TEST DRIVE > 2006 Reviews > Acura RL
Elegant, powerful Acura RL enhances brand - Redesigned 2006 sedan has quiet performance, full-time all-wheel drive, strong luxury package.
 2006 Acura RL
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The 2006 Acura RL is a stylish sedan that upholds the brand's reputation for quality and performance.
The redesigned RL is cool --- as cool as those cars you see in commercials in which they try to make the cars look really cool.
The interior has a feel of sporty elegance accented by its chrome, leather and high-tech touches. You can appreciate how at night light glimmers off the wood-trimmed dash. You can experience the comfort of the leather-trimmed seats with power lumbar support.
High-tech features include a DVD-based audio system, a Global Positioning System and Bluetooth technology that enables wireless communication.
The elegance is evident when you're on the road; this machine rides as quietly as any you'll find, even at higher speeds.
And when it comes to higher speeds, the RL is no slouch. The 3.5 liter V-6 engine churns out 300 horsepower.
The transmission, a five-speed automatic that has what Acura calls Sequential SportShift, lets performance-loving drivers shift manually if they wish, using either the paddles on the steering wheel or the shifter on the console.
Full-time all-wheel drive is standard, which is sure to be a popular feature.
Handling is sharp, thanks to what Acura says is a new stiffer, lighter aluminum frame.
The frame also contributes to enhanced safety, Acura says, by distributing the impact of any collision across a broader area.
On winding roads, the RL takes twists with precision, and accelerating into the curve, as performance lovers enjoy doing, provides a nice thrill that's also pretty reassuring.
The RL's fuel economy numbers are impressive for such a powerful engine: 18 miles per gallon city and 26 on the highway, according to Environmental Protection Agency figures.
Two versions are available --- the base model, which starts at about $49,300, and a more upscale model, which was the tester, that features a technology package and goes for around $53,100.
The RL can be likened to a home run hitter's swing: fast, powerful and smooth.
Acura has knocked another one out of the park.
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