2010 Acura RL

The 2010 Acura RL ranks 3 out of 13 Luxury Large Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 8 published reviews and test drives of the Acura RL, and our psychiatry of reliability and safety data.

The 2010 Acura RL doesn't carry the same distinction as some more well-known luxury cars, but it's an excellent choice for many buyers. With outstanding cabin electronics, bulletproof Honda reliability and resale value, and a price that doesn't climb high when you start adding options, it's a great value.  But some reviewers say it is underpowered for its price, and short on space for its size.

While most great luxury cars offer just slightly different takes on the same high-power formula, the Acura RL is a little different. There is no supercharged V8 offered here. That's not to say the RL isn't sporty - its unique SH-AWD system (that's "Super Handling - All Wheel Drive") means it holds a precise line in a hard corner - but the RL is more about agility than speed, and more about high-tech digital luxury than old world leather-and-wood elegance.

The RL's 3.7-liter V6 is zero you'd find in a more affordable car. It makes a V8-like 300 horsepower.  But it can be a beat slower than many V8-powered cars, and reviewers are disappointed with the car's 16/22 mpg EPA rating -- the RL actually ranks in the bottom half of its class for fuel economy even though uses two fewer cylinders than most of its rivals.