- sedan 166,183
- San Antonio, TX
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- autoshopper.com
- sedan 166,183 gasoline black automatic
2007 acura rl review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. The ultimate luxury commuter. introductionthe acura rl is sporty and fun to drive, combining a free-revving, 290-horsepower v6 engine with all-wheel drive, and a nicely balanced suspension for great grip, responsive handling and superior stability. Yet it rides smoothly. The throttle and brakes are smooth and easy to modulate, making the rl a comfortable car in stop-and-go traffic. acura's innovative all-wheel-drive system makes the rl easy to drive and helps keep its driver out of trouble. Called super-handling all-wheel drive, the system overdrives the outside rear wheel when motoring around corners, improving the handling balance and enhancing stability. Indeed, the rl is very stable in corners. We found it smoothes over minor driver errors, making us look and feel skillful. With this setup, the rl handles adverse weather exceptionally well, making it an excellent choice in seattle, denver, chicago, boston, or anywhere else that gets rain and snow. Acura's navigation system is the best in the business. This system works impressively well. We've put it to good use in avoiding traffic jams in los angeles. the acura rl can help drivers avoid pile-ups. The optional collision mitigation braking system works with the adaptive cruise control. Using radar, the system will alert the driver, pretension the seatbelts, and slam on the brakes when it senses an imminent impact. We tested this system in a controlled exercise and were very impressed with its ability to warn the driver and help avoid an accident or, in the worst case, reduce the severity of the impact. for 2007, some of the features that used to be standard have been made optional to reduce the base price. Acura's satellite navigation system and active front lighting, which aims the headlights into turns, are no longer standard. lineupthe 2007 acura rl is available with three levels of equipment (one more than last year), and with no additional options. the base rl 45,780) comes loaded with nearly every luxury and convenience feature imaginable, including leather upholstery. with the technology package, the rl 49,400) comes with satellite navigation, acuralink with real time traffic reporting, a rearview camera, zagat reviews, active front lighting, and wood interior trim. the rl with technology package plus cmbs and pax 53,200) adds acura's collision mitigation braking system and michelin pax run-flat tires. accessories include a wood steering wheel and shift knob, all-weather floor mats, a trunk net and cargo organizer, and an engine-block heater for cold climates. safety features include super handling all wheel drive, vehicle stability assist with traction control, and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. Passive safety features include driver's and front-passenger's dual-stage, dual-threshold airbags, side curtain airbags designed to provide head protection for passengers in all outboard seating positions, and side-impact airbags designed to provide torso protection for driver and front passenger; with an occupant position detection system for the front passenger. A tire pressure monitoring system is also standard. The optional rearview camera can help alert the driver to small children behind the vehicle when backing up. walkaroundsleek and sporty, the acura rl is an attractive car, though not particularly interesting. Parked next to a toyota camry, the rl looks anonymous. its muscular exterior styling is designed to suggest abundant power. In front, a dramatically sloping hood leads down to an aggressive front fascia with angular headlight treatments, acura's signature five-sided grille, and distinctive lower air intake openings. The front end is smooth with nicely integrated bumpers and headlamps. the rear is short to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve maneuverability. The rear three-quarter view is suggestive of a bmw 7 series: viewed from the side, the rear deck seems separated from the fenders. high-intensity discharge headlights employ the active front lighting system, which swivels the headlight beams up to 20 degrees in either direction when the steering wheel is turned, providing better visibility when cornering. interiorthe cabin is luxurious and functional. The seats are comfortable for cruising yet supportive for hard driving. The wide armrests have a nice soft feel. The acura rl is a roomy car, though the back seats don't offer as much room as some of the other cars in this class do. the cabin is finished in handsome leather with attractive stitching. Real wood is used sparingly and tastefully around the cabin on all but the base model, and it's not too shiny. Acura says it used the finest materials and exacting attention to detail in the interior design. It shows. the technology package includes satellite navigation, which features voice recognition and a large, eight-inch display screen. Positioned at the top of the center stack, the display looks like it might be a touch screen, but it isn't. Instead, an interface dial functions something like a computer mouse to control all accessory functions. Positioned on the center stack, in front of the shifter, the dial is rotated like a knob and rocked like a joystick to select among function menus displayed on the screen. Pushing down on the knob selects the highlighted function. Functions controlled by the interface dial include the climate control system, audio, navigation, and the acuralink satellite communications system. This interface dial is similar in concept to that of bmw's controversial idrive, but acura added redundant buttons on the instrument panel and steering wheel for most of the commonly used functions and it's easier to use than bmw's system. acura's navigation systems are perennially among the best available and the rl's system works very well. In the past, we've praised them for their ease of operation, clear instructions, speedy route calculations, and absence of errors. As with all of these systems, there is a learning curve, however. It works best in the cities that have the infrastructure to support it, los angeles among them. Traffic flow is shown by color-coding the highways in three levels: light traffic is shown in green, normal traffic in yellow, slow traffic in red. The driver can view the map and choose the routes with the lightest traffic. The system uses live data from the highway departments using technology developed by xm satellite radio. It's easy to use, and commuters in cities with this technology will find it's well worth the cost of the package. bluetooth wireless technology allows hands-free dialing and communication and integrates compatible cell phones. As with other features, the bluetooth cellphone setup can respond to voice commands. The keyless access system automatically unlocks the doors and allows the driver to start the car without having to dig the keyless remote out of pocket or purse. the back seats are comfortable, though they don't offer quite as much space as some of the other cars in this class. The rear doors open wide, making it easier to get into and out of the back seats. A retractable rear sunshade filters the sun, nice for back-seat riders on bright days. The keyless access system prevents locking the key fob in the trunk. driving impressionthe acura rl is smooth, responsive and enjoyable in everyday driving. On winding roads, it delivers agile handling and a taut, poised feel. It grips the corners, has excellent transient response and stops in a short distance. The ride is a nice balance, firm enough to feel expansion joints but not so firm as to be harsh. The rl cruises easily and comfortably. The cabin is quiet, benefiting from a noise cancellation system that reduces road noise and tire noise but especially boom from the engine exhaust. super-handling all-wheel drive improves the handling of the rl considerably. Sh-awd distributes power not only between the front and rear wheels but also between the left and right rear wheels. The system controls this distribution of power precisely to enhance handling. As a result, the rl doesn't plow in corners. It simply motors around them. we found this all-wheel-drive setup particularly helpful in tight corners where it keeps the nose of the car tucked in. The car seemed to respond well to throttle in the corners. The effects of overdriving one of the rear wheels is most noticeable at competition speeds, but the system improves handling feel even at a moderate pace. The rl just feels precise. The sh-awd improves handling stability on dry or wet roads and the all-wheel drive improves traction and stability on snow and ice. The system is biased to the front. When cruising along, 70 percent of the en. Anti-lock Brakes✔ Climate Control✔ Cruise Control✔ Navigation System✔ Bluetooth
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