2000 Acura RL: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

After numerous modifications last year, the flagship sedan of Honda's luxury brand boasts a standard antiskid system as its major year-2000 news. The 3.5RL continues with a 3.5-liter V6 that now meets LEV (low-emissions-vehicle) standards. Automatic transmission, side airbags, antilock 4-wheel-disc brakes, traction control, heated front seats, and high-intensity-discharge headlamps remain standard too. Taking advantage of the ABS and traction control is the new Vehicle Stability Assist system, which Acura says is specially designed for maximum skid control with front-wheel drive. The only major factory option is an improved version of Acura's in-dash satellite-linked navigation system, which gets a larger, 7-inch touch screen with matte finish designed for better legibility, plus a digital-video-disc (DVD) database covering the entire continental U.S. Returning from last season is a side airbag sensor that determines the size and positioning of the right front passenger so the bag doesn't deploy unnecessarily. The same data is used to determine normal or reduced inflation rate for the right-side dashboard airbag.

COMPETITION

This diverse segment offers the widest price range. It covers everything from the $33,000 Saab 9-5 to the $128,000 Mercedes-Benz SL500. Obviously our Best Buys are somewhere in between. We think that the Acura RL is a steal at $42,000 fully equipped. Though it is a front-drive V6 in a field of V8 rear-drive models, it has a great ride, plenty of power, and is quite luxurious. In the same vein, the more-expensive Lexus LS 400 continues to impress, excelling in every way except for handling.

If you are looking for something a bit more sporting we recommend the BMW 5-Series, Jaguar S-Type, or Lexus GS 300/400. If your taste ranges more toward the luxury end, then take a look at the new Cadillac DeVille or Mercedes-Benz CLK.