Acura RDX: Turbo-charged Utility

If you are looking for a crossover vehicle that offers sophistication and plenty of high-tech features, plus a sporty look and feel, you can do a lot worse than the Acura RDX. As a brand Acura continues to impress taking their vehicles to an impressive and luxurious level, this time with the RDX which only debuted last year in the highly competitive luxury CUV segment.

Like many Acura's the RDX is equipped with a significant amount of features to help take the sting out of its $33K price tag, like leather seating, a moonroof, driver seat with memory settings and bluetooth. The RDX received perfect safety scores in government and IIHS testing and also has a sophisticated all-wheel drive system. The RDX's engine has 4 cylinders and only gets average mileage. But despite its smaller size, the turbo-charged 2.3L engine still kicks out 240hp and the all around feel is quick and agile.

Both the BMW X3 and the Lexus RX 350 have larger engines, but cost significantly more and have less standard features.

The Acura RL: A Safe Choice

The RL has many things to offer, including excellent reliability, lots of sophisticated technology features and a luxurious interior. But the Acura RL may leave some buyers wanting more, due to its rather bland exterior styling and a relatively uninspired driving experience.

If you are looking for a sedan with lots of safety and a plush interior, then the RL is a solid option. What's missing is heart-pounding acceleration from its V6 and a more agile feel when behind the wheel, which is something many other Acura models supply in spades. Maybe with the RL's higher price tag comes a different, more safety-conscious palette and buyer segment. But with a starting price around 46K, some buyers may expect some exhilaration too. The RL does have stand-out safety features such as the Super Handling AWD that really can reliably match any tough weather conditions. Also, there is an optional Collision Mitigation Braking System that uses a radar system to warn a driver of an impending collision and will even apply "light" braking if the driver doesn't respond.

For those who want more excitement for their luxury sedan, the Infinti M or the BMW 5 Series may be worth a longer look.

The Near Perfection of the Acura TL

Acura's best-selling car is the TL, an entry-level luxury sedan with a starting price of about $33,700. For the money, the BuyingAdvice Team believes buyers will be fully impressed with the full spectrum of features and incredible performance that the Acura TL delivers.

Whether you choose the base TL or the more performance-centric Type-S, which was added back to the line-up last year, prepare to be fully blown away by the full set of high-tech and luxurious standard features like a moonroof, surround-sound system, satellite radio, memory seats, the list goes on and on. The only optional feature is a cutting-edge navigations system. Safety scores are strong and all the desired safety features including stability and traction control are standard. Performance is sublime with two V6 options that offer 258 or 286 hp. Steering is well-defined and the ride has power, control and sporty precision. The only minor drawbacks are that the TL is a front-wheel drive design and that there have been a handful of recalls in the past three years. So, reliability is a little less than what you would usually expect from Acura.

The TL is a tough model to beat. The Infiniti G35 is an impressive alternative costing only a few hundred more and offering rear-wheel drive and about 40 more hp. If you are looking for more traditional luxury styling and a bit more space, the Toyota Avalon Limited may be worth a look for a few hundred more.

Top-rated Values for 2007

A recent article identified a short list of vehicles that offer the most value this year. By evaluating multiple sources and results such as value ratings, customer service satisfaction, reliability history, depreciation rates and consumer perception of brands, Forbes has arrived at a list of the "Most Value-Packed Cars".

Because a lot of higher-end models with customized services made the list, the BuyingAdvice Team suspects that customer ratings on the sales experience may have been given too much weight when determining some of this year's best values. But, the list has a lot of useful information for the value-inclined. Here are some of the highlights:

Mini Cooper	Pros: Strong reliability, personalized sales approach, 6 yrs of value awards
Acura TSX	Pros: Near-Luxury sedan for about $29K, reliability, high resale value
Lincoln MKX	Pros: Brand new model, top safety pick, versatile crossover, exceptional sales process
Lexus IS	Pros: A sports sedan with nice features and price, outstanding reliability
Saturn Aura	Pros: No haggle experience, attractive ride, strong ongoing service
BMW 3-Series Coupe	Pros: Low depreciation rate, practical qualities plus a notable ride, low price for BMW
Honda Civic	Pros: Reliable, safe and fuel efficient, high resale value
Audi A3	Pros: Lowest priced Audi, versatile hatchback, efficient fuel use for the power

It's worth noting that BMW, Lexus and Honda had the most number of models that made the highest value list. To read the full article and rankings, go to Forbes.

The Acura TL Type S Takes Me for a Drive

Someone, please, buy me this car. Then get one for yourself, or you're going to be jealous. My old Acura got jealous just seeing the TL across the lot at Montano Acura in Albuquerque. I don't blame it. The Acura TL is to test drives what a gorgeous professional is to dating - you get all tingly just standing next to it. This car is beautiful, and when you sit down with it, it has plenty to say.

