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I have had an eye out for used SH RLXs and I can't really seem to find much good specific information on the warranty for the hybrid batteries. I know they are supposed to last a while, but does anyone have the info on the battery pack's projected longevity and warranty? I'm sure the replacement cost would be pretty steep once the pack fails.
I have not heard of many, if any battery pack failures in the hybrids. I used to have a Lexus GS450h and I saw the same question asked several times. I did hear of/read about a couple of Lexus/Toyota battery packs being replaced at no cost to the owners. I think I remember seeing that the car manufacturers wanted to get their hands on failed batteries for research to in an attempt to increase longevity. I also read the coverage was 10 yrs/100,000 miles for the battery pack for a Lexus. I would assume Acura/Honda would be comparable.
I don't know what the Acura warranty is, but seems like it should be easily available by Search. From what I've seen, it could start to be an issue around 100K or 10 years, but many make it past that.
I questioned the replacement cost of the battery pack and was told currently about $2000 w/ installation (after a credit for the old battery trade in). However as with most technology, the price lowers over time and availability. Using that figure for argument sake, you could consider purchasing an extended AcuraCare warranty which would likely be less, depending on your location and supplier. Further there are battery rebuild options that continue to come online and reduce costs further.
Generally speaking, I have not seen much published about lithium hybrid battery issues with normal wear and use. Replacements reported are rare. Consumer Reports long term analysis of hybrid batteries over 200K miles showed minimal degradation in performance. There are fleets of Ford Escape Hybrid Taxis with over 300K miles.
$2,000 is MUCH more reasonable that what I had found via research on other vehicles (Toyota, etc). I found the expense to be as high as $6k w/ installation. Thank you for the info!
$2000 is about what you pay for an oil change if you own a Mercedes. :wink: Just kidding.
I'm also pleasantly surprised by the $2000 cost of hybrid battery replacement for the Sport Hybrid. I was thinking more than double that. Considering how much I'm saving on gas and how much fun I'm having with the instant electric motor torque, I have no problem paying to replace the battery at some point if necessary.
$2,000 is MUCH more reasonable that what I had found via research on other vehicles (Toyota, etc). I found the expense to be as high as $6k w/ installation. Thank you for the info!
Yes, Toyota has several battery configurations. The Prius is most common and about $3500 (without trade in credit). The more rare Highlander Hybrid is up to $7500 - but keep in mind it is a new model and configuration.
From what I have researched, Honda / Acura strives to use the same configuration of it's lithium battery structures (post the IMA hybrid period). That may keep the cost more manageable. But ultimately volume will reduce costs as long as demand for replacements remains minimal. Acura SH battery is also around $3500 currently - but again there is a trade in credit around $1500. The replaced battery will be reconditioned using the same battery casing and likely in the pipeline as a replacement part. I believe there was a TSB out for some symptom that may require a battery replacement on the RLX SH. The TSB stated a reconditioned battery module would be used. I do not recall any of our members requiring that TSB.
. . . . . out for some symptom that may require a battery replacement on the RLX SH.
What are those symptoms? Reading the TSB doesn't really say what those are. Probably on purpose to keep from all of a sudden having cars show up to the stealership with lots of 'symptoms'!
What are those symptoms? Reading the TSB doesn't really say what those are. Probably on purpose to keep from all of a sudden having cars show up to the stealership with lots of 'symptoms'!
Nothing was specified, nor did I recall any member here requiring a battery swap. The way the TSB reads is to interview the customer for details if a battery related issue is reported and how to file for the exchange. I do not believe any battery related issues have been reported (at least to what I can find).
It may very well be possible that this TSB was introduced to place a process in place SHOULD a battery change be needed.
So I’ve been having trouble getting the mpg’s that other owners have been reporting. Highest I’ve ever gotten was 24mpg. After reading other threads about ways to optimize the electric batteries to attain the high mpg, I noticed that my battery life would go from just the middle all the way down to low once I am able to get the electric batteries to kick in (ie, show the two blue arrows powering the rear wheels), so my “electric” runs are fairly brief. Once it gets to the low portion, I simply cannot engage the batteries, it’s all engine driven. I read it’s supposed to be a 1/3 EV/gas ratio when driven conservatively. I’ve never seen that personally. Mine is more like 1/10. I’m hardly ever in EV even with feathering and low speeds. I think the electric batteries are the culprit. What do you guys think?
That sounds normal. Depends on where you live and driving style. Also, make sure your tires are properly inflated at 35-37psi.
