Acura RL Navigation System Ranks Highest in J.D. Power Study

According to J.D. Power and Associates' 2000 Navigation Usage and Satisfaction Study(SM), the DVD navigation system in Acura's RL ranks highest in customer satisfaction. The award is given to the manufacturer of the vehicle with the highest overall score in navigation system satisfaction and is based not only on the system model's performance, but also on its layout and design within the particular vehicle. "DVD-based navigation systems offer greater geographical coverage, more detailed 'points of interest' information and increased speed to calculate a route," said Frank Forkin, partner and executive director of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "The quality of navigation systems is generally quite high, with less than one-half of the vehicle owners reporting problems." With the introduction of the 1996 3.5 RL, Acura became the first manufacturer in North America to offer an in-dash navigation system. The satellite-linked Acura Navigation System offers coverage of the continental United States stored on a a digital video disc (DVD), including more than 3.7 million points of interest and detailed mapping of major metropolitan areas. The Acura Navigation System includes a seven-inch screen with a matte-finish touch screen that reduces glare and fingerprinting, making it easier to read. In addition to the RL, Acura's Navigation System is available on the TL luxury performance sedan, CL luxury performance coupe and the new MDX luxury SUV. Currently, between 15 and 20 percent of these models are sold with the navigation option. According to the Power study, nearly one-half of consumers purchasing a vehicle equipped with a navigation system rate it "truly outstanding" or "excellent." Most consumers surveyed indicated they would recommend their system to others, with many indicating that if a navigation system were not offered, it would have a negative impact on their purchase decision. The study includes responses from 4,900 consumers who recently purchased or leased vehicles with a factory installed navigation system.