Filed under:
Sedan,
Acura,
First Drives,
Luxury
Good. But Good Enough?
Spoiler alert: The
2014 Acura RLX is a good car. But that shouldn't come as a surprise. Despite the fact that
Acura is subject to a lot of criticism for things like its odd positioning in the automotive landscape, questionable styling choices in recent years, and the fact that, more or less, its products feel like lux'd-up Hondas rather than something truly unique, the cars have always been inherently good - decent to drive, nice to sit in and reliable to own. That's what happens when you ride that sort of "affordable luxury" line.
Because Acura's sedans don't really fit into any one definable segment, the brand hopes it can draw customers from a broader range who aren't necessarily dedicated to a certain marque. And while there's certainly rhyme to that reason on the more entry-level end of the spectrum, that proposition makes less sense as you move toward higher price points. (Have a gander at the
Hyundai Equus, if you will.) On the other hand, Acura pulled data from a 2012 Strategic Vision survey that showed the number one purchase decision for luxury buyers last year was value for the money, with manufacturer reputation coming in at a close second.
Which brings us to the 2014 RLX, a flagship that will compete in the mid/high luxury segment, battling cars like the
BMW 5 Series and
Audi A6, but, according to Acura, reaches up into
7 Series and
A8 territory, as well.
"This is the best car Acura has ever produced," said Michael Accavitti, the automaker's vice president of national marketing operations. And he may be right. But is it truly good enough to be a more renowned player in this higher-end segment than the outgoing
RL was? (That shouldn't be too hard, given the fact that the RL was the
worst-selling car of 2011.) We hit the roads around Napa Valley to find out.
Continue reading 2014 Acura RLX
2014 Acura RLX originally appeared on
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First Drive: 2014 Acura RLX