Turn on sport mode and that will charge your battery all the way up after a short while. Then turn it off and it will level out again at halfway. I believe that is by design.
Thanks. I’m just disappointed in the mpg. I def enjoy the performance but I don’t drive it aggressively the majority of the time. I’ll try that sports mode trick to juice up the batteries.
This is definitely not normal. I have noticed that when the weather is cold the hybrid batteries do not engage quite as often and that this is considered normal from what I've read online and on this forum but depending on what kind of climate you live in you should be getting better mileage than this. Even during the winter months when it was 32F or below i would get better than 24, On my way home from work one day last week which is mostly highway driving with moderate traffic conditions (going about an average of 35-50 MPH) I managed to get a little over 38MPG door to door for that 23 mile trip home with 11.2 of those miles 100%EV which is really good but the conditions were ideal. Normally, I average 28-30MPG with a normal mix of city/hwy driving. I would for sure get yours checked out by the dealer. Also, do not inflate your tires to 37, that is way to much considering when they warm up they will be at 40 or so.
Wow those numbers are envious. Mine would show something like 1.3 miles of EV against that 29 miles of gasoline. I’m going to have the dealership look into it and pray they have someone knowledgeable bout our car.
My 2020 RLX Advance (54K miles) does best during warm months and secondary roads/highways with speeds below 65mph. Best I have seen is 34mpg and if remember correctly 32mpg is what I seem to avg during the summer....mostly highway driving
Current screenshot from last 3 fill ups. My 2012 RL averaged about 24mpg highway so the RLX is a nice improvement.
I've been around the same 27-28 mpgs with city and 29-31 hwy depending on mph of 70-80. (hand calculated with phone app). I wish my MDX hybrid had those numbers with its 3.0L engine. My MDX hybrid is closer to 24-26 city and 25-27 hwy depending on mph.
I've been around the same 27-28 mpgs with city and 29-31 hwy depending on mph of 70-80. (hand calculated with phone app). I wish my MDX hybrid had those numbers with its 3.0L engine. My MDX hybrid is closer to 24-26 city and 25-27 hwy depending on mph.
Phile, a few things can cause your Sport Hybrid to not use EV mode as frequently as you would like resulting in lower gas mileage than you would like.
1. Sport Mode: obviously when in sport mode, the car will not enter EV mode and will get greatly reduced gas mileage.
2. Cold Weather: In winter, the engine must operate to provide heat for the cabin heater and thus the car will not enter EV mode as often when cabin heating is required.
3. Short trips: When you first start your Sport Hybrid, it will operate with the engine running until the engine reaches operating temperature and until the hybrid battery pack is fully charged(if it was low when you parked previously). If you take frequent short trips then park for a few hours after the short trips, the car will spend most of the trip with the engine on while the engine reaches temperature and you won't get to benefit from the EV mode being engaged more frequently because your trip is already over. If you are stopped for a few hours, the car has to start from cold again and the same lack of EV mode will be witnessed (although the hybrid battery pack should start charged). If you make a short stop, then your next trip should get great mileage with plenty of EV mode since the engine is already at temp and the battery is already charged, so the car will enter EV mode immediately. I often make short trips to my mother-in-law's house and get 20mpg on the way there and 40mpg on the way home illustrating this point.
4. Heavy Right Foot: Driving aggressively is a major reason why some Sport Hybrid owners can achieve 30+mpg in the city and others only get 24 mpg. If you do some digging in your owners manual, you will find that the gas pedal can be adjusted to be "stiffer" thus making slow steady acceleration easier.
5. Trip/Road Characteristics: If you have a short commute with a lot of traffic lights causing you to have to stop and then accelerate over and over, your mileage will suffer. If, on the other hand, you have a longer commute where you cruise at 50mph for long distances without traffic lights, the Sport Hybrid will shine and deliver great mileage as EV mode will be used frequently whenever you are not actively accelerating. I have found this among the most important factors in the mileage I achieve.
It is possible that any or all of these factors have resulted in you not achieving the 30+mpg that many of us enjoy. Getting your hybrid battery checked is a good idea so you know for sure that it is ok and one or more of the above listed factors is causing you to get 24 mpg. I had a period during a winter of Covid shutdowns when I was driving very infrequently and driving only short trips on cold, snowy days and I only got 23mpg for that partial tank of gas. Once I got back into my usual routine of getting out and about more often, and once the weather warmed up a bit, I'm back up to almost 32mpg with my latest tank.
