Acura's large sedan fails to match the standards of its luxury car competition. Even worse, multiple alternatives, costing around $40,000, surpass the RLX's level of luxury, room and performance.
Not without virtues, the RLX has a very spacious and well finished interior with comfortable seats. A refined and powerful V6 powertrain provides good fuel economy and performance. But the same can be said of a Toyota Avalon or a Chevrolet Impala.
The big Acura lacks the ride comfort and driving dynamics that are key elements of a luxury sedan. Neither particularly luxurious nor sporty to drive, the RLX doesn't have the quiet cabin and ride comfort of even a Chevrolet Impala or the agile handling of an Audi A6. Most RLX models are front-wheel drive versions, although a more powerful all-wheel-drive hybrid model is available.
Inside, the complicated radio controls could serve as an ergonomics lesson in what not to do. And the hybrid model adds an unintuitive push-button gear selector.
If it was priced in Avalon territory, the RLX might be worth consideration. But with a sticker price over $55,000, it is simply out of its league.