My brother has a 1997 Honda Accord LX and we were comparing the 2009 RL interior space to his car and I was surprised that the Honda Accord LX has more legroom.

This can't be, because I test drove an Acura RL (2008) and it had way more leg room than his car.

When they mean legroom is that maxium legroom (the seat pulled all the way back)?

 

No idea, but the rear of the RL is pretty nice, it's not crazy big like on a BMW 7 series, but there is room.

 

front legroom on the RL is very good. There is also plenty of room to spread out. Leg room in the back is particuarly limited. We are all over 6' here, but my tallest complains about being in the back seat. If back seat is a priority, the Toyota Avalon is the answer.

 

It would make sense that the max leg room would be with the seat all the way back.
Another factor to consider is the Hip Point or H-point. The higher the H-point, the more leg room. Even though the 1997 Accord has more leg room than the '08 RL on paper, maybe the RL has a higher H-point.

 

I feel I can speak on this subject with some authority, being 80.5 inches tall, and having drivien both cars at length. I can only speak on FRONT legroom.

While not having the most legroom of any car I've sat in(My 1970 MGB\GT wins that award)
my '06 RL comes very close. My Girlfriend's 97 Accord I could barely fit in, but mostly because of the center "tunnel".

When your legs are as long as mine, it's the first thing I have to consider when it's time to purchase a vehicle. Most of the time, it's all about how much room there is between the steering wheel and the door on the left and the "tunnel" on the right for my knees.

When you're my height, you will never find a vehicle with that perfect driving position, because my legs will be bent\splayed on either side of the steering wheel.

Don't ask me about the time I had to drive my drunk friend's Fiat 850 Spider home from the bars one night.

 

Having tested the legroom in both cars, the legroom in the 2009 RL is the same as in the 05-08. Don't see how you can feel the difference between the two unless the seats were in different positions.

 

The leg-room was not really increased. The seat cushion where your back rests is thinner, resulting in more room for you back to scoot back, equating to more support for your legs, therefore giving the impression of more room

 

I got no impression of more room. The back seats in the 2009 felt exactly the same as the 05-08. I'm not convinced any change was made.

 

The bottom cushion on the '09 RL is different for sure. Just look at the '09 brochure and your '05-'08 RL. The lower side bolsters are a different shape. And I think that the cushion sinks a little lower so your legs are more upright.

I sat in the back of an '09 for a couple of seconds and thought there might have been a little more room underneath the front seat -- but it could also have just been at a higher position.

Rob144