Base Price: $47,040
Price as Tested: $54,370
Why We Drove It: The 2008 Acura RL is one of the few vehicles on the market to earn 5-star safety ratings across the board, including for rollover potential, by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration. In surveys that J.D. Power and Associates has conducted with verified owners of the 2008 Acura RL, the people that actually own and drive one told us:


 The display of radio, temperature setting, and time are all the same size, color and in the same display [which makes it] hard to pick them out when driving. 


 The owner and user manuals are not user friendly; you have to jump back and forth [between] pages to learn the systems. 


 The navigation system maps are outdated [and it] takes too many steps to get your destination info entered. 


 The steering wheel is too plastic, not smooth and luxurious [enough] for this kind of car. 


 The styling; interior, and exterior are exceptional, with smooth lines, and comfort inside. 


 The screen for navigation and the rear camera is poor [and difficult] to see in the daytime. 


 The overall fit and finish [of the RL means] I can be comfortable driving this car anywhere. 


 The voice activation command and recognition failures are too frequent. 


 The controls are overly user unfriendly and unnecessarily complex. 


 The headlights don t light up a wide area of the road ahead. 


Top 3 Things Owners Like About the Acura RL:
1. Handling/stability on curves/winding roads
2. Interior materials convey impression of high quality
3. Handling/stability in adverse conditions


Top 3 Owner-Reported Problems with the Acura RL:
1. Hands-Free Communication   Doesn't recognize command
2. Park Assist   Difficult to use/Controls poor location
3. Front Audio /Entertainment System   Controls difficult to use/Poor location