1996 Acura RL Reviews, Pricing & Specs

$41,435 to $44,435

Original MSRP

expert review

5.0

avg user rating

The 1996 RL is the first edition of the car built to replace the aging Legend. Although RL was supposed to stand for "Road Luxury," many joked that it actually stood for "Replaces Legend."

The standard (and only) engine was a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 210 horsepower and 224 lb-ft of torque. No manual transmission was offered, and gas mileage was estimated at 19 city and 25 highway.

The interior has leather seats, but not a leather steering wheel. This kind of contradiction would become fairly typical for the RL: it was a car from a luxury maker, meant to compete with a Lexus, but would skimp on minor details such as a nicer steering wheel.

Drivers note that this is a very reliable car, but do not like the way it guzzles premium gas. They do not like the weaker engine, with many wishing for 8 cylinders rather than 6.

Published Aug 9, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team

Sometimes our content pages are the result of a team effort. As with all CarGurus editorial, you can expect high levels of automotive insight and expertise delivered in a style that is approachable and free from jargon.

1996 Acura RL Pricing

Original MSRP

$41,435 to $44,435

Price range

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Average price on CG

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Acura RL price trends

Trims & specs

1996 Acura RL 3.5 FWD

Original MSRP: $41,435

Air Conditioning

Automatic climate control front air conditioning

Airbags

Dual front airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: power · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel

Comfort Features

Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: power tilt

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power

Roof

Moonroof: power

Seats

Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: leather

Tires and Rims

Wheel type: aluminum alloy

Windows

Front wipers: intermittent

1996 Acura RL 3.5 Premium FWD

Original MSRP: $44,435