Review: 2014 Acura RLX
#46
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I still can't believe how they (Acura/Honda)still come out with new cars with old technologies (10+years) and expect to sell cars in an ever more competing car market. Flagship car with still the same V6? Six-speed automatic transmission? No wonder this car doesn't sell. Even if it ''does'' the job, nowadays people need to have something to brag about, and they simply don't get it with any of Acura's offerings.
#47
Lexus Fanatic
It's not just an Acura thing. More and more vehicles and companies in the future, because of CAFE laws, are going to have V6s instead of V8s, and fours instead of V6s. Like you, I'm not necessarily a fan of that, but that's just the world we're going to believing in.
nowadays people need to have something to brag about,
and they simply don't get it with any of Acura's offerings
#48
Lexus Champion
And yet the TLX will come with a 9-Speed transmission. Go figure. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Acura doesn't need the RLX in its lineup. I say they should axe it completely and put all that hybrid SH-AWD technology into a loaded TLX. Have a base 4 cylinder TLX, mid grade V6 TLX, and a top of the line SH-AWD hybrid TLX. For those that want the best, they'll have to pay for it, but at 60k+ they are dreaming. A loaded TLX at 50k makes much more sense. They cannot play in the over 50k ballpark with a "premium" sedan based off a Honda Accord. It will never happen.
Similarly, Acura is meant as the flagship, luxury brand for Honda, the first of the Japanese brands to produce a luxury brand. The RLX flagship does not have to sell well, but Acura needs that true flagship to show off to shoppers what it is capable of, and if it really wants to elevate its brand to be perceived as a true luxury brand and not merely another entry-level premium brand like Buick.
Acura was never meant to be compared with entry-level Buick; it has only ended up that way due to the product and marketing shortcomings of Honda and Acura. If Acura wants to compete with Buick, that is fine, but then it has to stop comparing itself with Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.
#51
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by Sulu
Mike, you like to compare everything to Buick, even when it is not appropriate to do so. Buick can get away with a V6 6-speed "flagship" LaCrosse. But the LaCrosse is not a "flagship" because it is NOT a real flagship, and Buick neither markets it as such nor needs a true flagship vehicle. Buick is not the flagship brand for GM; Cadillac is the luxury, flagship brand for GM so Cadillac needs the flagship, not Buick.
BTW, when I referred to the LaCrosse as the "flagship" what I meant was Buick's top-line sedan. I agree that it is not what I would currently call a true flagship (neither is Cadillac's XTS or Lincoln's MKS, which IMO are both jokes). But, I'm afraid that cars like this are going to be the "flagships" of the future. Chevy's new V6 Impala was probably the best example of a well-done V6 FWD sedan serving as an excellent flagship, but, in size and power, it has been eclipsed by the limited-production, rougher-riding V8 RWD SS.
Similarly, Acura is meant as the flagship, luxury brand for Honda, the first of the Japanese brands to produce a luxury brand. The RLX flagship does not have to sell well, but Acura needs that true flagship to show off to shoppers what it is capable of, and if it really wants to elevate its brand to be perceived as a true luxury brand and not merely another entry-level premium brand like Buick.
]Acura was never meant to be compared with entry-level Buick; it has only ended up that way due to the product and marketing shortcomings of Honda and Acura. If Acura wants to compete with Buick, that is fine, but then it has to stop comparing itself with Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.
]Acura was never meant to be compared with entry-level Buick; it has only ended up that way due to the product and marketing shortcomings of Honda and Acura. If Acura wants to compete with Buick, that is fine, but then it has to stop comparing itself with Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.
#52
Lexus Fanatic
If any luxury brand is going to put better, leading-edge technology in a lower model (not the flagship), then yes, the flagship becomes redundant; the flagship is supposed to show off the brand, to display what the brand is capable of in terms of luxury and technology, and to draw in the shoppers with all this leading-edge capability. If Acura insists on putting a leading-edge 9-speed transmission in the TLX but leave the flagship RLX with a now merely mediocre 6-speed FWD transmission, then, I agree, the RLX has become redundant.
