2009 Acura RL Base 0-60 Times, Top Speed, Specs, Quarter Mile, and Wallpapers

The 2009 Acura RL Base is a All-wheel drive Sedan. It can accommodate up to 5 passengers. It has 4 Doors and is powered by a 3.7L V6 SOHC 24-valve engine which outputs 300 hp @ 6300 rpm and is paired with 5-speed automatic transmission with manual mode gearbox. The 2009 Acura RL Base has cargo capacity of 371 Liters and the vehicle weighs 1860 kg. In terms of ride assists, the 2009 Acura RL Base has stability control and traction control in addition to anti-lock brake system (ABS). The vehicle has an optional engine as well It offers and Rear view camera. Safety features also include Driver-side front airbag and Passenger-side front airbag. The front suspension is Independent front suspension while the rear suspension is Independent rear suspension. The car also features a Yes It has 18'' alloy wheels as standard. Electronic features include Cruise Control. For convenience, the car has Power windows and Power door locks. There is also a remote keyless entry feature. Moreover, the car has. The steering wheel has audio control buttons. In terms of performance, the car has 328 N.m of torque and a top speed of 246 km/h. The 2009 Acura RL Base accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and hits quarter mile at 13.2 seconds. Fuel consumption is 13.1 L/100km in the city and 9 L/100km in the highway. The car price starts at $ 63,900

2009 Acura RL Used Price Estimates

Though lacking in prestige and personality, the 2009 Acura RL is still luxurious and technology-packed. It's a smart choice for value-conscious luxury sedan shoppers.

Almost two decades ago, a golden-mulleted Andre Agassi (he wasn't always bald, you know) used his bad-boy tennis image to hawk Canon EOS Rebel cameras. "Image is everything," a smug Mr. Agassi said. This is a lesson Acura's executives should have learned, for around the same time, they decided to rename their flagship sedan from Legend to RL and (unknowingly) send it down a path of increasing anonymity.

While image actually has little to do with a tennis star's skills, it does mean a great deal for the average luxury sedan buyer. The first-generation Acura RL was competent but bland to look at and even less exciting to drive. The second-generation RL that came out for 2005 was a step in the right direction, thanks to a more sporting personality. But even with a trick all-wheel-drive system and wealth of high-tech features, it was still seen more as a dour Pete Sampras than a mullet-man Agassi.

For 2009, Acura is trying again with a heavily revised version of the RL. On the docket is freshened styling, including completely new front and rear ends, a more powerful engine, revised suspension tuning, a quicker-responding AWD system and new features such as traffic rerouting for the navigation system, a USB port for the excellent Bose audio system, improved voice recognition capability and active front head restraints.

The new styling, which Acura says is meant to give the car a more aggressive look, hasn't been much of a hit with our staff. But if you can get past the bagel-slicer grille and bustle-back trunk lid, the new RL has a lot to offer. The new, larger (3.7-liter vs. 3.5-liter) V6 now hits the 300-horsepower mark, and it comes matched to a quicker-responding five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control, the latter done via steering-wheel-mounted paddles. Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) system, which enhances handling by sending more power to the outside rear wheel to push the car around a turn, has also been modified for quicker reflexes. There's also a slightly freshened cabin, firmer suspension tuning and bigger tires (18-inch versus the previous 17-inchers).

All told, the 2009 Acura RL continues to be a very smart choice for luxury sport sedan consumers focused on value. We're fond of it, especially since similarly equipped competitors from Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz can cost upwards of $ 10,000 more than the Acura. But even with this year's changes, the RL still lags behind much of the competition in terms of prestige. A V8 engine isn't available, and this Acura is going to have a hard time displacing something like a 550i when it comes time to valet. Image isn't actually everything, but for many buyers, it certainly comes close.

The 2009 Acura RL is a midsize luxury sedan available in three trim levels: RL, RL Technology Package and the eloquently named RL Technology Package with CMBS. The base RL comes very well stocked, with 18-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, 10-way power and heated front seats with driver memory settings, leather upholstery, a sunroof, a keyless ignition, Bluetooth connectivity, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound system with a six-disc CD/DVD-audio changer, satellite radio and both a USB port and an auxiliary audio jack.

The Technology Package adds adaptive headlights, a rearview camera, a GPS-linked and solar-sensing climate-control system, AcuraLink real-time weather reporting, a navigation system (with real-time traffic and traffic rerouting capabilities), ventilated front seats and voice-command functionality for climate, audio and navigation functions. The CMBS package adds adaptive cruise control, real wood instrument-panel trim and Acura's Collision Mitigation Braking System technology (hence its name).

The sole engine available in the RL is a 3.7-liter V6 that produces 300 hp and 271 pound-feet of torque. This allows a 0-60 time in the 6-second range, just above par for six-cylinder large luxury sedans. A five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control sends power to the SH-AWD system. That system has the ability to send varying degrees of torque to each individual wheel to improve handling and wet-weather traction. In terms of fuel economy, the RL has an EPA rating of 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined, which is a little below average for the V6-powered luxury sedan segment.

Standard safety features include antilock disc brakes with brake assist, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, active front head restraints and a stability control system. The optional CMBS can help prevent or minimize a frontal accident by providing warnings to the driver or actually applying emergency braking if a collision seems unavoidable.

All RLs get a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for front-impact and side-impact safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the RL a "Good" rating (the highest possible) in its frontal-offset and side-collision tests.

