understated luxury. Most surfaces are padded or richly textured, and assembled quality is top notch. Our testers suffer from a few unseemly squeaks from the console area, however.”