2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid | Test Drive | Edmunds

Edmunds gets a First Drive of the refreshed 2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid.

Edmunds Associate Staff Writer Will Kaufman drives the 2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid in sunny Malibu, California. For 2018, this 377-horsepower hybrid luxury sedan receives an updated exterior design, an upgraded interior with new seats, improved driver aids, a smaller battery, and a big price cut compared to a fully loaded 2017 model. But is that enough for the RLX to compete with the newest generation of luxury rivals? According to Will, "the powertrain is an impressive piece of engineering that performs well in the real world, and the RLX Sport Hybrid is surprisingly fun to drive. Lowering the cost of entry was smart, but even with all the updates the RLX still lags behind its competitors in some important ways."

Q: When will the 2018 Acura RLX be available?

A: The 2018 Acura RLX is currently available.

Q: What's the fuel economy of the 2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid?

A: It gets 28 mpg combined.

Q: What are the Acura RLX trim levels?

A: For 2018, there are only two trim levels: the front-wheel drive RLX P-AWS and the all-wheel drive RLX Sport Hybrid. The P-AWS comes with a 310-horsepower V6 and rear-wheel steering, along with most of the essential luxury trim you expect from a base model. The Sport Hybrid comes standard with quite a bit of additional equipment, including driver aids, premium audio and other interior upgrades, and costs $4,000 less than a similarly equipped 2017 model.

[enriqueortiz]

7 speed dual clutch transmission based on the 9 speed in the NSX. The same materials found in ALL luxury cars today. 377 hp. A great sound system. High quality leather. Only thing this car needs is the turbo and it can push over 500hp. But people still wouldn't buy it. Y'all crack me up. Cry that Acura went too boring in styling, they upgrade the styling now they went too far. Cried that they weren't making high power cars, cry that they are making high power cars. Cry that the old ones were faster even though the new ones are way faster. No one is ever satisfied. Go sit in the car, feel the dash, push the buttons, turn on the radio, take it for a drive. Y'all judge and haven't even looked at them in person.

[mrgold]

I purchased a CPO 18 RLX hybrid back in Dec of 2019. It has been perfect and zero issues. Really nice to have 377hp and +28 mpg with today's gas prices. The RLX is a driver's car if you like to drive. Pretty much 100% all complaints are about techie stuff like info-tainment or ugly rims. Never heard any complaints about the powertrain+mpg combo.

[senorgato]

I was pleasantly surprised at how much attention this new RLX was getting at the auto show this past weekend.  Prior auto shows, barely anyone even looked at it.  But the entire Acura section was filled with foot traffic and very interested people, based on the conversations I heard.  The new updates to the design actually look pretty good.

[CHMISRY]

I want a pre-refresh RLX...those rims are HIDEOUS...

[GeorgeKnighton]

From the reviewer's language, a listener might believe that the NSX Sport Hybrid was produced before the RLX Sport Hybrid, when in fact the KC2 Legend (RLX Sport Hybrid) was on the road in the 2014 model year.

His comments about the infotainment system are *spot on* and I sympathize.  :-)  This was always the worst thing about my 2014 Sport Hybrid, and I cannot believe they went through the MMC without improving the infotainment system.

I was interested in the comments complimenting the suspension because the 2014 car's suspension drew criticism for harshness.  I know the springs and swayers are different.  Perhaps they also tweaked the suspension pickup points.

70, 000 miles on mine, average 32.1 mpg (!!), and it's a solid, wonderful car.

[polodon]

I have owned a Honda accord, a Acura vigor and my last car a 2003 Acura TL types S, what a blast to drive .I have watched this car company lose its way over the years while comfortably relinquishing the gains it has strived to make.
Performance is no longer important to Acura, but of course that's what it was built on. Sadly the dealerships continue to hound me to buy another one of their lackluster products. I decline. I have been waiting for Acura to wake up, but it seems Acura is in a COMA !!!. ASHES TO ASHES, DUST TO DUST !!

[mariowhyte]

The Acura Legend was absolutely legendary!!!!

[ascott]

I sat in this car at a recent auto show and the interior is very nice. The materials, all the way down to the bottom of the doors in the interior, are top notch !! This car is about the same size inside as an ES350, which I own ! I want to see how it drives ! A few upgrades, better styling and bigger interior will result in a hit !

[stevenplutes]

Great review. Did you ever do an in-depth review on this car?

[davidpink]

Saw the rlx in person today and it’s a nice looking car. The only thing is I wish Acura offered an A-Spec option like on the tlx. Too much chrome trim for me.

[b.f.]

This car looks nice... I've seen an '05-08 RL just the other day & that has a timeless & clean design. I think it's the best looking out of these newer ones

[sabikunnahar]

Edmunds for your information Acura RLX is known as Honda Legend in Japan

[afterthestorm]

The big difference that was not mentioned concerning those German competitors, is how often they'll be at the dealership having
something fixed and leaving there spending thousands of dollars.

[aayonce]

Only seen 2 since the debut. Will definitely get one (even last gen) only seen about 15 or so last gen RLX models

[markjwil]

Will, you forgot to mention it now has a 10-speed automatic, in place of the archaic 6-speed unit.

[shahedhasnat]

With Genesis and Kia producing some amazing models this will still not sell.

[tyusrobinson]

Getting tired of all these nsx references in this

[mpwes]

Make the grill thinner from the bottom up and you have a Camero bumper

[thainguyen-jfzu]

are there another optional interior colors

[ipadarab]

What kind of tests are you going to do on the car when you take it to the office?