The Acura RL is a midsize car built from 1987 to 2012 over 4 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Between 1997 and 2012 it grew 2 cm longer and gained 297 kg. Engines offered: V6. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the RL is
The Acura RL is a midsize car that Acura built from 1987 to 2012 — 26 model years. Our measurements put it at 4 generations, the current one starting in 2009. It has been offered with V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Acura range: TL, RLX.
Where the RL is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 342 RLs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JH4 | 1996-2012 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Acura VIN decide which of these 4 lines your RL belongs to. What every character in a RL VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Acura RL adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
RL generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the RL's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the RL that gives 4 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 495 cm | 291 cm | 1567 kg | - | - |
| 2000-2003 | 500 cm | 291 cm | 1655 kg | +5 cm | +88 kg |
| 2006 | 493 cm | 279 cm | 1815 kg | -7 cm | +160 kg |
| 2009-2012 | 497 cm | 280 cm | 1864 kg | +4 cm | +49 kg |
Between 1997 and 2012 the RL gained 2 cm in length (+0.4%) and 297 kg in weight (+19.0%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the RL that is 297 kg against 2 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Acura RL tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment RL owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Acura RL have? Power & range
The Acura RL is offered with 1 powertrain — 3.7L 6-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Acura RL, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.7L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | AWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The RL by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Acura RL. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | RL | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 77 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 483 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,865/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 109 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Acura RL?
The RL is a midsize car, built from 1987 to 2012 across 4 generations. Engines offered: V6.
Where is the Acura RL made?
Across 342 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the RL have?
4 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2009. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the RL grew 2 cm longer and gained 297 kg.
What is the Acura RL warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 6 years / 70,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the RL reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific RL?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
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