2014 Acura RLX Road Test Review

2014 Acura RLX Road Test Review

By Bob Plunkett

We log time in the plush driver's seat of a 2014 RLX -- Acura's re-imagined flagship sedan -- driving across the jagged Laguna Mountains of southern California and through low sandy deserts skirting the Salton Sea before reaching the golfing oasis of La Quinta near Palm Springs.

What this road test reveals is a large and luxurious touring sedan with a new powertrain aboard plus PAWS (precision all-wheel steer), a 4-wheel electric steering system which enables the vehicle to romp up mountain grades and dance around wiggly curves as easily as it powers down a multi-lane interstate highway like the I-8 or maneuvers deftly through traffic in an urban sprawl like Palm Springs.

The ride quality feels firm but definitely smooth, thanks to a rigid unit-body structure which supports a suspension system with independent components including a double-wishbone design in front that precisely controls wheel motion and a rear multi-link layout that settles the rear and delivers an exceptionally smooth ride. [Click here for full review]