Mike, you like to compare everything to Buick, even when it is not appropriate to do so. Buick can get away with a V6 6-speed "flagship" LaCrosse. But the LaCrosse is not a "flagship" because it is NOT a real flagship, and Buick neither markets it as such nor needs a true flagship vehicle. Buick is not the flagship brand for GM; Cadillac is the luxury, flagship brand for GM so Cadillac needs the flagship, not Buick.
Similarly, Acura is meant as the flagship, luxury brand for Honda, the first of the Japanese brands to produce a luxury brand. The RLX flagship does not have to sell well, but Acura needs that true flagship to show off to shoppers what it is capable of, and if it really wants to elevate its brand to be perceived as a true luxury brand and not merely another entry-level premium brand like Buick.
Acura was never meant to be compared with entry-level Buick; it has only ended up that way due to the product and marketing shortcomings of Honda and Acura. If Acura wants to compete with Buick, that is fine, but then it has to stop comparing itself with Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.
Mike, you like to compare everything to Buick, even when it is not appropriate to do so. Buick can get away with a V6 6-speed "flagship" LaCrosse. But the LaCrosse is not a "flagship" because it is NOT a real flagship, and Buick neither markets it as such nor needs a true flagship vehicle. Buick is not the flagship brand for GM; Cadillac is the luxury, flagship brand for GM so Cadillac needs the flagship, not Buick.
Similarly, Acura is meant as the flagship, luxury brand for Honda, the first of the Japanese brands to produce a luxury brand. The RLX flagship does not have to sell well, but Acura needs that true flagship to show off to shoppers what it is capable of, and if it really wants to elevate its brand to be perceived as a true luxury brand and not merely another entry-level premium brand like Buick.
Acura was never meant to be compared with entry-level Buick; it has only ended up that way due to the product and marketing shortcomings of Honda and Acura. If Acura wants to compete with Buick, that is fine, but then it has to stop comparing itself with Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.
It is possible to compare some Buicks and Acuras. The Verano compares well with the ILX, both are upmarket semi rebadged Civic/Cruse models. You might also compare the Buick SUV (forget the name) with an RX, the truth be told, the Buick really compares more with a Highlander limited model.
#53
Lexus Fanatic
I am going to have agree with you. Acura as a brand does not compete with Buick. Acura is a tier II luxury brand. Buick is not a luxury brand in any way shape or form. Buick is simply a "premium" experience, kind of like how the Maxima, Avalon, and 300 and give a near luxury experience.
It is possible to compare some Buicks and Acuras. The Verano compares well with the ILX, both are upmarket semi rebadged Civic/Cruse models.
You might also compare the Buick SUV (forget the name) with an RX,
The Buick Encore CUV is MUCH smaller, and done on a Chevy Sonic subcompact platform.
the truth be told, the Buick really compares more with a Highlander limited model.
Last edited by mmarshall; 07-01-14 at 02:32 PM.
#54
All of this is objective, at least to an extent, on how one interprets the term "upmarket", "premium", "Luxury" and other similar terms....including what is Tier I and II. I would consider the Acura RLX and Infiniti Q70 a Tier II close to the borderline of Tier I, the LS460, Mercedes S550, BMW 7-series, and Audi's A8 solidly in Tier I, and Bentley/Rolls/Maybach in the Ultra-luxury class.
The Verano is selling, though, and the ILX isn't. That's because Acura made the ILX too much of a redone Civic, and didn't put in enough sound insulation. GM made the Verano more of a premium/upmarket compact, with a smoother and much quieter ride.
The Verano is selling, though, and the ILX isn't. That's because Acura made the ILX too much of a redone Civic, and didn't put in enough sound insulation. GM made the Verano more of a premium/upmarket compact, with a smoother and much quieter ride.
Last edited by bitkahuna; 07-08-14 at 10:15 AM.
#55
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
since new tlx gets the 8 and 9 speeds, i'm sure the rlx will get it soon too. not that anyone will care.
#56
Lexus Fanatic
#57
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by bitkahuna
not that anyone will care.
Since new tlx gets the 8 and 9 speeds, i'm sure the rlx will get it soon too.
http://www.acura.com/ModelLanding.aspx?model=RLX
Last edited by mmarshall; 07-08-14 at 11:05 AM.
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