The SH-AWD system in the 2009 Acura RL works transparently but very effectively to maintain traction under the worst of circumstances and, along with the newly firmed-up suspension, provide cornering abilities that are more "sports car" than "luxury sedan." Acura's flagship sedan offers a nice balance between a cushy ride and competent handling and, as a result, makes an excellent everyday luxury sport sedan.

The 2009 Acura RL's interior is beautifully crafted and attractively designed. A swath of convincing or real (depending on trim level) wood trim flows into a neat waterfall center stack that integrates the car's sizable number of electronic functions. This year brings revised climate controls, a new steering wheel (with wood trim on CMBS) and new metallic accents. The standard 10-speaker Bose surround-sound system is so superb that you'd swear Gladys Knight was riding shotgun with the Pips crammed in back.

With the optional Technology package, major functions like audio, climate and navigation systems can be controlled by voice commands, buttons on the steering wheel and dash or a multipurpose control knob and LCD screen. These redundant controls may seem confusing in description, but allow the driver choices in how to access commonly used functions. The trunk measures 13.1 cubic feet in capacity, a somewhat disappointing figure for this class.

For everyday driving, the 2009 Acura RL's 300-horsepower V6 performs admirably, matches the EPA's fuel economy estimates, and delivers plenty of refined momentum for mingling with lead-footed commuters. Power is on par with cars such as the Lexus GS 350 but arrives at higher rpm and, as a result, makes the RL feel relatively sluggish when starting from a standstill. The accompanying five-speed transmission is smooth but can be slow to downshift, a trait that's noticeable when attempting to pass another vehicle; drivers can shift on their own schedule by using paddles on the steering wheel. Serving to offset any engine and transmission deficiencies is Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), technology that makes the RL sure-footed in inclement conditions and a delight on twisty roads. Braking is usually a worry-free endeavor, though we did notice a slight loss in effectiveness after an afternoon of spirited driving.

XM NoteWith the touch of a button on the 2009 Acura RL's console, XM Note allows you to capture up to 10 seconds of up to 30 songs heard on XM Satellite Radio, as well as the artist name and song title. AcuraLinkFalling under the AcuraLink umbrella are real-time traffic information, up-to-date weather forecasts, and a rerouting feature that steers drivers away from heavy congestion. Navigating your way through the chaotic evening rush hour just became more palatable.

As a flagship model, the 2009 Acura RL's interior disappoints as much as it impresses. 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. We were less enamored by the driver seat's lack of lower support during long drives, perforated leather upholstery that felt like it had been borrowed from a Honda, an utter lack of storage provisions for rear seat passengers, and a sunken cargo floor that made taking heavy items out of the trunk a difficult task.

Most obvious among the 2009 Acura RL's exterior revisions is the large, shiny grille that is quickly becoming the marker for every model within the Acura lineup. Also new for 2009 are standard 18-inch alloy wheels, a reshaped rear end with revised taillights, and a more pronounced lip on the trunk lid that helps to make the sedan more aerodynamic. Overall, there's more RL to love, thanks to 70 pounds of added weight and a body that's been stretched by two inches.

Given the RL's luxury car status, Acura has fitted its largest sedan with not only the usual bits like a Bose sound system and power features tied to a driver-side memory function, but also a USB port located in the center console that offers quick and seamless access to tunes on your iPod, and an Active Sound Control system that does a commendable job of muting engine noise. Safety is addressed by a plethora of airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist, and a strong passenger compartment that helped the 2009 Acura RL achieve five-star ratings in government crash tests.

An available Technology Package has been designed to make commuting a bit less stressful in the 2009 Acura RL. At the heart of it all is a voice-activated navigation system that delivers current traffic and weather information, a timesaving traffic rerouting function, xenon headlights that swivel to illuminate the direction of travel, and heated and cooled front seats. The Technology Package can be ordered with Acura's Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS). CMBS is paired with adaptive cruise control and prepares the driver in the event of a sudden emergency by tightening the driver's seatbelt and applying brake pressure.

As part of Acura's redesign of the RL, 2008's 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 was replaced by a new 3.7-liter V6 shared with the 2009 Acura MDX. Coinciding with greater displacement are ratings of 300 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The automaker's five-speed SportShift automatic transmission, complete with paddle shifters, continues to represent the single gearbox offering. In terms of fuel economy, the EPA suggests that the 2009 Acura RL will travel 16 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 22 mpg on the highway (down from 24 mpg in 2008) while burning premium fuel. Those figures are very similar to ratings for the Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC but are slightly less than figures reported for a V8-equipped Audi A6 quattro.3.7-liter V6300 horsepower @ 6300 rpm271 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5000 rpmEPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22

Shoppers interested in purchasing a 2009 Acura RL can expect to spend about $ 47,000 for the base model; individuals inclined to drive home an RL with all of the available bells and whistles will be shelling out about $ 55,000. Those prices are in line with competing vehicles outfitted with standard or optional all-wheel drive, such as the BMW 5 Series and Lexus GS. Exceptions include the pricier Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC and the rear-wheel-drive but bargain-priced Hyundai Genesis. If the Acura RL has caught your eye, you'll be glad to know that buyers are typically paying a few thousand less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), but make sure you have the most current information by checking our prices before negotiating with your dealer. The 2009 Acura RL's resale values are comparable to those of the BMW 5 Series, yet both lag behind the Lexus GS.

2009 Acura RL Consumer Reviews