Do these cars really have more than the RL? Acura was the leader in car tech for many years.


http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10415309-48.html tag=smallCarouselArea.1

 

As the owner of a 2005 RL and a 2010 Fusion Hybrid, I can tell you that yes, Acura WAS the leader in tech. But when a company spends all their efforts on making their lineup of cars totally fugly, ignores their "flagship" and doesn't make any appreciable changes to the tech features for almost 5 years, the other car companies (and buyers) are simply passing them by.

 

I'd give it to the Lincoln or the X5 M. Not a huge fan of either, but the Lincoln HAS brought in many new techs, and I don't think anything weighing 5000 pounds can go like that X5 M.

 

I sit in an 09 and I can't tell much difference compared to my 05, looks almost identical. Only major differences on tech side are CMBS, back-up camera, cooled seats, and ipod jack (those are all on the 06-08)...other mods include, front grill, standard wood steering wheel, wood around the shifter and wood shift knob, that's about it. Nevertheless, from a tech standpoint, can't imagine there is much more to do, maybe heated steering wheel, more control over the AWD system (like manually engaging it) and better nav system (my garmin is way better than Acura's Nav.)

Instead of focusing forward on the RL, Acura seems to have migrated many of its features back to the TL and TSX. TL prices are now pushing $40k

That said, the RL comes nearly fully loaded, when you put everything that's in the RL into a BMW, Audi, Mercedes or Infiniti the price rises from base very fast. As for other brands, like Lincoln, I'd be concerned about the quality control...Acura and Honda have long and extensive track records for building solid, long lasting vehicles.

 

Acura was a leader in technology. I think they lost that in 2007.

 

CNET picked the RL for 2005 and I believe 2006.

That was 4-5 years ago. The RL technology, although holds up well to what is just being released, is old hat by technology standards. Leading edge today is obsolete in 6 months, and keep in mind CNET is a technology publication and not a auto publication.

Being that the RL's technology has barely changed in 5 years, it cannot be proclaimed latest and greatest still....especially in technology circles.

Maybe too late to the ballpark for the publication, but the ZDX might have been a contender. I would expect the next gen RL to be considered...whatever, and whenever that might be.


*Greetings from Tierra Del Fuego*

 

i think any m series has great tech inside of it

 

From CNET....

2005:

http://reviews.cnet.com/sedan/2005-a...-31351116.html

2006:

http://reviews.cnet.com/sedan/2006-a...-31787871.html

2007:

http://reviews.cnet.com/sedan/2007-a....html?tag=also

2009:

http://reviews.cnet.com/sedan/2009-a....html?tag=also


*Greetings from Tierra Del Fuego*

 

I agree with Tampa, the ZDX shoulda been a competitor. The RL has great tech but Acura hasn't kept up over the years.

I'm hoping for a that "amazing flagship" we keep hearing about for the next RL.

PS: of the options available, I voted for the Fusion Hybrid. The presentation of the hybrid-related activity is flashy but intuitive. Definite thumbs-up for Ford is in order.