Good luck figuring it out and either way, just enjoy driving your Sport Hybrid.
Further to DanL07RL's point, yet another factor in poor winter fuel economy is the use of "winter blend" gas in colder climates. The blend helps keep the gas line from freezing, makes the gas easier to "light" at cold temperatures but overall delivers poorer engine efficiency.
Phile, a few things can cause your Sport Hybrid to not use EV mode as frequently as you would like resulting in lower gas mileage than you would like.
If you do some digging in your owners manual, you will find that the gas pedal can be adjusted to be "stiffer" thus making slow steady acceleration easier.
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THIS. Thank you so much, saved me a trip to the stealership. I never knew about the pedal readjustment option. Went thru the manual, changed the pedal setting to high. Did a short drive, noticed right away my EV mode was more frequent and lasted longer AND without me even trying.
This is the best EV/gas ratio I’ve experienced. Previously I could drive the 6 miles and see something tragic like 0.3 miles of EV.
Glad the pedal tweak helped, Phile. You can also try reminding yourself to drive like an old man (ie. like me), by coasting up to red lights, driving the speed limit etc. With current gas prices the savings could be significant.
Good luck with your "hyper-miling".
^^^ 1+ on reactive pedal setting... deeeefinitely better feel, even better acceleration from the full stop, and better mpg - go figure hahaha
I almost think previous lease owner did not have this setting changed ever
^^^ 1+ on reactive pedal setting... deeeefinitely better feel, even better acceleration from the full stop, and better mpg - go figure hahaha
I almost think previous lease owner did not have this setting changed ever
I suspect the same. Maybe that’s why they turned it in because the car otherwise is mechanically sound. I wonder if the factory setting defaults to the “low” reactive pedal setting? I barely feel any difference between the two.
1 year into ownership it’s been trouble-free (knock on wood). Only needed to change a flat tire. My mpg gauge is slowly showing increasing mpg. I can’t wait for it to shoot up to 30+mpg. Right now showing 23.6mpg from a previous 23mpg reading that literally stayed that way and never improved no matter what I did.
My gas station is about a mile-and-a-half from my house, and primarily uphill from the house. So I enjoy filling up with the battery highly charged and then heading home.
By the time I'm in garage, I have seen three-digit MPG on the indicator.....126 is the best ever! Doesn't last of course, but fun to do.
126 mpg is impressive indeed - must be close to 100% EV mode. My best in similar circumstances is around 65-70 mpg. More than a little ironic that your best mileage is achieved driving home from a gas station.
I for one bought the Sport Hybrid version of the RLX primarily for the performance benefits and AWD (a must up here in Canada), but find myself mesmerized by the mileage that I am getting. Interestingly, my wife has also become highly cognizant of her mileage in her MDX Sport Hybrid and she previously didn't have a clue what her fuel economy was with her previous MDX. It starts with a curiosity of how much better the hybrid technology can do and just never gets old as you see if you can achieve even better mpg. It is almost addictive.
126 mpg is impressive indeed - must be close to 100% EV mode. My best in similar circumstances is around 65-70 mpg. More than a little ironic that your best mileage is achieved driving home from a gas station.
HA!! Warm day yesterday so new record.....163.5 MPG!! And yes, nearly 100% EV mode for the route. I think the only time the ICE lit up was leaving the pump.
I also get my best mpgs driving from Sam's or Costco the 3 miles back home from a gas stop. I started to take the side streets home instead of the faster hwy because of the 35-55 mpg I can get between my MDX hybrid and RLX hybrid (I get the regular 26-29 for either taking the +65 mph hwy route). I'm lucky to get 16-17 mpgs if I take the same city route home in my 11 MDX and take the hwy to get around 20 mpg.
I had to do some running around today buying home renovation materials, so I decided to test the reactive accelerator pedal settings. I first tried the "low" setting and achieved 30.5 mpg (7.7l/100 km) in a roughly 15 mile mix of freeway and city driving (with the engine starting cold and hybrid battery roughly 75%). I switched over to the high setting on the way home and felt very little or no difference in the pedal feel. I wonder if the "high" setting simply changes the engine control computer's response to the pedal pressure (ie. accelerates smoother, feathers the throttle without driver input etc). This is obviously a very small sample size test, but for the drive home I achieved 38.5 mpg (6.1 l/100 km) . At one point near the end of my drive, the trip mileage was reading 39.9 mpg (5.9 l/100 km) but I put the car into sport mode for the last couple of miles to charge the hybrid battery. Sometimes I don't drive for a week or two, so I leave the car parked with the hybrid battery 80% or more charged (this was discussed earlier on this forum during the pandemic years and the consensus was that leaving the hybrid battery drained during weeks of "storage" was likely detrimental to the battery). For reference, the temperature for todays drive was somewhere between 55 and 60 degrees F.
