Zander Drives Cars

The Acura RL is a very strange car. This is partly due to Americans and Europeans not knowing what this car is. For my Euro folks out there, the RL is a rebadged version of the Euro-spec Honda Legend from 2006 to 2012. For my American folks out there, it was the flagship Acura from, well, 2006 to 2012. Hell, I’ll even play the “I forgot” card too. I was sitting at a stoplight last week and one in “hamburger brown” pulled up beside me. Despite looking like a car driven by retired pharmacists in Boca Raton, the RL might just be one of the greatest sleepers of the last 20 years.

Photo credit: Acura

For those of you who don’t know what a “sleeper” is, let me give you a brief Urban Dictionary-like definition. A sleeper is a car that is unintentionally (and sometimes intentionally too) faster or more powerful than some purpose-built cars being sold alongside it. The best examples of a “sleeper” are cars like the V6 Accord, Buick Regal GS, Volvo S60 T6, really any sedan with a high-powered V6 in it could be generalized in the sleeper group. Sometimes manufacturers make house-built sleepers as well. Looking at you, Mercury Marauder. The whole point of a sleeper then is to look like a job-site manager while out smoking anything with a Subaru or Mitsubishi badge on it.

Let’s talk power: the top trim RL was equipped with a 3.6l V6, the same found in the Odyssey and MDX, that was tuned to 300hp. This results in a respectable 0-60 time of roughly 5.5 seconds, with some drivers claiming (take this with a grain of salt, of course) hitting as low as 5.2 seconds. That roughly puts it on pace with Nissan 350z’s and Civic Si’s of that era, and with a 155mph top speed, it’s not out of the question that it’ll out drag them too. Can it go faster than 155? Maybe. I’ve seen people find out on “empty roads in Mexico” and hit 160 but for legal reasons I advise against replicating that.

Along with the power of the RL, top trim models came with Acura’s fantastic “super-handling all-wheel-drive system” also known as SH-AWD, or “SH-AWD-Y.” A former friend of mine who had an Acura with this system once told me that calling it “SH-AWD-Y” was the worst joke she had ever heard, and subsequently threw a VOSS water bottle at me. I promise you this is a true story. Anyway, the AWD not only results in the car getting to 60 as quickly as it does, but also provides the car with some excellent cornering abilities and all-weather fun if you live somewhere that experiences all four seasons. I wouldn’t go so far as to say this would be a rally monster, but if you are someone who lives in the snow, you should be fine.

Photo credit: Acura/Car&Driver

The best part about the RL? Well, it’s a toss-up between the legendary Honda reliability, as well as the cars premium feel, coming with most creature comforts you’d expect from a sedan that retailed at roughly $50,000. The RL comes with every major 2011 innovation that you can think of. Bluetooth is a big ol’ “maybe” with some cars having a very primitive system. At least you get a CD player so you can listen to Jet as loud as you possibly can. Speaking of price, most mid-milage RL’s can be found for under $20k, which in this economy, for a 155mph, 5-second tuner-beater, is an absolute steal.

So, here you have it, the recipe for the ultimate sleeper: unassuming looks, big power, and reasonable price. What more do you want? Go show your friend with an MK7 GTI who’s the king of I-83 North.