2017 Acura RLX Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The tech-heavy RLX is Acura’s flagship sedan. This Japanese-built car has had precious few updates since its 2013 model year release, and that tradition continues for 2017. In fact, the only tweaks this year involve the option list. Buyers will note the lack of an entry-level trim, plus the addition of standard active safety equipment.
The majority of Acura RLXs sold are gasoline-only models with a 310-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a 6-speed sequential automatic gearbox. A unique feature is Acura’s Precision All-Wheel Steering (P-AWS) setup. It can steer the rear wheels in either the same or opposite direction as the front wheels to assist the RLX in both cornering and evasive maneuvers.
Acura also offers a Sport Hybrid RLX, though only a few hundred make it to the U.S. each year. This version is the basis for most of Acura’s performance claims about the RLX, thanks to its three-motor hybrid drivetrain with a combined output of 377 hp.
In addition to a gasoline engine up front, dual electric motors in the rear offer torque vectoring and work as part of the car’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. Sport Hybrid versions also get a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with an electronic shifter.
For 2017, the entry-level version is the $54,450 RLX with Technology Package. It includes navigation, a 14-speaker audio system, and the AcuraLink telematics system. There’s also a host of active safety tech, including a lane-keep assist function that can steer the car back between the lines, a collision-mitigating automatic braking setup, and adaptive cruise control, which is capable of following another car during stop-and-go traffic jams.
The RLX with Technology Package replaces the base 2016 RLX, which has already been removed from Acura’s website. Although that car cost less, it lacked the active safety features that have become necessary for a vehicle to achieve top honors in crash tests.
Buyers who step up to the RLX with Advance Package ($60,450) get all the goodies of the base vehicle, but with additional creature comforts. The driver gets a heated steering wheel, while both front seats are heated and cooled. Rear passengers get a power sunshade on the back window and manual shades on the side windows, plus heated seats and footwell lighting. There’s also an upgraded audio system, plus remote start, a 360-degree camera with front and rear parking sensors, and power folding side mirrors.
Both the Tech and Advance trims are rated at 20 mpg city/30 highway/23 combined.
In addition to its unique drivetrain, a few features are unique to the Sport Hybrid. The most interesting is what Acura calls a “reactive force pedal”—an accelerator that varies its feedback to the driver based on driving conditions. For example, if there’s snow on the ground, the pedal will become harder to push to keep the driver from accelerating too fast to maintain grip. The Sport Hybrid also has a head-up display.
Pricing and EPA estimates for the 2017 Sport Hybrid have yet to be announced, but Acura says it will go on sale later in the fall. From pricing data and press releases, it appears that there will be a single trim—likely the fully loaded Advance package. For comparison, the 2016 RLX Sport Hybrid with Advance Package started at $65,950 and had fuel-economy ratings of 28/32/30.
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2017 Acura RLX Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Sun sensor climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones · Rear air conditioning: with independent controls · Single rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: jack · Single disc in-Dash CD · Aha internet radio · Pandora internet radio · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium brand: ELS Studio · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 13
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 12.3 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.2 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with pass-thru · Center console trim: alloy · Dash trim: alloy · Door trim: alloy · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: semi-automatic · Assist handle: front · Autonomous lane guidance: lane centering · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Rear view camera: multi-view · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: paddle shifter · Storage: front seatback · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.25
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: AcuraLink · Infotainment screen size: 7 in. and 8 in. (dual)
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 4.2 in. · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: one-touch open/close
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: leather-trimmed
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: tire sealant
Steering
Steering ratio: 13.9
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 33 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 25 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Navigation system: touch screen display · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: Turn-by-Turn Navigation
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic · Power windows: remote operation
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones · Automatic climate control rear air conditioning · Single rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · Aha internet radio · Pandora internet radio · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Krell premium brand · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 13
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 12.3 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.2 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with pass-thru · Center console trim: wood · Dash trim: alloy · Door trim: alloy · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: semi-automatic · Assist handle: front · Autonomous lane guidance: lane centering · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: paddle shifter · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: side window · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.25
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: AcuraLink · Infotainment screen size: 7 in. and 8 in. (dual)
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 4.2 in. · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: self-leveling · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: power glass
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front · Camera system: surround view · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: rear · Parking sensors: rear · Pre-Collision Warning System: visual warning · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: perforated
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 13.9
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 33 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Rear Shock Type: coil over shock · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 25 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: Turn-by-Turn Navigation
Tires
Type: performance
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Laminated glass: acoustic · Power windows: remote operation