Used 2020 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid

#8 in Best Midsize Luxury Cars of 2020

As the company’s flagship sedans, the 2020 Acura RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid carry a lot of responsibility. Their aging platforms must compete with newer sedans such as the Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Genesis G80, all of which offer more luxury, features and technology than the RLX.

Maybe it’s safe to say the 2020 RLX sedan is the conservative’s approach to luxury, offering almost every feature as standard at a price that undercuts the competition by thousands. Or maybe it’s the unique hybrid powertrain found on the Sport Hybrid, a model that should appeal to tech types and performance junkies who need four doors instead of two.

Whatever the draw, the RLX isn’t a substandard car in any way, but it just doesn’t thrill the way a $55,000 luxury car should. The omission of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also doesn’t help matters.

The range-topping 2020 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid has what the company calls “super handling all-wheel drive” or SH-AWD. For once, this is not mere marketing. The handling really is super. Power comes in strong even at low engine speeds, thanks to the three electric motors, and apportioned to whatever wheels have the most traction. This allows the driver to take corners at sports-car speeds and not have the front tires gradually lose grip while squealing in complaint. The RLX Sport Hybrid goes where it’s pointed and feels like it would take an earthquake to shake it off line.

Our only reservation is how important this commendable trait might be to the average buyer of a luxury sedan. Perhaps that’s the point, that the RLX Sport Hybrid isn’t average but comes with a distinct appeal. Luckily, the ride quality can also be supple. In the non-hybrid RLX version, Acura’s all-wheel steering endows it with impressive agility. However, the front-drive RLX isn’t as precise as many competitors, especially those that better distribute weight between the front and rear wheels.

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One of the Acura RLX’s best features is its interior. Not so much for cutting-edge design, but for its comfort and spaciousness. The front seats are not only comfortable and supportive in the areas that matter most, that being the lower back and thighs, they are also impressively wide. The rear seats are also quite nice, with a generous 38.8 inches of legroom and 36.9 inches of headroom.

The interior’s overall design is pleasant but nothing spectacular. You won’t find any digital instrument clusters or unique dash designs here, just a logically laid-out Acura cockpit. The dual-screen infotainment system is painfully outdated, missing must-haves like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa.

Around back, the RLX’s trunk is roomy but not class leading. The Sport Hybrid’s battery pack eats into truck space, reducing the standard car’s 14.9 cubic feet to just 12 and rendering the pass-through inoperable.

Acura has embraced a fresh design language in vehicles like the RLX, and its RDX and MDX crossover SUVs. Subjectively speaking, it’s an improvement. The RLX is too good to be saddled with anonymous looks. When we get out the tape measure, we find the car is, at 198 inches, longer than rivals like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. This puts it somewhere between the accepted classification of a midsize sedan and a full-size counterpart, meaning more space for the money.

PUTTING THE SPORT IN HYBRID
When you hear the word “hybrid,” the last thing that comes to mind is a 377-horsepower all-wheel-drive sedan like the 2020 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid. An electric motor at each rear wheel improves traction and fuel efficiency, making this is one hybrid your kids won’t be embarrassed to borrow.

14-SPEAKER KRELL AUDIO SYSTEM
If you’re one of those people who makes car buying decisions largely around the type of audio available, the 2020 Acura RLX’s available Krell sound system is certain to the seal the deal. With brilliant highs, rich bass and level mid range, the available 14-speaker Krell upgrade is worth every penny.

The entry point into 2020 RLX ownership is the regular version with front-wheel drive, 310-horsepower V6 and Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) setup. Its standard equipment includes leather upholstery, heated 12-way power-adjustable front seats, LED headlights, GPS-linked tri-zone climate control, moonroof, navigation with real-time traffic updates, 14-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, USB port, and HD radio.

The AcuraWatch array of driver aids is also standard, including forward-collision mitigation with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, Traffic Jam Assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning/lane-keeping assistance, and a multi-view camera system.

For more power, more driven wheels and more features, the 2020 RLX Sport Hybrid is the way to go. As well as the aforementioned Krell audio system, there are ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, heated steering wheel, head-up display, LED fog lights, parking sensors at both ends, 360-degree camera system, upgraded climate control with an air-quality sensor, power rear sunshade, remote start, windshield de-icer, and self-dimming side mirrors. Actual extras are limited to things like a trunk lid spoiler, different design of 19-inch alloy wheels, and RLX-logo-projecting puddle lights.

A refined 3.5-liter V6 propels the regular 2020 RLX with 310 horsepower. This drives the front wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission using steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. For undemanding luxury transport from home to office, gym and the in-laws, it’s fine.

The RLX Sport Hybrid is far more remarkable. Up front are a 3.5-liter V6 and an electric motor, joined by two further electric motors, one driving each rear wheel. The transmission is a 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual (think of it as an automatic), also with shift paddles. The whole system develops 377 horsepower with a healthy push available at low and not-so-low speeds. The regenerative braking also simulates torque vectoring (where the outside wheels take a corner faster than the inside wheels). To the driver, it all feels seamless.

3.5-liter V6
310 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
272 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/29 mpg

3.5-liter V6 + 3-motor hybrid (RLX Sport Hybrid)
377 horsepower (combined)
341 lb-ft of torque (combined)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/29 mpg