Again, the results are of limited value with the sample size, but I suspect that the "high" setting of the reactive pedal does improve mileage and increases the amount of time spent in EV mode which is consistent with phile's findings. This suggests if you are concerned about fuel economy, making the switch of the reactive pedal to "high" will help. If you don't care about fuel economy, then choose the "low" setting and/or Sport Mode and have yourself some fun.
Out of curiosity, I googled the RLX Sport Hybrid "reactive force pedal" and found the following:
Reactive Force Pedal - in place if a conventional spring mechanism providing force against the driver's push on the gas pedal, the RLX Sport Hybrid utilizes an electric mechanism that dynamically varies pedal force to assist the driver in applying the optimum amount of engine power in any driving condition. For example, when climbing a snowy hill, the Reactive Force Pedal will increase pedal force to discourage the driver from applying too much engine torque that may lead to unwanted tire slip.
So, it appears that my earlier statement was incorrect and the pedal feel does change with the reactive force pedal setting. It is possible that since I am an old man that already drives like an old man, that the pedal difference was not noticeable. It is also possible that the biggest difference in pedal feel would be during very hard acceleration, or, as mentioned, on a slippery surface, neither of which were a scenario that I encountered today.
Out of curiosity, I googled the RLX Sport Hybrid "reactive force pedal" and found the following:
Reactive Force Pedal - in place if a conventional spring mechanism providing force against the driver's push on the gas pedal, the RLX Sport Hybrid utilizes an electric mechanism that dynamically varies pedal force to assist the driver in applying the optimum amount of engine power in any driving condition. For example, when climbing a snowy hill, the Reactive Force Pedal will increase pedal force to discourage the driver from applying too much engine torque that may lead to unwanted tire slip.
So, it appears that my earlier statement was incorrect and the pedal feel does change with the reactive force pedal setting. It is possible that since I am an old man that already drives like an old man, that the pedal difference was not noticeable. It is also possible that the biggest difference in pedal feel would be during very hard acceleration, or, as mentioned, on a slippery surface, neither of which were a scenario that I encountered today.
I agree with the finding above - the pedal is applying additional "logic" to when and how it will respond... I can confirm though that my mpg did improve 3mpg so far on one tank... we'll see if more improves because I don't drive the car that much...
For testing purpose I would recommend having low reactive pedal setting, 2-3-4 tanks of gas driving... than switching to High reactive pedal setting ... 2-3-4 tanks... than back to low.... that should give you the best gauge on what is the better setting
anybody see this? it’s an Infiniti hybrid but they were asking $18k & $2k to install! then Infiniti stepped in and offered a 50% discount on the battery and the car is still under 100k in mileage.
anybody see this? it’s an Infiniti hybrid but they were asking $18k & $2k to install! then Infiniti stepped in and offered a 50% discount on the battery and the car is still under 100k in mileage.
anybody see this? it’s an Infiniti hybrid but they were asking $18k & $2k to install! then Infiniti stepped in and offered a 50% discount on the battery and the car is still under 100k in mileage.
This is exactly why Acura struggled to sell the RLX Sport Hybrid and the MDX Sport Hybrid. The media jumps on these silly stories of one dealership's purely selfish greed and blows it out of proportion. Meanwhile, 1000's of people have driven their hybrid cars for 10-15 years with no issue at all with the hybrid battery and that doesn't make the news. Nor does it make the news when someone replaces their hybrid battery after 18 years and it costs them $2000. Sensationalism has corrupted the media as they focus solely on ratings and website visits rather than sharing the truth.
The current inflationary economic climate has resulted in more and more businesses acting in this manner. They have a something that you really need, so they figure why not mark up the price on that thing by 8000% or so just to see if you are dumb enough to pay them what they want. The lesson here is shop around and do your research before ANY purchase. Knowledge is gold.
I'm reminded of the story of an old man selling apples by the side of the road. He has priced his apples at one million dollars each. A friend of the old man passes by and says, "Nobody is going to pay you $1,000,000 for an apple." The old man replies, "Yeah, I know, but I only gotta sell one".
02-20-2017, 08:59 PM