Other cars in its class don't compare. Mercedes' C-230 has nowhere near as much guts, and the Lexus ES 350's performance comes close but its appearance and overall presence fall short. Acura's 3.5-liter VTEC 6-cylinder makes 286 hp and 256 lbs of torque - sweet in a car that weighs 3,680 pounds. "Redline it," directed our salesman. So I put the Sportshift transmission in manual mode and used the highly intuitive paddle shifters. The baby, nestled in the leather back seat, was perfectly content as I kept the Acura TL revved up and glued to the tightly curving back streets. Now that's luxury.

Albuquerque drivers love our Acuras, and Montano Acura is part of the reason. While it's unusual to walk onto a dealer lot and find exactly the car you'd like to drive, that's not the case here. There is a row of variously equipped TLs, including the Type S, with sticker prices in the neighborhood of MSRP. The lovely car I enjoyed was just over $38,000, and my salesman tells me that when the 2008 model is released, buyers can get great deals on 2007 models.

You'll be hard pressed to get more car for the money. The only real dollar-for-dollar challenger is the BMW 328i, which is lighter, shorter, and has a smaller 3.0-liter engine paired with a 6-speed manual and rear wheel drive - an entirely different kind of car, in other words.  Meanwhile, it's a good thing I'm already married to a hot engineer, or I could have fallen in love with the Acura TL and taken it home.

Acura Dealers Have Cash to Give on RL

The Acura RL has struggled to escape the shadows of its more celebrated cousins in the luxury sedan market but, with standard all-wheel drive and high technology features, it should be on your list already if you are shopping this sector. Now comes news that Acura dealers have up to $3,500 in factory incentives available throughout April, making this a great time to save some money on this solid offering from Honda's luxury division.

Top 10 Cars With Best Car Trade In Value

Figuring out which car is right for you is no easy task. You have to decide how much room you need, what kind of mileage you would like, what color suits you best and, of course, your ideal new car price. But one very important factor that many buyers of new and used cars forget to consider is the car trade in value, or how well different cars hold on to their value.

Some models hold their value very well while others lose their value very quickly. Here is a list compiled by Consumer Reports of the Top 10 Best Cars For Depreciation.

1. Toyota Prius

2. Mini Cooper

3. Scion xB

4. BMW M3

5. Lexus RX

6. BMW 6-Series

7. Lexus GX

8. Acura TSX

9. Scion xA

10. Honda Civic & Civic Hybrid

Read more in "10 Best And Worst Cars For Depreciation."

3 Months Of Free XM Offered By Acura Certified Used Car Sales

The people from Acura Certified Used Car Sales are sweetening the deal on many of their certified pre-owned cars.  Acura and XM Satellite Radio have teemed up to provide three months of free XM service when you buy an Acura Certified used vehicle that is factory equipped with XM radio.

All of Acura's Certified pre owned vehicles come with a standard Certified Limited Warranty which covers the car for 12 months or 12,000 miles and a Powertrain Limited Warranty that lasts for 7 years or 100,000 miles.

Acura vehicles that have XM satellite radio installed as an aftermarket car accessory will not be able to receive this deal.

Read more in "Acura And XM Are First To Offer Complimentary Satellite Radio Program For Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles."

Study Finds The Most Stolen New And Used Cars

Every year the National Insurance Crime Bureau releases a list of the top 10 new and used cars most frequently stolen in America.  The bureau has recently released its newest list of the most frequently stolen cars.  Here it is:

1995 Honda Civic 1989 Toyota Camry 1991 Honda Accord 1994 Dodge Caravan 1994 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup 1997 Ford F150 Series 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 1990 Acura Integra 1988 Toyota Pickup 1991 Nissan Sentra

If you own one of these vehicles, never fear!  There are many things you can do to greatly reduce the appeal of your car to thieves.  We suggest having your vehicle's unique VIN engraved on to the windshield of your car.  This is an inexpensive way to deter even the best car thieves.  You can also choose from many aftermarket car accessories such as: car alarms, wheel and brake locks and even high tech tracking systems or kill switches. Find new car buying advice and use auto buying tips to purchase or lease below new car dealer invoice prices.

Read more in "Top Stolen Cars, Cities With Highest Thefts."

Results Are In: Top 10 High Resale Value Cars 2006

Have you ever wondered why one vehicle holds its value more than another? Well, it's a little complicated, but here's part of the explanation: residual value. The residual value of a car is the estimate of the future worth of that car. Simply stated, how much will that new car be worth years from now when it's a used car?

There are actually awards given each year called the Residual Value Awards. These awards pay honor to the model in each automobile segment that retains the highest percentage of their original price by depreciating the least amount.

Here are the results of the 2006 Residual Value Awards: Drum roll please...

• Mini Cooper
• Honda Accord
• Toyota Avalon
• Porsche 911 Carrera
• Acura TL
• Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
• Honda Odyssey
• Land Rover Range Rover Sport
• Toyota Sequoia
• Toyota Tundra

To learn more read Forbes Autos' "Top 10 High Resale Value Vehicles."