2016 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid REVIEW

2016 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid REVIEW by Auto Critic Steve Hammes

So you’ve graduated your way up the Acura ladder and now it’s time to reward yourself with the company’s flagship. You appreciate technology and want a car as advanced as your lifestyle. Well, the RLX Sport Hybrid is the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing with a powertrain that’s as advanced as they come.

Though Acura sales are driven by the 1-2 punch of the MDX and RDX SUVs, there’s a little known car on their showroom floor called the RLX…formerly the RL. It’s never been much of a hit with consumers and a total redesign a couple of years ago hasn’t seemed to help…Acura sells only a couple hundred a month with a starting MSRP of $55,370. But released shortly thereafter was this car; the RLX Sport Hybrid with Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, giving customers the choice of adding a unique 3-motor hybrid system that not only saves on gas, but provides greater power and sharper driving dynamics.

Most hybrids use 1, maybe 2 electric motors to augment the gas engine with additional power. But this RLX uses 1 motor at the front and 1 at each rear wheel to truly give credence to the term Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.

The difference is night and day. Whereas the base front-drive RLX uses the P-AWS system, a means by which the rear wheels aid in steering, the Sport Hybrid adds a modern twist to Acura’s torque vectoring all-wheel drive system by using an electrified Twin Motor Unit in the rear. It’s fed its power from a lithium-ion battery pack and the two 36 horsepower motors work independently to both get the car through turns more gracefully and to regenerate power for the battery. Creating what is called a yaw moment by sending more power to the outside rear wheel during cornering, this motor-based Super Handling All-Wheel Drive can create larger power differences between the left and right rear wheels substantially magnifying its effects. Watching the Intelligent Power Unit sort out which of the 7 drive modes to use is fascinating. You can follow along on the heads-up display or on the top screen. Depending on driving style and the road conditions, the RLX can be driven by the rear motors alone, the gas engine alone, motor assisted or a combination of all components providing front drive, rear drive or all-wheel drive motion. Energy regeneration is handled at up to all 4 wheels too, keeping the battery sufficiently charged. So what does all of this mean? Well, it means the 377 horsepower RLX Sport Hybrid is the most powerful and technologically advanced sedan Acura has ever made, increases city mileage by 40% and brings a level of ride and handling that is surprisingly brilliant.

I’ve been driving this RLX now for about a week and I’m still amazed by how well it handles; one of the best 4-doors of this size I can ever recall. It’s a total sleeper from the outside but take it to your favorite country road and you’ll see this Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system is totally legit.

The 3.5-liter V6 with variable cylinder management is teamed to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission integrated with the front motor producing combined torque of 341 pound-feet. Not only is this RLX very quick, but it slithers through turns like it’s on rails. The Sport mode livens things up a few notches by pumping in more aggressive engine sound, blipping the throttle on downshifts and constantly generating more power for the battery. Amplitude reactive dampers deliver a luxurious, big car ride and the steering is light and precise. It may not look like much but this car’s balance between comfort and nimbleness is right up my alley.

Though the RLX’s cabin is quiet and long-trip comfortable and packs some very useful features, it’s too bad the Pilot’s infotainment system didn’t work its way in here. And this gear selector is unnecessarily cumbersome.

Like its body, the interior isn’t going to wow you in ways you’d think a premium flagship would, but other than the dual screen setup, it possesses a very likable ease of use and has a roomy backseat with elevated seating and window shades all around. The 14 speaker Krell audio system sounds wonderful. Trunk space is down 3 cubic feet due to the ICU and battery but can still pack in 4 sets of golf clubs. New for 2016 is the inclusion of AcuraWatch which is a suite of safety and driver assistive technologies including a Collision Mitigation Braking System and a new Surround View Camera with a convenient on button.

This top trim model with Advance Package stickers for $66,870 and returns 28mpg city/32mpg highway on premium. Yes, some awkward hybrid-ness is present in its driving nature like odd brake feel but for a car this smart it doesn’t get in the way of a very pleasurable – surprisingly capable – overall experience.